|
Wednesday,
February 28, 2001
Nutrition Services, Insurance and Children with Special Health Care
Needs Faye Eldar, M.Ed., Family Liaison, Quality Community Managed Care Project: Phase II, located at the Center for the Advancement of Distance Education, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago. Anne B. Harris, MPH, RD, is the Nutrition Training Director at the USC University Affiliated Program, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Paula Connolly is parent of a child with special health care needs. The Connolly's live in Iowa. American Dietetic Association This is the the leading professional organization in the field. The website includes a position paper on "Nutrition Services for Children with Special Needs", and a special interest group Dietetics in Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders. This organization offers publications, resource guides, regional meetings and resource professionals. Focus is on four practice areas: developmental disabilities, psychiatric disorders, chemical dependency and eating disorders. ADA also has a Policy and Advocacy section and promotes Medical Nutrition Therapy as a billable service by health insurance. Resources include an extensive Reimbursement Bibliography, information on their successful campaign to pass the Medicare Nutrition Therapy Act of 1999, technical assistance on coding and billing for these services, and outcomes research. The LaLeche League is an international organization dedicated solely to promoting breastfeeding. The website has extensive resources concerning all aspects of breastfeeding, research on infant nutrition, training opportunities for professionals, and education and support for parents. Materials are available in many languages. The "Breastfeeding Help" section includes a section entitled Breastfeeding Disabled or Handicapped Babies, and includes information links on Down syndrome, cleft lip/palate, PKU and hospitalized babies and children. Stories contributed by parents are also included. NutritionFocus This is a health and wellness portal about diseases, treaments, vitamins, minerals, nutrition, herbs, supplements and supplementation. Comeunity This website focuses on both children with disabilities and international adoption. Has a detailed listing on "Resources for Feeding and Growth", with links to research on nutrition and CSHCN, listservs and chat rooms for families, mailing lists for dysphagia (swallowing disorders), G-tube feeding, and for parents of premature babies. Also covers feeding disorders, feeding therapy, and growth disorders. Good balance of family-friendly and technical information. Let us know what you think of the webcast session, as well as your suggestions for future shows, by sending us a message at kmco@uic.edu. |