Bleaker if you have a child with special health care needs-
Happy New Year?
I trust that you are all aware, or those of you who are involved with children receiving HBTS [home based treatment services] under DHS, that very significant cuts are on the horizon for implementation in February of 2010. For starters, there will be a two year limit on intensive treatment, with a 50-75 % reduction in clinical hours provided for each child effective in February. My data may be slightly off due to the somewhat vague proposal that was given to providers in December 2009, so you should check with your CEDARR centers for more information. Your chid's intensive home based services could be titrated down very rapidly and without regard to individual clinical needs.
For anyone who is interested, take a look at our video on autism treatment in RI: "Finding the Words" at www.bigorangefilms.com under Projects: Perspectives Corporation. It is told from a parents point of view, and not to be too alarmist, such positive outcomes might now be destined to become part of the historical record regarding autism treatment in Rhode Island, not part of our future.
Best regards,
Robert Kidd, MS, BCBA
Clinical Director
Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention Program
Perspectives Corporation Youth and Family Services
1130 Ten Rod Road
North Kingstown, RI 02852
401-294-8181
rkidd@perspectivescorporation.com