Resources
The following resources may help you be successful in working with clients and their families. This list focuses on federal and state resources, but you will want to expand your list by adding local resources relevant to your service area.
- Medicaid Programs and Resources
Medicaid and CHIP overview, programs and resources
Medicaid benefit application process
Medicaid Managed Care
Texas Health Steps
Also known as the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) service, Texas Health Steps is Medicaid’s comprehensive and preventive child health service for individuals ages birth through 20.Medicaid Complaints Process
The HHS Office of the Ombudsman assists clients with complaints and concerns.
Medicaid Attendant Care Programs
Medicaid Waiver Programs
Waiver programs offer an array of services to allow people the option to remain in the community instead of entering residential placement; all waive Medicaid income requirements to allow clients to receive Medicaid benefits.
- Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) gives home and community-based supports to children and adults with related conditions. There are over 200 related conditions, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. The related condition must have occurred before the child turned 22.
- Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) provides services for children and adults who are deaf- blind or have a related condition that leads to deaf-blindness, and who have another disability.
- Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) gives services and supports to children and adults with an intellectual disability (ID) or a related condition who live with their families, in their own homes, or in small group homes with no more than four people.
- Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) provides services to children and adults who are 20 and younger who are medically fragile as an alternative to receiving services in a nursing facility.
- STAR+PLUS Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) provides services to adults over the age of 21 to keep them in their community and not in a nursing home facility.
- Texas Home Living (TxHmL) provides services to children and adults with an intellectual disability (ID) or a related condition who live in their own home or their family’s home.
- Youth Empowerment Services (YES) provides home and community-based services to children under the age of 19 who otherwise would need psychiatric inpatient care or whose parents would turn to state custody for care.
Navigate Life Texas, a project of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission that provides support and information about the Texas Medicaid waiver programs for families raising children with disabilities.
How to direct the parent or client to be added to an Interest List:
You do not have to prove the client is eligible before adding them to waiver interest lists. The client will go through this process once they move to the top of the list. Only then is the eligibility information reviewed and used to decide whether the client can enroll. Case managers should encourage parents to add their children to waiver interest lists as soon as possible because the wait for services can be long.
- Call 1-877-438-5658 for information about putting your client on an interest list for long-term services. This is for the CLASS, DBMD, and MDCP waivers.
- Call the Local Mental Health Authority about the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) waiver program.
- Call the Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) to get your client on the interest list for the HCS and Texas Home Living Waiver programs. You can search for the client’s LIDDA’s telephone number.
Medical Transportation Program
Transportation services are available to people covered by Medicaid who have no other means of transportation to get to a Medicaid provider, such as the doctor, dentist, pharmacy or therapy appointment. The program may include van pickup, bus passes or mileage reimbursement. - Advocacy Organizations
Disability Rights Texas
This is a protection and advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities.Texas Parent to Parent
Provides support, information, and education to families with children of all ages who have disabilities or chronic illnesses.Navigate Life Texas
This website is especially for families and parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs and is designed to offer support, inspiration, resources, and links to services available. - Developmental/Educational Resources
As you work with children with disabilities you will need to know about their educational rights.
Special Education and Related Services
Children and youth (ages 3‐21) with disabilities are entitled to free appropriate public education (FAPE) that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
A statewide program for children birth through age 3 with disabilities or developmental delays. Provides evaluations and therapies.Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD)
The Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) is provided by Texas Independent School Districts for children with disabilities who are 3 to 5 years old.Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Meetings
All children receiving special education and related services in Texas are required to have a minimum of one Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meeting per year. These meetings are necessary for developing and implementing each student’s individual education plan (IEP). - State and Federal Programs and Resources
Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCG)
CRCGs are groups of local partners and community agencies that help people with complex needs that can’t be met by a single agency. They join people or families with public and private agencies to get people the help they need.Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS)
Report Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation
Call or report online (1) child abuse and neglect; (2) abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of the elderly or adults with disabilities living at home; (3) abuse of children in child-care facilities or treatment centers; or (4) abuse of adults and children who live in state facilities or are being helped by programs for people with mental illness or intellectual disabilities.Services for People Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired
The Blind Children’s Vocational Discovery and Development Program works with each child and young adult (ages 0-22) and family to create a service plan tailored to the child’s needs and circumstances.Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have limited income and resources.2-1-1 Texas
Provides resources for food, health, housing, Medicaid application assistance and more.Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Helps eligible low-income households buy food for their family.Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
Provides financial assistance to needy dependent children and the parents or relatives with whom they are living. Assistance is time‐limited and promotes work, responsibility and self‐sufficiency.Texas WIC
WIC is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children eat well, learn about nutrition and stay healthy. Nutrition education and counseling, nutritious foods, and help accessing health care are provided to low-income women, infants and children through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, popularly known as WIC. WIC services are free to those who meet eligibility criteria.
