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Case Management Help – For Those with and without Medicaid                
Laura J. Warren, TxP2P

Do you ever feel that you have too much to do in keeping up with your child’s care and health?  Do you wish someone would swoop in and help you get organized in caring for you child?  Well, you are not alone – I’ve talked with so many parents who feel that way when they have a child with a special health care need.  I never had a case manager’s help with my son – I received a lot of help from various therapists, ECI workers and other parents but never had a case manager.  While I know that you have all had good and bad experiences with this, I still would have liked to have someone to work with me in coordinating Jason’s care.  I remember when he was very young, I didn’t feel qualified to orchestrate his care with all the specialists and therapists – I was the kid who hid under the bed when someone mentioned a doctor or shots – I knew nothing about caring for a child with all these medical issues and therapy needs.  I finally got over feeling that way and am now passing the torch over to him to orchestrate his own care – of course, he isn’t interested in taking it but I’ll use duct tape if I have to!
There is help provided by the state, even if you don’t qualify for Medicaid!  Its case management services through Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Children with Special Health Care Needs Program (CSHCN).  You can contact the Regional DSHS Offices and ask to speak to the Social Work Department or call the statewide inquiry line (800-252-8023) and ask for your local office.  A list of local offices can be found on the Internet at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/cshcn/caseman.shtm. They will work with you to determine if there are any other sources for case management for your child and if not, they will provide the services.  The following groups offer programs called
“parents as case managers”:  Uniting Parents in the Panhandle, WestTexasRehabilitationCenter in Abilene and San Angelo, Families CAN  at the University of Houston in Houston.
If you are on Medicaid, you can contact your local Medicaid Office and ask for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW) Case Management. 
If anyone has trouble accessing these services, please let one of us at the TxP2P office know (866-896-6001; local 458-8600; Laura@txp2p.org).  We have heard about some problems and would like to know if you have trouble contacting these programs or getting appropriate services.