Champions for Children Program

[Guest guest]

Champions for Children Program

Easter Seals Georgia Coalition was recently awarded the grant for the

Champions for Children with Exceptional Needs Initiative. Included

in the Coalition are Easter Seals Southern Georgia, Easter Seals

North Georgia, Easter Seals West Georgia, Easter Seals East Georgia,

Easter Seals Middle Georgia and Parent to Parent of Georgia. The

Champions for Children Program is funded by a $4.87 million five-year

grant from The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. This grant

was made possible by a one-time 2006 Georgia Legislature allocation.

The Easter Seals Georgia Coalition is pleased to announce the

implementation of the Champions for Children Program in the following

counties beginning April 1, 2008.

Appling Colquitt Long Ware

Atkinson Cook Lowndes Wayne

Bacon Crisp McIntosh Wilcox

Baker Decatur Worth

Ben Hill Dooly

Berrien Dougherty Pierce

Brantley Early Quitman

Echols Randolph

Effingham Screven

Bulloch Seminole

Calhoun Glynn Sumter

Camden Grady Tattnall

Chatham Irwin Terrell

Charlton Jeff

Clay Lanier Tift

Clinch Lee Toombs

Coffee Liberty

Families living in the counties served by Easter Seals North Georgia

(metro Atlanta) will be able to access the program beginning July

1st. The program is expected to be available statewide by October

1st. For more information on the Easter Seals affiliates and the

counties they serve, please visit our website at

www.easterseals.com.

The Champions for Children Program is designed to primarily assist

children and families that no longer meet the eligibility

requirements for the TEFRA/ Beckett Medicaid program. The

program will provide direct financial assistance and support services

for Georgia's medically fragile and special needs children and their

families. An Easter Seals Champions Coordinator will work directly

with families to determine eligibility, identify service needs as

described by the family and connect them with resources and

services.

Families residing in the counties listed above may access services by

calling the Easter Seals Coalition toll free number: 1-866-584-3742.

A website for the Easter Seals Champions for Children's Program is

under development and is scheduled to be operational within the next

60 days. A description of the Champions for Children Program, the

application for services and other information will be available on

the site. While the $500,000 in annual funding over the next five

years will be a wonderful resource for families, we recognize that

all needs will not be addressed. However, the Easter Seals Georgia

Coalition is committed to serving the needs of children and families

to the greatest extent possible using a family friendly

approach.

The Easter Seals Georgia Coalition wants to ensure that a simple and

effective process is put in place, which is why we are rolling out

the Champions for Children Program in stages. We realize that many

of you will have specific questions about the eligibility criteria

for the Champions for Children Program and the application process.

However, we respectfully request that you call our toll-free number

beginning April 1, 2008 only if you live in one of the 54 counties

listed above.

We promise to keep you informed as we roll out the program throughout

the state, and other ways that we seek to serve your family. We also

promise later on to provide you with an opportunity for your feedback

on the Coalition and how we might improve services.