Parent Resources

• Children’s Special Health Care Services
  This program assists families of children with certain eligible medical conditions. Services provided include assistance with payment of specialty medical bills, help finding specialty services, supports coordination of services, helping families with language and cultural differences, assistance in locating resources, and connecting families to community based services through local health departments. Family phone line: 1-800-359-3722, email: cshcsfc@michigan.gov
• Children’s Special Needs Fund
  Children's Special Needs Funds for financial assistance related to obtaining wheelchair ramps, van lifts, therapeutic tricycles, air conditioners, adaptive recreational equipment, and electrical service upgrades needed for equipment. This is for children enrolled in Special Health Care Services. Phone: 517-241-7420.
• The Michigan Department of Community Health Birth Defects Follow-up Program
  This program can assist with referrals for support and services as well as provide information to families and providers. Phone: 1-866-852-1247 or email: BDRFollowup@michigan.gov
• The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
  Coordinates Michigan’s Family Support Network and Michigan’s Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center. Phone: 1-800-359-3722.
• Michigan Genetic Counseling Services
  This program helps families determine the cause of the genetic difference, impact on life, related health issues, and risks to other family members. Other services include support and assistance finding additional resources. Phone: 1-866-852-1247

• Supplemental Security Income
  This is a federal program that provides monthly financial assistance and Medicaid coverage to children with severe mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Phone: 1-800-772-1213.
• Children’s Special Need Fund
  Provides financial assistance related to obtaining wheelchair ramps, van lifts, therapeutic tricycles, air conditioners, adaptive recreational equipment, and electrical service upgrades needed for equipment. This is for children enrolled in Special Health Care Services. Phone: 517-241-7420.
• Family Support Subsidy Program
  This provides monthly financial assistance to eligible families whose child has been identified by the local school system of having a severe mental impairment, is severally multiply impaired or has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Phone: 517-374-6848.

• Western Michigan University Unified Clinics
  Services available include the Marion R. Spear Occupational Therapy Clinic, Southwest Michigan’s Trauma Assessment Center, The Charles Van Riper Language, Speech, and Hearing Clinic, Behavioral Health Services, and the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic. Phone: 269-387-7074.
• Elizabeth Upjohn Community Healing Center
  This program provides multiple services for children and families including counseling, child sexual abuse, parenting, and children’s and adolescent outreach. Phone: 269-343-1651.
• Kalamazoo County Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  Provides many types of assistance to families. This includes psychological, developmental, psychiatric or neuropsychological assessments, therapy, case management and supports, coordination to help children receive necessary services, the infant mental health and early intervention program, and respite care. Phone: 269-373-6000
• Family and Children’s Services
  Offers counseling, family resources, case management, Family and Community Treatment, parenting support, and Mobile Crisis Response. Phone: 269-344-0202

• Parent to Parent
  Parent to Parent provides NICU support, Kalamazoo and Allegan Parent Network, information and referrals, the All Kids Can! Programs, learning exchanges, resource library and website, and the Common Bond Newsletter. Phone: 269-345-8950.
• Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Autism Society
  This group offers information, support, resources and awareness.
• Kalamazoo County Children and Adults with ADD (CHADD)
  Provides local support and resources for individuals affected with Attention Deficit Disorder and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Phone: 269-384-2270 or email: kazoochadd@yahoo.com
• Syndromes Without a Name USA (SWANN-USA)
  Offers support, information, and advice to families of children with syndromes that do not have names. Phone: 269-692-2090.
• The Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center
  Their mission is to improve the emotional and physical well-being of special needs individuals through the therapeutic use of horses. Phone: 269-731-4471 or email: info@cheffcenter.org
• Special Olympics Young Athletic Program
  Designed for children ages two and a half to seven years to help develop motor skills and eye-hand coordination and parents report improved social skills. Phone: 1-800-644-6404.
• Kalamazoo RESA Parent Advisory Committee
  Acts in an advisory capacity to Kalamazoo RESA and is charged with cooperatively developing the county-wide plan for special education programs and services. Each impairment area is represented and parent input is welcome.

You, your child and any additional support person that you feel is necessary. You will remain with your child the entire time.

The first appointment may take between 1 and 2 hours. If a second appointment is needed this may take between 1 and 2 ½ hours.

At the initial appointment you will meet with intake staff and your concerns and background information will be obtained. A developmental assessment will be administered to your child and the results will be shared with you. If additional evaluation is deemed appropriate, a second appointment will be made or you will be referred to your local district for further testing. Community resources will be shared with you upon your request or staff suggestion.

Based upon areas of concern, evaluators may include a speech/language pathologist, occupational therapist, school social worker, school psychologist or a specialist for hearing and/or visually impaired.

Services are based upon a child’s needs and range from routinely scheduled appointments with a speech/language therapist to an early childhood special education classroom program. The goal is to address the child’s needs while keeping him/her in the most typical environment possible which may be at the home, daycare, preschool or elementary school.

Services are based on need and are discontinued when the need is no longer present.

All of our services are free of charge and are provided to residents of Kalamazoo County school districts.

Children are seen ages birth to enrollment in the local school district (5-6 years). For scheduling contact Kathy (269) 250-9649 if your child is under 30 months (2 years, 5 months) or Felicia (269) 250-9670 if your child is 30 months or older (2 years, 6 months) to start the screening process.

The program is open from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday.