Champions for Children Program - Resource/Financial Program

[Guest guest]

Dear Georgia Families of Children with Exceptional Needs:

As you may be aware, the Easter Seals Georgia Coalition was 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 October 1, 2008.

Baldwin Lamar

Bibb s Telfair

Butts Macon Toombs

Carroll n Treutlen

Chattahoochee Meriwether Troup

Coweta Monroe Twiggs

Crawford Muscogee Upson

Dodge Peach Webster

Haralson Pike Wheeler

Pulaski Wilkerson

Heard Schley

Houston Spalding

Jasper

Talbot

Tattnall

This final phase will ensure availability of the program on a

statewide basis. 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 description of the Champions for Children Program, the application

for services and other information is available on the new website

www.championsforchi ldrenga.org. 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 wanted to ensure that a simple and

effective process was put in place, which is why we rolled 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. We

encourage you to call our toll free number with inquiries. We promise

to connect you with other resources if you do not meet the

eligibility criteria for this particular program. We also promise

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

Coalition and how we might improve services.

Yours in Service,

Easter Seals Georgia Coalition