Are you a parent of a child with special needs in Bronx, New York? If so, you may be eligible for financial assistance to help cover the costs of your child's care. ACCESS NYC is a free service that can help you determine if you qualify for more than 30 municipal, state and federal benefit programs, such as Medicaid, food stamps or help with utility bills. New York State also provides financial support and technical assistance to programs in most counties in the state that can assist families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) by providing them with information about health insurance and connecting them with health care providers. These programs will also work with families to help them meet their children's medical and non-medical needs.
For a full list of counties, visit the Local Health Department (LHD) contact information. A family's financial need is the difference between the tuition charged and the family's ability to pay. To determine how much a family is able to contribute to educational expenses, we use School & Student Services (SSS). Families complete the SSS application form online. Once the application is processed, SSS provides us with a general recommendation about a family's ability to pay for education.
The financial aid office uses the evaluation as a guide for assigning financial aid scholarships. Other factors are also taken into consideration when determining a family's financial need, such as the number of children attending tuition-paying schools, all sources of income, savings, investments, and assets. The Council on Children and Families is responsible for acting as a neutral body to coordinate New York's health, education, and human services system to ensure that all children and families in New York State have the opportunity to reach their potential. The only time an exception can be made is in the case of a significant change in their circumstances, such as the loss of a job, the death of a parent, the entry of an additional child to a school that pays for tuition, or an illness that prevents a parent from earning an income. The New York State Department of Education (NYSED) approves preschool special education programs in accordance with section 4410 of the New York State Education Act.
Families with preschool through twelfth grade students can apply, although financial aid for preschool students is limited. Brooklyn Blue Feather Elementary (BBF), located at 2335 Gerritsen Avenue in Brooklyn, NY 11229 (718-834-0597), accepts children between 5 and 12 years old who reside in the five boroughs of New York City. EmpoweredNYC is another initiative that helps New York City residents with disabilities and their families take control of their finances and become more financially stable. Each year, the Archdiocese of New York and its parishes, the Downtown Scholarship Fund, and the Children's Scholarship Fund offer new financial aid and scholarships to families who qualify at participating schools. Because it is important for families to ensure that all accounts at the school's business office are up to date, if a family is behind schedule and has not made special arrangements with the business office, the financial aid office will not be able to assign aid for the following year. The Program for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs seeks to improve the system of care for children and young people with special health needs from birth to 21 years of age and their families. Services include a therapeutic day care program, a traveling special education teaching program, an early childhood consultation service, and an outpatient clinic. The mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on providing hope and recovery to adults with serious mental illness and to children with serious emotional disorders.
