Support Services for Children

Support services for children address the unique needs that arise when a child has a disability and specialized needs. These supports are identified with the family to supplement family and community resources to help children with disabilities and their families thrive at home and in the community. These programs strive to help children and families remain independent, healthy, and safe from birth to 18.

Children's Intensive In-Home Services (CIIS)

CIIS was developed by the Department of Human Services, Seniors and Persons with Disabilities in response to the needs of families caring for their children with intensive medical or behavioral needs. These programs are operated by the Department of Human Services in coordination with the Linn County Developmental Disabilities Program. The Linn County Service Coordinator works with individuals and families to asses the individuals need to make a referral to these specialized programs that offer flexible, ongoing supports based on the individual needs of the child and family.

Medically Fragile Children's Unit (MFCU): Provides support services for children who have very intense medical needs, are technology dependent, and require nursing care. Eligibility is based on a clinical criterion as conducted by MFCU nursing staff with input from the families and medical community. DD eligibility is not required. Family income is not a factor for eligibility.

Intensive Behavior Program: Provides support services for children 18 who demonstrate intense behaviors that are dangerous to themselves or others. Typically, the entire household must make extreme eligibility. adaptations to keep everyone safe. Eligibility is based on behavioral criterion as conducted by CIIS staff and reviewed by the CIIS behavioral team. The child must be determined eligible by Linn County Developmental Disabilities Program and family income is not a factor for eligibility.

Medically Involved Program: Provides support services for children who have a medical condition requiring total assistance with all activities of daily living. These children are not technology dependent but due to their size and weight require maximum interventions. Eligibility is based on a medically involved criterion as conducted by CIIS staff with input from the families and medical community. DD eligibility is not required. Family income is not a factor for eligibility.

Family Support

Family Support provides assistance to families caring for their children with developmental disabilities in the family home. Families work with their Service Coordinator to determine what they need most. The Service Coordinator in conjunction with the family will ensure that all available resources are accessed creatively and leveraged to the greatest possible benefit of the child and family. This may include support-groups, public and private programs, private insurance, and other local, state, and national programs. Family Support allows the families have the flexibility to choose services and providers that will meet the child and families needs. In some cases, a family may access family support for a brief time while other families may need an on-going family support plan. Family Support is not crisis driven and is on a first come first serve basis dependent on available funding from the Department of Human Services.

To be eligible for family support funds the child must live in the family home, s/he cannot be receiving other paid in-home, community living or family support services funded by the Department of Human Services; except for Medicaid, adoption assistance, or short-term assistance intended to prevent out of home placement. Supports that can be purchased with family support funds are limited to supports that are directly related to the child's disability and are not designed to supplant normal parental responsibility. These supports may include:

• Behavior consultation
• Community inclusion
• Environmental accessibility adaptations
• Family caregiver supports
• Family training
• In-home support
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Special diets
• Specialized equipment and supplies
• Speech, hearing, and language services
• Transportation