Community Resource Team

The Community Resource Program provides service delivery supports to local school districts and various educational settings.  Staff members such as Special Education Teachers, Speech/Language Specialists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists provide programs in both school and home settings.  Individualized programs are established based upon requests from school districts, ranging from full day services of a Speech/Language Specialist in a local public school for a full school year to short-term programs such as six weeks of physical therapy for a student at home recovering from surgery.

Community based services can be provided in order to support local district programs such as Functional Behavioral Assessments and Discrete Trial Training for students with autism.  Transition supports can include Vocational Assessments with follow-up job sampling and job coaching programs.

Supports can also include standardized assessment such as Psychological Evaluations, Educational Assessments, Social Histories, and Occupational, Physical, or Speech/Language Assessments for students ages thirty months through twenty-one years.  Evaluations can be conveniently scheduled during the day in the student's typical school environment so as to include input from current classroom staff as well as behavioral observations.

Inservice Training & Staff Development

Mercer County Special Services School District provides customized staff development opportunities for local school districts.  LEAs also receive a copy of the course catalog of on-site offerings at Mercer County Special Services School District sites.  LEAs may register staff for these programs pending openings.  A nominal fee is charged.

Read more: Inservice Training and Staff Development

Integrated Preschool Project

Mercer County Special Services has been involved in a unique partnership with local school districts to provide a variety of Integrated Preschool opportunities throughout Mercer County. Beginning in 1994, a group of parents, child care providers, child study team members, and directors of special services met to design a grant application to support community-based services for preschool aged children in need of special education and related services.

This program has grown significantly during the last several years. The project designed a three-tiered model of support in the nursery school: consultation to the preschool staff; in-class support to the target children; and inservice development for community-based staff. Project staff include special education teachers, speech, occupational and physical therapists, behavior specialists, classroom assistants, and a supervisor.

The Integrated Preschool Project has answered the mandate to provide a full continuum of services in the least restrictive environment.

Mercer County Special Child Health Services

The Special Child Health Services (SCHS) Case Management Unit assists in the provision of coordinated and comprehensive services for children with special health needs or potentially disabling conditions. The case manager collaborates with the family and others to develop an ongoing plan. The plan addresses the child's medical, developmental, rehabilitative, educational, social, and emotional needs. The case manager supports the family in meeting those needs.

Services available

SCHS Case Management

Project Care Family Resource Specialist

 

Referral to CICRF

SCHS Case Management

Services of the Case Management Unit include:

Review how your child's needs are currently being met.

Explore ways to fulfill unmet needs.

Develop a comprehensive and ongoing Individualized Service Plan for your child.

Provide information about resources available in your community to support your child.

Assist in determining eligibility for the NJ State Special Child Health Services Program which offers financial assistance for othopedic appliances, hearing aids, and pulmonary medications.

Project Care Resource Specialist

The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN), in cooperation with SCHS, provides a trained resource parent who can:

listen and support families

provide information about educational rights

conduct parent workshops

offer opportunities for contact with other parents

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund
The CICRF program was established to provide financial assistance for families whose children have experienced an illness or condition that is not otherwise covered by insurance or other sources. Information about eligibility can be obtained by calling 1-800-335-FUND. SCHS Case Managers assist families in the application process.

Who is eligible for services?

• An infant born with a birth defect, serious medical illness, or born prematurely with complications.
• A toddler who is having difficulty reaching developmental milestones. For example, a child may have difficulty walking, talking, or understanding.
• A child with a chronic or life threatening illness.
• A child who has been seriously injured in an accident.
• A child who is eligible for supplemental security income (SSI), or registration through Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Registration
Any child who may be eligible, regardless of financial status, may be registered with the program and is entitled to case management services until the age of 22 years.