Parent Resource Coordinator Support
The Family Care Enhancement Project supports and connects families to resources. Specifically, parent resource coordinators, often referred to by their acronym PRC, help families navigate challenging situations in healthcare, education or the community.
Parent Resource Coordinators
This team assists and supports families in many different ways, including:
- Connect families to community resources.
- Empower families to advocate for their child.
- Navigate across medical, education and community services.
- Educate and mentor families on their rights.
- Partner with families and professionals to enhance culturally competent family-centered care.
Family Support and Mentorship
Parent resource coordinators have personal connections to the disability community and have often experienced the same life events as many that they serve. For this reason, a parent resource coordinator is ideally placed to help support and guide families through complicated milestones and to empower others to advocate for themselves. A parent resource coordinator can also help connect families to other specialized support groups, outreach and educational opportunities, and leadership roles.
Early Development Network
The Early Development Network helps provide early intervention services to families to help support young children. A parent resource coordinator can help with referrals and coordination to this network. The Early Development Network is a free resource to help support children who encounter developmental delays to acquire skills primarily through support to the family.
Eligible children can receive services such as speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy from their local school district in the child’s natural environment. This means that services can be provided in the family home or even in a childcare facility. The family can also get additional support from an Early Development Network services coordinator who can help the family identify other resources that may be needed.
Nebraska’s Early Development Network supports children birth through 3 years of age who have special developmental needs and can also assist the family to transition to school-based services.
Visit the Nebraska Early Development Network website
School Resources
While a child is in school, parents/guardians are legally required to be included in making certain that the child is receiving a free appropriate public education with the appropriate supports. A parent resource coordinator can help families understand their school age child’s rights, inclusion, and education plans, including Individualized Education Plans and 504 plans.
Every state has a Parent Training and Information Center that receives federal funding from the Office of Special Education Programs to help families who have children with disabilities understand their rights within schools and help to empower other families by increasing their knowledge and capacity to improve the education outcomes for their child or children.
PTI-Nebraska is the state’s Parent Training and Information Center.
Transition and Adult Services
Having a plan for the transition from school to adult services is important for adults with disabilities. It’s important to start having conversations with the youth early about his or her wants, dreams and desires. A parent resource coordinator can help families understand youth transition services provided through their school district, and can help connect them to resources regarding guardianship, adult day services, supplemental security income, medical transitions, and employment and education opportunities.
Medicaid and Home and Community Based Services
Nebraska has several different Medicaid Waivers that support individuals who meet a Nursing Facility or Intermediate Facility level of care. The waivers provide home and community-based services and long-term supports in the individual’s home and community. A parent resource coordinator can help families understand the waiver application process, eligibility and services offered.
Care Coordination Services
Unsure where to start? Parent Resource Coordinators can help. This team within MMI's Care Coordination Program supports and empowers families and caregivers to navigate health care, supportive services and resources within MMI and the community.