Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
November 2015
Inside this issue:
1) Webinar - Medical Home: Primary Health Care We All Deserve – Nov. 12, 12 p.m.
2) Open Enrollment Time for the Health Insurance Marketplace
3) Prematurity Awareness Month
4) Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview for Educators
5) I’m Determined Has Resources for Parents, Too
6) Embracing a Culture of Accessibility in the Workplace
7) 2016 IEP Training
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1) Webinar - Medical Home: Primary Health Care We All Deserve – Nov. 12, 12 p.m.
What is a medical home and why, as a parent of a child/youth with a special health care need should you advocate to implement it as standard care? This medical home webinar presentation scheduled for Nov. 12, from 12 to 1 p.m. will cover the origins and evolution of the medical home model, how to talk to your primary care manager, what should be offered and the positive outcomes to having a medical home. The presenter, Keishawna Smith, is the parent consultant with the Mississippi Family 2 Family Health Information and Education Center at the Institute for Disability Studies. To register for this webinar presented in conjunction with the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center (MSPTI), visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1119181160746849537.
2) Open Enrollment Time for the Health Insurance Marketplace
Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace has started and will go through January 31, 2016. Here are some important dates to remember:
· December 15, 2015 – last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start January 1, 2016
· January 15, 2016 – 2016 coverage starts for those who enroll or change plans by December 15, 2015
· January 31, 2016 – 2016 open enrollment ends. Enrollment or changes between January 16 and January 31 take effect March 1, 2016
Remember, if you don’t enroll in a 2016 health insurance plan by January 31, 2016, you can’t enroll in a health insurance plan for 2016 unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. Mississippi does not have a state portal, so residents will use the federal portal. There are several ways to get your health insurance coverage:
· First time enrollees can get coverage through the following link: https://www.healthcare.gov/get-coverage/
· Do you have a 2015 plan? Log in to update your application, compare and renew, or change for 2016 at this link: https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/global/en_US/registration
· Would you like help in person? You can find a trained assister in your community to help you: https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/
For more information about the Health Care Marketplace, contact Mississippi Family 2 Family at 601.432.6929 or ksmith@ihl.state.ms.us.
3) Prematurity Awareness Month
What is a premature birth? It is a birth that is at least three weeks before a baby’s due date. It is also known as preterm birth (or less than 37 weeks—full term is 40 weeks). Important growth and development occur throughout pregnancy—especially in the final months and weeks. The earlier a baby is born, the more severe his or her health problems are likely to be. Although the United States has seen sustained improvement in its preterm birth rate, it has one of the highest rates of preterm births of any industrialized country. More infants die from preterm-related problems than from any other single cause. Those who survive may face lifelong problems such as delayed development, cerebral palsy, breathing/respiratory problems, visual problems, hearing loss or feeding and digestive problems.
What can you do? (Best Practices)
1. If you smoke, stop! Tobacco use can contribute to premature birth and respiratory problems. Need help quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
2. Avoid alcohol or drugs.
3. Get prenatal care as soon as you think you may be pregnant and throughout your pregnancy.
4. It’s never too early to talk to your primary care manager about
a. A pre-pregnancy checkup
b. How to control risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes
c. A healthy diet and prenatal vitamins
d. Warning signs or symptoms of preterm labor that will need medical attention
e. What to do if you have already had a preterm birth
f. Breastfeeding and other options
For more information, visit the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/preterm/Pages/default.aspx.
4) Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview for Educators
The IRIS Center at Vanderbilt Peabody College offers Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview for Educators. This informational module covers the early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and provides an overview of the difference between medical diagnosis and an educational determination of ASD. The module also includes instructional considerations for teachers who have students with ASD in their classrooms, as well as things to keep in mind when working with families of those students. For more information, visit http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/asd1/.
5) I’m Determined Has Resources for Parents, Too
The I’m Determined project, a state directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education, focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior. This project facilitates youth, especially those with disabilities to undertake a measure of control in their lives, helping to set and steer the course rather than remaining the silent passenger. I’m Determined also has good resources for families interested in developing their child’s self-advocacy, decision making, self-management and other skills associated with self-determination. To review these resources, visit http://www.imdetermined.org/parents/resources/
6) Embracing a Culture of Accessibility in the Workplace
There’s more to workplace accessibility than installing a ramp. Learn how much more in this post for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) by Emily Ladau, author of the Words I Wheel By blog. To view the blog, visit http://www.aucd.org/template/news.cfm?news_id=11510&parent=16&parent_title=Home&url=/template/index.cfm.
7) 2016 IEP Training
The Mississippi Department of Education Office of Special Education is presenting a series of informational sessions for families of students with disabilities. You can join in a training session from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at a session near you. Upcoming locations:
· January 21 - MSU, Kahlmus Auditorium, 1000 Hwy 19 N, Meridian
· March 1 - Harrison County School District Central Office, 11072 Hwy 49, Gulfport
For more information, contact the Office of Special Education at 1.877.544.0408 or at http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/OSE.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Family Health Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Health Notes is sponsored by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Mississippi’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at The University of Southern Mississippi. IDS provides university training, community service activities, research and information that promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information about IDS, visit http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies/support-ids.
The Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center (F2F) is a family-focused, family managed resource center that empowers families of Mississippi children with special health care needs to be partners in the decisions made concerning the health of their children. F2F is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#H84MC07948).
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