How CSNN Helps our Community

Participation in the Children's Special Needs Network is open to all persons interested in promoting the well being of children with special needs. Parents, grandparents, organization representatives, healthcare professionals, educators, agency members, businessmen and women, and other interested individuals have contributed time and energy to CSNN projects. Currently, CSNN has extensive participation from professionals in virtually all healthcare fields (physicians, dentists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, speech pathologists, psychotherapists) along with social workers, educators, and others who provide services for children with special needs.

Meeting Needs

• A Loan Closet of donated medical equipment and supplies for those who do not have a funding source to cover these items. Central Texas families in need have received items such as wheelchairs, feeding pumps, patient lifts, hospital beds, walkers, Pediasure, and diapers. Two children have even been given power wheelchairs that are valued at $14,000.

Making Connections

• Annual Conferences for families who have children with special needs and the professionals who work with them. The conference with exhibits, meals, and child care are provided without cost for families. (This year we will also sponsor a conference in Hillsboro on February 24, 2007.)
• Afternoon Respite in which children with special needs and their siblings receive care one afternoon per month while their parents have a time to themselves.


• Funds from a grant from the Department of State Health Services, CSNN provides a variety of direct support services to children who have special health care needs. These services include:
  
  
  1. Facility-based respite one Saturday afternoon each month for families to bring all of their children.
  2. Funds for in-home respite (child care that gives caregivers a break) .
  3. Funds for equipment and supplies.
  4. Respitality to provide funds for caregivers to pay for a hotel stay in order to get away.
  5. Scholarships to Camp so that children can have a fun week of horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, and socializing with new friends while their parents receive a week of needed respite care.
  6. Counseling services for parents and children, including the siblings of the child with special health care needs.
  7. Home modifications such as ramps and widening doorways in the house to make it easier for wheelchair access.
  8. Conference and Workshop fees so that caregivers can receive information to assist them in caring for their children with disabilities.
  9. Funds to cover medical costs not covered by other funding.
• Information and referral to parents and professionals inquiring about services available for children with special needs. Through telephone calls, e-mail, and face-to-face meetings, families and professionals are given information concerning help with special educational issues, parent and sibling support meetings, available funding and resources, and accessible and appropriate activities.
• Newsletter that is sent to over 1200 parents, professionals, and interested citizens. The newsletter contains information concerning upcoming events, pertinent legislative issues, available services, equipment available in the Loan Closet, and articles of interest to families of children with special needs.

• An informative Website—www.special-children.org
• A Resource Library of books and videos with information relevant to families and professionals who work with children with special needs.
• Training for pediatric residents, nursing students, and other medical personnel to more sensitively and effectively work with families who have children with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
• Monthly Parent and Professional Training Workshops in Waco, Temple, Killeen, and Georgetown.
• Recreational and social experiences for children with special needs, including the Annual Family Play Day at Peaceable Kingdom Retreat Center for Children, a beautiful wheelchair accessible retreat center created for the enjoyment of children with special needs.
• Build awareness in the community regarding the needs of families raising children with disabilities and chronic illnesses through one on one meetings as well as presentations to churches, civic organizations, and other groups.