Family Resource Service
- Getting started
- Autism Diagnostic Entry Clinic
- Autism Medical Clinic
- Behavioral and Educational Services
- Child Development Clinics
- Child Neuropsychology Clinic
- Early Behavioral Intervention Services
- Plan for Developmental Intervention Services
- Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention Services
- Family Resource Service
- Individual and Family Therapy Clinic
- Occupational Therapy Clinic
- Speech and Language Clinic
Children with special needs often require more medical, mental health, educational and family support services than other children their age. Many parents report that it is hard to find and coordinate adequate services for their children. In the Family Resource Service, Family Resource Specialists partner with families to identify child and family needs and link them to information and resources.
Family Resource Service has two important components, Information/Care Coordination and Family Mentoring. For Information and Care Coordination, a family support specialist talks with families to identify needs and develop a plan to meet those needs. The support specialist helps families get information on resources in their communities, such as doctors, speech therapists, counseling services or day cares. Follow-up is provided as needed to assure that families are appropriately linked with available resources. .
The Family Mentoring service matches a parent or other famiily member who would like to connect with another family for emotional support and understanding. All family mentors have received training through the Sharing our Strengths program at the University of Missouri - Kansas City.
Eligibility for Care Coordination:
Families of children who:
- Families of children who are insured through Missouri Care Health Plan and who have a health, developmental, emotional or behavioral condition that is expected to last more than 12 months.
- Have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis.
- Are on the Thompson Center wait list for evaluation due to a question of autism.
Eligibility for mentoring:
- Families who express an interest in connecting with another individual or family member for emotional support.
Typical Care Coordination Activities:
- Partner with families to identify family social, educational and health care needs.
- Partner with families to develop an individualized plan of care.
- Assist families in navigating systems of care to meet these needs.
- Link families to the information and resources to address the issues and goals they have identified as most important.
- Follow up to monitor progress towards family and child goals.
Family Resource Service Staff
- Susan Austin, RN, MSN, MEd, Nurse Clinician
- Susan Langstraat, LCSW, Social Worker
- Becky Gerdes, Family Mentor
- Donna Ostercamp, Health Program Specialist
Contact
To schedule an appointment or for additional information call the Thompson Center at 573-884-6052.
