NATIONAL RESOURCES
Adoption
Crisis Support Services
928 12th Street, Greeley, CO 80631
Walk-In Center open 24/7 (Map it)
(970)347-2120
Heart Gallery Of America Photo lists of waiting children
COPARC Adoption Articles A list of articles on various adoption topics, including emotional disorders, attachment, finance, holiday triggers, parenting tips, siblings, and more.
COPARC Education A list of family seminars and respite care trainings families can take.
Find and Select an Adoption Therapist Suggestions and tops for finding and selecting a therapist with adoption experience and training.
Foster and Adoptive Training Classes List of training classes foster and adoptive parents can take to further their education. Classes include Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, attachment, transracial adoption, parenting teenagers, parenting children who have experienced trauma and more.
Lending Libraries A list of libraries that provide books on adoption.
Post-Adoption Questions and Answers Frequently asked questions and answers regarding adoption
Adoptive Family Magazine A list of libraries that provide books on adoption.
Physical Therapy
American Physical Therapy Association https://www.apta.org/
Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Information resources families of Children with and without Disabilities
Disability Advocacy
Easter Seals provides exceptional services, education, outreach and advocacy so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play (800)221-6827
Make a Wish For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic. And still others might realize all they have to offer the world through volunteer work or philanthropy.
https://wish.org/
The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and serving them and their families.
ABLE National Resource Center
The Special Needs Alliance and ABLE National Resource Center collaborate on efforts to educate individuals with disabilities, their families and other stakeholders on how ABLE accounts and special needs trusts (SNTs) can contribute to improved quality of life.
Accredited Online Colleges
Guide for Online Colleges & Disabilities
Affordable Colleges Online
College resources for students with disabilities
Certified Financial Planner™ professionals
College for Students with Disabilities: A Guide for Students, Families and Educators
The Council for Exceptional Children
Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities
Guide to Disability-Friendly College Campuses
Hearing Loss Association of America
Learning Disabilities Association of America
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Council for Aging Care
National Down Syndrome Society
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA)
Operation Autism for Military Families
Parenting Special Needs Magazine
SPEECH THERAPY
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) https://www.asha.org/
Bullying
Stomp Out Bullying is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to changing the culture for all students. It works to reduce and prevent bullying, cyberbullying and other digital abuse, educates against homophobia, LGBTQIA+ discrimination, racism and hatred, and deters violence in schools, online and in communities across the country.
What Parents Can Do About Childhood Bullying
Together Against Bullying: Offers tips for parents to intervene and respond to bullying behavior, activities to teach young children about how to deal with conflicts, show kindness and be a good friend.
notMYkid: Provides information to help you to identify the signs of bullying, conversation starters, and information about bullying and your legal rights.
StopBullying.gov: Contains information to prevent and respond to bullying and resources to get help now.
Stomp Out Bullying: Works to prevent bullying, cyber-bullying, sexting, and other digital abuse and includes a help chat line for youth.
Cyber Attacks: Comprehensive guide on how to protect yourself against.
Online Safety for Children and Teens: A Comprehensive Guide to Staying Safe Online
Stay Safe: Online teen safety guide with resources for education, entertainment, and connection with other people.
Financial Assistance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Children with qualifying disabilities whose families meet SSI’s low income and asset requirements are eligible to receive monthly cash payments intended to help families meet their child’s needs.
Social Security Survivor Benefits/Social Security Disability Benefits Monthly cash benefits are available for unmarried children under 18 upon the death, retirement or disability of a parent who is eligible for Social Security.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) This program provides temporary financial assistance and other services to assist low-income parents in caring for their children in their home, while promoting job preparation, work and marriage.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) This program (formerly called Food Stamps) provides low-income individuals assistance with purchasing food through an electronic debit card. It is available for families who meet the household eligibility requirements, as determined by their state. SNAP is not limited to children or adults with disabilities, but there are special eligibility provisions for individuals with disabilities.
Recreational
Special Olympics
https://www.specialolympics.org/
Friendship Circle International Volunteer home visits, Torah circle for children, holiday programs, camp experiences, sports, sibling support, life skills.
Federation for Children with Special Needs Provides special education center for parents, family support, health advocacy, family and community engagement, parent-professional leadership, summer camp, parent-to-parent support.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
American Occupational Therapy
https://www.aota.org/
Parenting Support
Parents Helping Parents Parents Helping Parents is here to give YOU support and information about raising your child of any age with any special needs diagnosis.
Understood
https://www.aota.org/
Online Support Groups A list of online support group resources
Special Health Care Needs Resources for parents of children with special health care needs.
Federation for Children with Special Needs Provides special education center for parents, family support, health advocacy, family and community engagement, parent-professional leadership, summer camp, parent-to-parent support.
Crisis Support
Community Alliance Against Family Abuse (CAAFA): 24 Hour Crisis Line: 480-982-0196 or to access services, call or text 602-743-2433. CAAFA provides free and confidential services for survivors of sexual assault.
Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN): 800-656-4673
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Teen Lifeline: (602) 248-8336
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: 1-800-843-5678
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Child Abuse Hotline: 1-888-767-2445
Child Sexual Abuse Hotline: 1-866-367-5444
Early Intervention
Early Intervention by State
Mental Health
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
COPMI promotes better outcomes for children and families where a parent experiences mental illness.
The Children’s Defense Fund
Political advocacy and support to ensure a level playing field for all children. They focus on impacting policies and programs that lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation.
Mental Health America
Provides current mental health news, brochures, fact sheets at no cost and other publications for purchase on various mental health topics.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI is a grass roots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
Food/Clothing
United Way
https://www.unitedway.org/
Volunteers of America helps individuals and families overcome personal challenges to lead productive, healthy lives
Salvation Army The Salvation Army exists to meet human need wherever, whenever, and however we can.
Feeding America work to get nourishing food – from farmers, manufacturers, and retailers – to people in need. At the same time, we also seek to help the people we serve to build a path to a brighter, food-secure future.
National Disability Institute This page will answer frequently asked questions related to housing and food assistance.
Evaluations
Developmental Milestones
See milestones that children should reach from 2 months to 5 years of age, plus interactive tools to help keep track of the milestones.
Developmental Monitoring and Screening
Learn about the importance of developmental and behavioral screening and monitoring, view a fact sheet or order free materials.
Hearing Screening
This website provides comprehensive information about the importance of periodic hearing screening throughout early childhood, and educational and implementation resources for developing evidence-based screening and follow-up practices.
Infant/Toddler Development, Screening and Assessment
A professional development module created to support consultants working in child care settings, especially those who have not had education or training specific to infants and toddlers in group care.
Milestone Tracker App
The app gives parents tips to help their child learn and grow, a way to track developmental milestones, ensure developmental screening takes place on time, recognize delays, and the ability to share this information with care providers.
Resources to Share with Families
This link provides information that providers can share with families on developmental screening and monitoring
Tips for Talking with Families (PDF, 117KB)
This sample conversation can give providers ideas of how to talk with parents and families about developmental and behavioral concerns and screening.
Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns
This online continuing education course provides tools and best practices for tracking the development of children and talking about it with parents.
When to Seek Help for Children’s Problem Behavior
This resource provides guidance for seeking assistance from outside experts on children’s behavior.
Health
Federation for Children with Special Needs Provides special education center for parents, family support, health advocacy, family and community engagement, parent-professional leadership, summer camp, parent-to-parent support.
Family Voices is a national family-led organization of families and friends of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and disabilities. We connect a network of family organizations across the United States that provide support to families of CYSHCN.
Medicaid Funded by both the federal and state governments, this program varies greatly, depending on location. In most states, if a child with disabilities receives SSI, he/she is automatically qualified for Medicaid. In other states, the child may qualify based on meeting the income and resource requirements. In addition, for some Medicaid waiver programs, if the child is cared for at home but requires the level of care provided in an institution, s/he can be found eligible. In addition to covering health care, the program pays for durable medical equipment and, depending upon the state’s waiver programs, in-home support and other community-based services. Given long waiting lists for many waiver programs, it may be important to sign up early.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
This program varies by state and is referred to by different names in each. It provides comprehensive health coverage, including dental care, to individuals under 19 whose families can’t afford private insurance but whose incomes are too high for Medicaid. There is usually no asset limit. In some states, a modest premium is charged to those at the higher end of the income spectrum.