MiCASSA HELPS FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

MiCASSA redirects the focus of the Medicaid long term services program from

institutions to home and community services and supports. It enables

families to make real choices. Given "REAL CHOICE" people overwhelmingly

choose "HOME SWEET HOME."

Studies show that children currently living in America's institutions and

nursing homes do not have more severe disabilities than those who live with

their families at home and use attendant services and supports.

Families DON'T want to place children with disabilities in institutions.

Families want children to live at home where they can maintain family ties,

go to school and grow as other children do.

Families also want their children to have a secure future and real options

for home and community services and supports when their families are no

longer providing full-time care.

Tell legislators about your hopes for your child, both now and in the

future.

Young people with disabilities are not in institutions or foster care

because of the amount of care they need. They are in because of the lack of

attendant services and supports. Many, many children with significant

disabilities DO live at home with their families.

Some of the real reasons why children and young adults with disabilities go

into institutions or nursing homes:

Parents can't hold down a job that supports their family AND provide

full-time care to a child with disability.

Parents may be able to provide much of the care that a young child needs,

but may not be physically able to manage lifting and positing as the child

grows up.

Parents fear that when their child is old enough to move out of the house,

no independent living, community options will be available.

People don't know that there are alternatives to nursing homes and other

institutions.

Public policy supports institutions NOT people with disabilities and their

families.

WHAT MiCASSA DOES

MiCASSA provides Medicaid funding for attendant services and supports for

people of all ages.

Services Can be provided at home, in school, at work and at play.

Assistance is available for a broad range for needs, such as bathing,

dressing, meal preparation, money management and certain health-related

tasks.

MiCASSA will be available to young adults when they move out of their

parents' homes into the community.

Tell your legislators that American families need MiCASSA!!!

That them what YOUR situation is and how MiCASSA would help YOU and YOUR

FAMILY.

O.K. MiCASSA IN 1999!!

Tell legislators what kind of long-term service and support system YOU

want!!

"HOME SWEET HOME"