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Child Development, Health, and Medical Resources | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Table
of Contents
Introduction Direct Service
Resources Child Development, Health, and Medical Resources
Mental Health Resources Informational Resources Appendices
Last updated 11/10/2008
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Child Development ServicesAll Maine children are entitled to screening for developmental, physical, and learning disabilities. Many state-affiliated and private non-profit community service agencies provide evaluation and screening of pre-school age children. In this guide, we have listed Child Development Services, a quasi-state agency with branch offices in each county that is funded through the Maine Department of Education, but we encourage you to explore other programs as well.
Head
Start Programs
Head
Start is a national program which provides developmental services for
low-income, pre-school children ages three to five.
Head Start programs follow national guidelines, but are managed
locally through community non-profit organizations. Core components of
Head Start services include children’s health services, education,
parent involvement, and social services referral. The
following Head Start programs currently serve local Maine communities:
Developmental
Disabilities
Alpha
One (Physical and Developmental Disabilities)
Services: Personal attendant services, independent living education, recreation programs, financial help for purchasing adaptive equipment and home remodeling, consultation regarding accessibility issues. Autism
Program Autism
Society of Maine Services:
Information and training regarding Autism and Pervasive Developmental
Disorder. Family-oriented support groups are held throughout the state.
Lending library with books and video tapes. Center for Therapeutic
Recreation Services:
Goal-oriented therapeutic recreation and socialization activities
for children and adults with special needs. Consultation and education. Cerebral Palsy Center Services:
Education and treatment services for pre-school and school age
children, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Department of Children's Behavioral Services
Services:
Early intervention
services through the first year of school, individual case management
for children age 5-18 with autism, childhood mental illness, mental
retardation, or pervasive developmental disorder. For early intervention
and case management services, contact the Regional Coordinator.
For mental health information and referral, contact the
Children’s Mental Health Coordinator. Disability Rights Center of
Maine Services: Advocacy services for people with developmental disabilities. GEAR
Parent Network Services:
Provides emotional and practical support for parents caring for
children with challenging special needs through phone contact, one on
one contacts, group meetings, local and regional conferences, workshops,
informational forums and social events.
Genetics
Clinic, Eastern Maine Medical Center Services:
Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other developmental
disorders. New
England Regional Genetics Group Services:
Primarily an educational and research organization. Coordinates summer
camps for children with sickle cell anemia and their families. Maine Parent Federation (see also
SPIN) Services:
Parents of children with special needs meet as members of
regional advisory councils that plan for disability-related services in
their region. Many
opportunities for sharing support and resource information. Maine Parent
Federation also maintains an extensive lending library of books and
videos. Parent
Support Program, Southern Maine Parent Awareness Services:
Support groups for parents who have children with various
disabilities. Sponsors Maine Meeting Place, a computer network
for people with disabilities and their families. Pediatrics Specialty
Group, Maine Medical Center Services:
Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other developmental
disorders. SPIN
(Special Needs Parents Information Network) Services: Information and education for parents, service providers, and the community. Lending library with books and videos pertaining to specific disabilities, technical assistance for developing parent networks, quarterly newsletter. Waban Projects, Inc. Services: Offers child development services, including pre-school program, infant-toddler program, and development assessment program for Sanford residents. Other services include case management services for children with diagnoses of PDD, autism-spectrum disorders, or mental retardation. WABAN also offers home based services for families with unmet needs, as well as residential programs for adults. General
Health and “Well Child” Resources
Programs
Under MaineCare (See
the “Financial Services” section for a complete description
of MaineCare benefits and how to apply.) EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment) Services:
Provides periodic check-ups, well-child evaluations
and immunizations through your primary care provider. Participants must
be MaineCare-eligible. Contact your nearest district DHHS office. Health
Works Services: Provides information and referral for a wide variety of services, including a wide range of MaineCare-approved health and medical providers, mental health services, substance abuse treatment programs, educational and employment services. Chronic
Health Conditions/Physical Disabilities
Allergy and
Asthma Associates of Maine Services:
Diagnosis and treatment Allergy and Asthma
Associates of Central Maine Services:
Diagnosis and treatment Alpha
One (Physical and Developmental Disabilities)
Services:
Personal attendant services, independent living
education, recreation programs, financial help for purchasing adaptive
equipment and home remodeling, consultation regarding accessibility
issues. Brain Injury Association of
Maine Services: Information and referral, support groups Epilepsy Resource Center Services: Literature,
videotapes and books regarding all aspects of epilepsy. Support Group in
Portland every other month. Personal experience with epilepsy. Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation Services: Support group for diabetics, family members, and friends. Maine Center for Integrated Rehabilitation
Maine Educational Center for
Assistive Technology Services: MECATS is working
toward an inclusive world where everyone has access to high quality,
meaningful learning by providing education and technical
assistance to students, parents, and educators regarding assistive
technology. Maine Lead Action Project (Lead
Poisoning) Services:
Information and referral, parent to parent support re: lead
poisoning, its prevention, and what to do when your child is poisoned. Muscular
Dystrophy Association Services: Information and referral, adaptive equipment loan program, assistance for purchasing a wheelchair, summer camp program. Pine
Tree Society for Handicapped Children and Adults Services: ASL interpreting, speech and hearing evaluation and therapy, school-based occupational therapy, post-polio support group, residential camp for persons with severe mental and physical disabilities. Terminal
Illness/Bereavement
The AIDS Project Services:
Provides support and case management services to persons with
HIV/AIDS infection. Provides community education/ training, anonymous
HIV antibody testing program, support groups, and meals program for
persons with HIV/Aids infection, as well as education video library. I Can Cope Services: Eight-week educational programs with cancer and their families. Sessions begin each Fall, Winter, and Spring. The
Jason Program Services:
Serves the needs of critically ill children and their families
through care coordination and education. Supports primary care providers
by helping to pull together comprehensive care teams from local
resources which address medical, social, emotional, practical, and
spiritual needs. Maine
Hospice Council Services:
Information regarding hospice services/palliative care and
referral to local hospice programs. Make
a Wish Foundation Services:
Grants the wishes of children with life-threatening
illnesses, such as a trip to Disney World, a day as a police officer, a
new computer, or meeting a favorite celebrity. Anyone can submit for a
wish by calling or using their website.
Pathfinders: Support for Grieving Children Services: Provides a safe and supportive setting for children ages 3-17 to find their way through grief in the company of other children who have suffered a loss.
Ronald
MacDonald House of Portland Ronald
MacDonald House of Bangor Services: Provides overnight accommodations for families with seriously ill
children who have been hospitalized. Families are asked to make a $10.00
donation per night, but services are free for those who are unable to
pay. Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Support Group Services: Parent to parent support and public education about SIDS. Child Abuse and Neglect Councils of Maine There are 16 Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) Councils in Maine, one for each county. Each is a local resource for parenting information, education and support. Advocates for Children
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