Easter Seals Georgia Coalition, an organization designed to help children, adults, and families with disabilities or special needs through a variety of programs and services, was recently awarded a $4.87 million grant from The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. The grant was made possible by a one-time 2006 Georgia Legislature allocation.

The money will be allocated over a five-year period to help implement the Champions for Children with Exceptional Needs Initiative in counties all over Georgia, including Ben Hill County, Irwin County and Tift County, which fall in the Easter Seals Southern Georgia district, a branch of ESGC.

“Easter Seals Southern Georgia was actually a leading partner in the Champions for Children with Exceptional Needs Initiative so Southern Georgia is one of the first areas to have access to the program,” said Nikki Wilson, Family Support and Respite director for ESSG.

The Champions for Children program, one of several newer programs recently implemented based on the needs of the community, is designed for families of special needs children who no longer meet the requirements for the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act/Katie Beckett Medicaid program but still require financial support to help cover the cost of caring for their children at home.

Through the program, an Easter Seals Champion Coordinator will work directly with families to determine eligibility, identify the services the family needs, and get them the resources and services they require.

Children eligible for Champions for Children must be 21 years or younger, live at home, have a physical, cognitive, developmental or medical disability, and not eligible for Medicaid or TEFRA/KB Medicaid program.

During the five-year grant period, $500,000 will be available each year for families who need assistance with the costs of therapies, medications and other goods and services for their children. An additional $1.5 million will be invested as a permanent trust for financial assistance after the grant period ends.

ESSG is based out of Albany and has programs that include vocational services, independent care, adult day programs and more for families affected by disabilities.

Through the facility a program for respite family support is available which assists families with acquiring their medical supplies, reimburses traveling expenses for hospital visits, provides money for summer camps for children with special needs and much more.

“Our Champions for Children program is actually very similar to the respite support we already do. The only difference is the eligibility criteria,” Wilson said.

This means that children who were formerly not able to receive the benefits of respite support may now be eligible for the same services under the new grant.

ESSG also provides eligible families with personal support services which are Medicaid waivers. This way a person may choose Easter Seals as their care provider and get an in-home staff member to assist the disabled with daily living without charge.

They also have a residential program called Megan’s House with two facilities located in Albany and Waycross. Megan's House is the only children's respite home south of Atlanta for medically needy children. This service is available for as little as 24 hours or as long as two weeks for children who are developmentally disabled, have a diagnosis of autism, or are medically fragile and need to travel for their medical needs. They are placed near hospitals for the convenience of the family.

In Tifton, ESSG has a group home for women called the Hazel Marchant Home for Women. It provides assistance for elderly women with disabilities.

For more information on Easter Seals Southern Georgia visit their website at www.southerngeorgia.easterseals.com or call (229) 439-3742 for information on the Champions for Children program.