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Children's Choice Waiver

The Children's Choice Waiver is for children age 0-20 who live with their parents.

Note: This system is changing. You will still hear about the 4 different waivers, but they will soon be  integrated into one.

What services are a part of the Children's Choice Waiver?

  • Support Coordination Image of a clipboard
  • Center-Based Respite Care
  • Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies
  • Professional Services
  • Crisis Services
  • Family Support Services
  • Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
  • Family Training
  • Housing Stabilization Services

A child who qualifies for the Children's Choice Waiver will not necessarily get all of these services. It will depend on their situation and their needs.

Click on the boxes below to read more about each service. (Click the title again to close each box.)

Support coordination will help your child get the waiver and Medicaid services they need.

Here's what will happen:

  • You will choose an agency that offers support coordination.

  • They will give you a Support Coordinator.

  • The Coordinator will come to your home and do an intake and assessment - they'll get to know your child and their needs.

  • They will help you create a service plan for your child. This is called the Plan of Care (POC).

The Support Coordinator will be your teammate in the waiver process.They will be your main contact for anything relating to waiver services.

Support Coordination services include:

  • Intake and assessment - getting to know your child and their needs

  • Writing a POC based on your child's needs and goals

  • Planning services and choosing providers based on who you want to work with

  • Meeting with your child on a regular basis to check in and get updates

  • Transitioning them out of services, if needed 

Family Support Services offer a  personal care attendant (PCA) who will work with you to help care for your child.

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Notes:

  • Services can take place at your home or someplace else, like an after school program or summer camp.

  • Services cannot take place at the PCA's home, a hospital, a center-based respite facilities, or outside of Louisiana.

A Respite Care Center is a place where qualified staff can take care of your child for a short time if you need some time off.

So if you have a sudden emergency and need to travel, or if you're planning a work trip, you can have your child stay at a respite care center while you're away.

If your trip will last longer than 30 days, you'll have to let your Support Coordinator know. They'll have to get permission from OCDD before a respite center can host your child for that long.

This service will pay for you to get extra training that will help you care for your child.

  • This will cover the cost of any fees that are a part of the training. You will have to pay for your own travel, food, and hotel (if needed).

  • The service will also pay for training for other people who help you care for your child but are not being paid (like a grandparent or friend).

  • Trainings will have to be listed in your child's POC.

  • If you want to go to a training, you'll need to complete the Family Training Request Form.

Click the link at the bottom of the page to download a copy of the form.

This service will pay for any adaptations or modifications you need to make to your family member's home or car in order to keep them healthy and safe.

Environmental_Accessibilities_Adaptations.jpg

Notes:

  • OCDD must approve of an adaptation (change) before this service will pay for it.

  • Adaptations should be listed on your family member's POC.

  • If you need to make changes to your home, like widening a doorway, then the Support Coordinator will ask you to fill out the Environmental Accessibility Adaptation Job Completion Form.

Click the link at the bottom of the page to download a copy of the form.

This service will pay for devices, and equipment that your family member needs to have in order to stay healthy and safe.

This includes things they need for life support or for physical conditions.

It will also help you decide which devices you need, train you to use them and help with repairs.

SMES.png

Notes:

  • This service covers things that help your family member adapt to their disability.

  • It does NOT cover appliances (washer, dryer, stove, etc), cars, costs for bus passes or taxis, toys, or telephones.

This service pays for different kinds of therapies that can help your child stay healthy and improve their skills.

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These services offer support to children who are getting ready to leave a hospital or group home and return to their family.

Housing_Stabilization_Services_-_Children_s_Choice.png

These services must be included in your child's POC and approved by OCDD.

 

To learn more:

  • Go this webpage: About the Children's Choice Waiver. (It will open in a new tab on your screen.)

  • Click on the "Tip Sheet" link at the end of the page to download a fact sheet.

 

Source: LDH