HCP family resource guide

Online Databases

• Search the 211 Colorado online database for access to comprehensive community information and resources.

Caregiver support

• The Autism Society of Colorado helps create connection. They connect people with Autism to the resources they need to live full, vibrant, self-actualized lives.

Care Coordination

• Health First Colorado regional organizations by county. (Health First Colorado website)
• HCP Care Coordinators. (Google spreadsheet)

Respite

Respite provides a break for primary caregivers. Caregivers often face added stress as a result of balancing the needs of their loved one with a developmental disability/delay, the needs of other family members, and the stressors of everyday life. Respite allows caregivers to rest, recharge, and balance those stressors and continue to provide complete care.

• Visit the Colorado Respite Coalition website or call 303-233-1666, extension 8, to get information on rest and resources for caregivers, events, and trainings.
  • Resources for Caregivers this Way! (Colorado Respite Coalition website)
• Explore the Developmental Pathways Respite/Camp options webpage. It includes seasonal camps and respite options.

Support

• Family Voices Colorado is a grassroots organization run by parents of children with special healthcare needs. The support they provide is from someone who understands the many challenges of having a child with special health care needs in their life.
• Findhelp can connect you with local food pantries and meal programs. You can also find resources for housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.
• Meeting the Needs of ALL Families is a PDF resource guide that was compiled by the Family-Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA) to highlight the rich diversity and unique needs of today’s families.
• Ability Connection Colorado's Parent to Parent website supports families, parents, and caregivers by connecting them to emotional and informational resources. Their services include:
  • One-to-one trained support parent matching
  • A private online discussion group comprised of more than 2,000 caregivers
  • An additional online forum dedicated to caregivers of individuals with mental health and/or behavioral challenges
  • Virtual support groups, book clubs & disability and parenting-related presentations
    Public policy advocacy opportunities
• The PEAK Parent Center is a nonprofit founded in 1986 that works to ensure that all people with disabilities are fully included in their neighborhood schools, communities, employment, and all walks of life. PEAK offers an array of free and low-cost services to families of children with disabilities and self-advocates across Colorado and beyond. Explore PEAK's early childhood, school-age, transition, and ADR/dispute prevention resources and their Spanish resource library.
• Show & Tell (formerly the THRIVE Center) is one of 30 Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) in the U.S. that focus on reaching underserved parents of children with disabilities, including those in particular areas with low incomes. Show & Tell's focus is crafting relationships with underserved families and connecting them with the tools they need to help their children develop essential life skills. They offer free services, resource navigation, special education expertise, community connection, and a bi-weekly newsletter.
• The Arc is the largest community-based organization in the U.S. advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. They believe every person and family living with disabilities should have access to the information, supports, and skills they need for inclusion and participation in the community. Arc provides a variety of resources.

Diagnosis specific

• Brain injury
  • MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all individuals in Colorado who are living with or affected by brain injuries, as well as their communities. Operating under the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), MINDSOURCE acts as the umbrella entity for three unique functions: the Lead State Agency on brain injuries, the Trust Fund Board, and the Colorado Advisory Council on Brain Injuries. MINDSOURCE offers brain injury resources, including screening tools, educational and awareness materials, and training opportunities.
  • Brain Injury Association of Colorado (BIAC) supports individuals across the state who are impacted by a brain injury, stroke, or concussion. Services are available to everyone, including adults, children, parents, and caregivers.
  • The Colorado Kids with Brain Injury website serves as a resource for educators, related service providers, community partners, families, and anyone seeking information, tools, and guidance to support Colorado students with brain injuries. It is a companion to the Brain Injury in Children and Youth: A Manual for Educators.

Educational support

• The Colorado Department of Early Childhood PLAYbook contains information and activities that anyone caring for young children – including parents, siblings, guardians, grandparents, babysitters, neighbors, and family friends - can use to prepare children to be successful when entering kindergarten.
• The Early Intervention (EI) Colorado program provides support and services to children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families from birth until the child’s third birthday. Early Intervention Colorado can help families learn ways to support and promote their child’s development within their everyday routines and activities. Visit the Early Intervention Colorado website (available in English and Spanish) or call 1-833-733-3734.
• The Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind is a preschool-12th-grade residential school with post high school education. Students who have completed all of their high school credits needed to meet graduation requirements can elect to defer acceptance of their high school diploma and join CSDB’s transition program, Bridges to Life (BtL). Housed on the campus of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB), the Colorado Instructional Materials Center (CIMC) provides braille and large print textbooks and novels, as well as instructional products, to teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs) licensed by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) for use by students who have been identified with “Visual Impairment, Including Blindness” in Colorado schools at less than college level. Visit their website or call 710-578-2100 to learn more.

Emergency planning

• The American Red Cross provides a variety of emergency resources. Be Red Cross Ready training is available and provides emergency preparedness training designed to help people understand, prepare for, and respond appropriately to disasters. The ASL Disaster Resource Hub provides disaster safety information presented in American Sign Language for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The American Red Cross and its partners also install free assistive equipment that is designed to alert individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in the event of a fire. Submit an Assistive Equipment Request form to request these services for deaf or hard-of-hearing members of your household.
• The Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind provides website includes a searchable service directory, program information, and info guides.
  • The Communications Technology Program (CTP) provides communications resources and tools, including amplified and captioned phones, smartphones, and tablets, as well as ring signalers and neck loops or headsets and specialized equipment at no charge to qualified deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind. Visit their website to learn more and complete an online CTP application. CTP offers a HomeAware notification kit (page 4 of the Communication Devices and Descriptions list) that includes a built-in smoke/carbon monoxide listener. When placed in the bedroom when there is a required traditional smoke detector on the ceiling, it will receive the sound when it's alerted. This will cause the system to flash a light and for the bed shaker to vibrate. The screen will also state "smoke".Visit their website to learn more and complete an online CTP application. The American Sign Language (ASL) InfoGuide includes information about in-person and virtual ASL classes, social media sites, events, and more.
• Our Front Porch helps home fire and other disaster survivors navigate next steps through mental health support, insurance navigation, housing advocacy, providing essentials, and more at no cost.
• Xcel Energy offers help with energy bills and extra communications for people with a qualifying existing medical condition through the Safe for Colorado program.
• The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response created the HHS Child and Adolescent Health Emergency Planning Toolkit to address the needs of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) in emergency preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and community resilience activities. It is a companion to the HHS Maternal-Child Health Emergency Planning Toolkit designed to improve the capacity of health care, public health, and social services professionals to address maternal and child health in emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities.
• Family Voices is focused on transforming systems of care to work better for all children and youth, especially those with special health care needs or disabilities. Family Voices offers resources including Preparing for Emergencies: Tips for Families. 

Speciality Care Clinics

• The Children’s Hospital Colorado Regional Outreach Clinics provide pediatric specialty care close to home for kids and families throughout Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. The list of specialty clinics is maintained in partnership with CU Medicine. Specialty regional outreach clinics provide an opportunity for pediatric providers to see patients in their own community in partnership with local pediatric offices or hospitals in the community.

Genetics

• Learn more about genetic screening by visiting the Mountain State Regional Genetics Network website. Resources are available in English and Spanish.

Newborns

• Family Connects Colorado uses an evidence-based approach to support all newborns and their families.
• The NICU Resource Connection of Colorado helps families connect with local resources to support them during their time in the NICU and the transition home.

Transition resources

Transition resources help prepare students for adult life.

• Got Transition/Center for Health Care Transition is a cooperative agreement between the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health. They work to help youth and young adults move from pediatric to adult health care.
• State agencies have services available in many local communities throughout the state. Many agencies serve youth and adults with disabilities. Some offer vocational and residential services, others provide personal support or financial assistance. The Colorado Department of Education's list of agencies that offer support and resources for families with students with disabilities helps identify resources in your community. 

Foster and kinship resources

• The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHES) supports people and families by connecting them with assistance, resources, and support at every stage of their lives. There are many different child and family services available to assist children and families in Colorado.
• Kinship caregivers are relatives, friends, neighbors, and other people with a significant relationship to a child, youth or family. Kinship caregivers provide care and protection to children and youth who cannot remain safely in their home due to issues including child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, incarceration, mental health, domestic violence, death of a parent, financial hardships, and military deployments. To keep up with what's going on in Colorado's kinship community, check out the Colorado Foster Care Facebook page. 

Telehealth

Telehealth provides best-practice medical care for patient visits or education at a time and place most convenient for the family. Learn more about telehealth on the Children’s Hospital Colorado website.

Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program)

• Health First Colorado is Colorado’s Medicaid Program. Learn more by visiting their website:
  • Health First Colorado Frequently Asked Questions.
  • Apply For Health First Colorado.
  • Health First Colorado Benefits & Services.
  • How do I request a Health First Colorado card?
  • Search for Health First Colorado or Child Health Plan Plus doctors, waiver services, pharmacies, and other providers.
  • The Health First Colorado Member Handbook is available in English and in Spanish.
  • The Nurse Advice Line provides Health First Colorado members free medical information and advice, in both English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call 800-283-3221.
    Health First Colorado Regional Organizations can help you understand and manage your physical and behavioral health care. It can also help connect you to providers and with other resources such as transportation, food assistance or other social services.
• Colorado Programs for Children includes information on eligibility criteria, benefits and services, and how to apply for Medicaid, Medicaid buy-in, CHP+, waivers, services for physical, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and behavioral health services.
  • Learn more about choosing an HCBS waiver for children.
  • Learn about Long-Term Services & Supports (available in English and in Spanish).
• Community Center Boards (CCBs) are agencies designated by the department responsible for leveraging available local or regional funding to address unmet needs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Counties without a designated CCB should consult their county Case Management Agency (CMA) for potential resources.
• Case Management Agencies (CMAs)assist individuals and families with accessing necessary Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), Community First Choice (CFC) services, and other supports to meet their needs. Services include intake, eligibility determination, service plan development, arrangement for services, delivery of services, service and support coordination, monitoring, and termination and discharge from services. The CMA and CCB Agency Directory can help you find an agency in your county.
• The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) members aged 20 and under, along with pregnant adults.
• The Healthy Communities Program Outreach Program is performed by a Regional Organization. They will answer Health First Colorado member questions concerning providers and benefits.
• Behavioral therapy is a treatment that helps change nonadaptive behaviors. Professionals use this type of therapy to replace bad habits with good ones.
   

Medical emergencies

• If you or your child is having a medical emergency, please call 911 or seek emergency care. 

Crisis support

• Call or chat the Colorado Mental Health Line at 988 for free, confidential, immediate, human support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know is struggling with an emotional, mental health, or substance use concern, call, text, or live chat with 988 today. When you live chat, call, or text 988, you'll be connected with a trained specialist. They'll ask a few questions to learn more about your concerns. Then they'll listen to you and provide support. If needed, they'll share relevant information and resources.
  • Services are available in English and in Spanish.

Emotional support

• Colorado LIFTS is a new way to connect people in Colorado with mental health, substance use, and crisis support. It’s a statewide network that helps people get care—especially those who don’t have insurance or don’t have enough coverage. Anyone in Colorado - no matter where they live in the state or if they have insurance - can visit OwnPath website to get connected to human support in beginning or continuing their journey to whole person health.
  The OwnPath Care Directory helps connect people in Colorado to affordable mental health, substance use, and crisis care, including in the Colorado LIFTS network.
   

Please connect with your pharmacy and/or your primary care provider for prescription refills and concerns.

• Children's Hospital Colorado's ParentSmart Healthline™ is a 24/7 phone line that connects parents and caregivers with a qualified pediatric nurse. Call 720-777-0123 or 1-855-543-4636 (KID-INFO). When you call ParentSmart, an experienced pediatric nurse will ask you questions about the reason for your call, your child’s healthcare history, and what symptoms they’re experiencing. Your child doesn’t need to be a current patient for you to call ParentSmart. Depending on your child’s situation, they might recommend at-home care options or refer you to a pediatric urgent care or emergency room location. All guidance given is compatible with the American Academy of Pediatrics and telehealth guidelines used in most pediatric offices. ParentSmart also provides information on community resources and can help you find a doctor or pediatrician in your area.
• The Nurse Advice Line provides Health First Colorado members free medical information and advice, in both English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call 800-283-3221.

CO4KIDS

• 844-CO-4-Kids is available 24 hours a day, every day. Don’t hesitate to call and get help. The presence of a single sign does not mean that child maltreatment is occurring in a family. However, it may be necessary to take a closer look at the situation when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination. Trust your gut instinct and call CO4KIDS at 844-CO-4-Kids if you are concerned for the safety and well-being of a child or youth. The CO4KIDS website is available in a variety of languages.