The Individualized Health Care Plan - Federation for Children with ...

ResourcesMassachusetts Family-to-FamilyHealth Information Center1-800-331-0688, ext. 301massfv@fcsn.orgwww.massfamilyvoices.orgProvides free, confidential, individualizedassistance to families raising children andyouth with special health care needs andpromotes parent/professional partnershipswith health professionals, schoolpersonnel, and others.Massachusetts Department ofPublic Health, School Health Unit617-624-6060www.mass.gov/dph/fch/schoolhealthProvides support and information aboutlaws and regulations pertaining to schoolhealth.MassachusettsFamily-to-Family HealthInformation CenterA project of Mass Family Voices at theFederation for Children with Special NeedsTheIndividualizedHealth CarePlanKeeping Childrenwith SpecialHealth Care NeedsSafe atSchoolMASSTART978-851-7261, ext. 4022http://1.usa.gov/MasstartThe Massachusetts TechnologyAssistance Resource Team is a free consultativeservice that helps families andschools plan for the healthcare and safetyof students with special health careneeds.This brochure was developed with funding from the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, HealthResources and Services Administration, Maternal and ChildHealth Bureau, Division of Services for Children with SpecialHealth Needs, grant number H84MC08005.MASSACHUSETTS1135 Tremont Street, Suite 420Boston, MA 021201-800-331-0688, ext. 301massfv@fcsn.orgwww.massfamilyvoices.org

♥ Massachusetts Family Voices & the MA Family-to-Family Health Information CenterChildren with Special HealthCare Needs & SchoolDeveloping the IndividualizedHealth Care PlanSuggestions for aSuccessful IHCP Meeting♥Be an expert about your child’s healthParents send their children to school withmore than lunches, notebooks and pencils.Backpacks are also full of parents’ hopes andworries. Will my child like theteacher? Will he have friends? Willshe be able to follow the rules?When a child has special health careneeds, parents have even more concerns.Will my child get his medication ontime? Will the nurse know the difference between‘normal sick’ and my child’s specialhealth needs? Will anyone know what to do ifmy child has a medical emergency?An Individualized Health Care Plan, orIHCP, can help ensure your child’s medicalneeds will be met during the school day. TheIHCP contains information about your child’shealth. It also lists the person who will beresponsible for monitoring any issues relatedto your child’s special health needs at school,on field trips, while transported to and fromschool, and during other school related activities,such as afterschool sports or clubs.The most important part of developing anIHCP is good communication between the familyand the school. Call the school nurseand make an appointment to discuss yourchild’s special health needs. Try to do this beforeschool starts. This gives the nurse a chanceto prepare paperwork and think about questionsto ask or information to research. If your child’scondition is newly diagnosed, set up an appointmentas soon as possible.The school nurse and your family will worktogether to develop the Individualized HealthCare Plan. The nurse will also meet with yourchild’s teachers to let them know about yourchild. Parents are welcome at these meetings.Depending on the child’s age and condition, heor she may also want to attend. It can be reassuringfor teachers to meet your child in personinstead of just hearing about a medical diagnosis.If your child cannot attend the meeting,bring a photograph or tell a story that illustratesyour child’s personality and strengths.♥♥♥♥♥♥care needs/condition.Be prepared to provide contact informationfor your child’s primary healthprovider and any specialists.If you want the school to contact yourchild’s doctor’s directly, sign waiversbefore the meeting.Bring as much documentation to themeeting as possible. This may includeconsumer health information packets,written prescriptions or doctor’s orders.Provide a duplicate set of informationthat can go with your child to the hospitalin case of an emergency. This willhelp emergency room staff learn aboutyour child, especially if the closest hospitalis not where your child usuallyreceives care.Include your child’s transportationneeds on the plan.Figure out the best way to communicatewith the school: written notes,phone calls, e-mail, etc.A project of the Federation for Children with Special Needs