Respite Home in Rockdale County

Haven House, a 4 bedroom respite home for individuals with developmental disabilities, sponsored by Rockdale Cares and operated by Georgia Community Support and Solutions is officially open as of 10/17/2008. For information and to schedule respite, contact Denise Urgent or Julianna Butcher at 404 634 4222 x226.

Champions for Children - Funding for families w/ special needs children

The Champions for Children Program for the state of Georgia is a possible funding source for families who have children diagnosed with a disability under the age of 21, who were denied the Katie Beckett Waiver and not presently receiving any additional funding source.
If anyone is interested in the program, please see below or go to:

www.southerngeorgia.easterseals.com

Champions for Children ProgramEaster Seals Georgia Coalition was recently 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 April 1, 2008.Appling , Colquitt , Long , Ware Atkinson , Cook , Lowndes , Wayne Bacon , Crisp , McIntosh , Wilcox Baker , Decatur , Miller , Worth Ben Hill , Dooly , Mitchell Berrien , Dougherty , Pierce Brantley , Early , Quitman Brooks , Echols , Randolph Bryan , Effingham , Screven Bulloch , Evans , Seminole Calhoun , Glynn , Sumter Camden , Grady , Tattnall Chatham , Irwin , Terrell Charlton , Jeff , Davis , Thomas Clay , Lanier , Tift Clinch , Lee , Toombs Coffee , Liberty , Turner Families living in the counties served by Easter Seals North Georgia (metro Atlanta) will be able to access the program beginning July 1st. The program is expected to be available statewide by October 1st. 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/Katie 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 website for the Easter Seals Champions for Children's Program is under development and is scheduled to be operational within the next 60 days. A description of the Champions for Children Program, the application for services and other information will be available on the site. 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 wants to ensure that a simple and effective process is put in place, which is why we are rolling 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. However, we respectfully request that you call our toll-free number beginning April 1, 2008 only if you live in one of the 54 counties listed above.

Remember Georgia's Children Foundation

Christy Zeigler is raising money to build a park that accomadate children of all abilities. Christy gave birth to twins prematurely and her daughter did not survive. Her vision is to build a park that will also have a refuge for families who have lost children or help children with disabilities. The website for the park is below and will give you a better idea of Christy's goal for the park.
Georgia Children's Park and Family Refuge http://www.RememberGeorgiasChildren.org
Remember Georgia ’s Children Foundation is building the park to celebrate the lives of all children. The project is being launched with our Founding Mothers Campaign.

The goal is to raise $80,000 in 3 Months.
Women of Georgia – We Can Do This!
Let’s band together to make a difference for families now and generations to come.

You can be a part of history in the making.

NOW THROUGH THE END OF MAY, 2008,
EVERY WOMAN WHO MAKES A CONTRIBUTION
WILL BE HONORED BY NAME IN THE FUTURE PARK.

-Also makes a great Mother’s Day gift!