Parents of children with mental disabilities receive Medicaid training

Parents of children with disabilities can often find themselves scratching their heads when it comes to Medicaid services. Idaho Parents Unlimited is a federally mandated program to help parents navigate the Medicaid system with a mentally disabled child.

A staff of only three women work across the state to teach parents about the different programs. They help parents with program changes as the child gets older. Since their children are diagnosed with a mental disability, these women are familiar with Medicaid on a personal level.

“My biggest charge, my biggest passion right now is to really improve those systems by either identifying the gaps in all of those programs and then coming up with ideas of how to improve them,” said program director Jennifer Zielinksi. “Especially for children like my daughter, Chelsea.”

The big question parents were asking is how they can apply for programs like the Katie Beckett Medicaid program. It allows for at-home care, instead of an institution. Some also wondered about other services the schools can provide. Idaho Parents Unlimited wants parents to understand their rights and responsibilities.

“We use a term in our office that when parents get a diagnosis and they say, ‘now what?'” said Zielinski. “We can provide that information and walk them through that entire process.”

There will also be a special needs Easter egg hunt in Ammon on March 26 .