Re: Re: We need your help

[Guest guest]

I am simply responding to the person in charge of admissions at Carlton Palms. Her name is Maytte Dusseau, and she told me that Broward has yet to fund a child at Carlton Palms. Thanks for your interest and suggestions.

Kim Glusky

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I'm so sorry you're family is having such difficulties.

Email Carol Marbin at cmarbin@..., and tell her the most dramatic facts of this crisis and the information you are being given--which sounds very odd. Do confirm that information about matrix funding through your service coordinator, and ask for it in writing. Mention APD and Crisis in your subject line.

Do try to check out Devereaux Viera Campus in Brevard. I've heard good things through the grapevine.

I spoke with another mom a couple of weeks ago who was looking heavily into Carlton Palms, and she was hearing good things from parents. I've been to Carlton just to check it out. Beautiful town, beautiful campus, and extremely happy looking, well cared for residents. The campus is everything, I, as a parent, could ever hope for.

Kim, I know how trying all of this can be. If you just need a shoulder...I'm an email away. I was where you are just over a year ago. Thank God, for some reason, our boy turned around.

Whatever you do, do not let them put your son at Threshold. Rumors are running rampant about that place in the community right now, and the last parent I knew who asked questions regarding the rumors was suddenly told there was no longer an opening. (In the same week 15 residents supposedly were moved out...). My son was treated horribly there, and we never got answers to lingering questions regarding our son's sexual molestation and a staffing reduction that the facility tried very hard to hide from us.

I understand you're a friend of Ruth's. She's quite an awesome lady. I miss her!

Traci

[Guest guest]

Hi Traci,

Any friend of Ruth is a friend of mine, It sounds like you and your poor son went threw hell last year. How old is he and where is he now if you don't mine me asking.

As for me my son is a Sunset one of the SED centers and doing horribly there. His behaviors on a yearly basis have gotten worse and worse. Being that he is dually diagnosed with Bipolar as well we tried placement threw a SIPP, which is the vehicle used in mental health. However there was an autism clause and if we went that route I was at risk of loosing my Medwaiver.

So over the last 2 weeks my ADP case worker and I have put together all the documentation they need. The problem is not the waiver although there is a very long wait to get into Carlton Palms. The problem is the women in charge of admissions there Maytee Dusseau was very clear that there were two counties that were holdout in paying the educational piece by using the matrix dollars and they were orange and Broward Counties.

And they do not except the McKay because it provides no oversight to the school system the child has come from. Another word it keeps the county accountable to the child. With the McKay all bets are off. She did say that orange county just resolved this issue and it was a case worker that did it. So that is in short version the problem, I will change this policy its simply not fair. But why when things are so tuff already do we need to do this.

Thanks for your concern,

Kim Glusky

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

Do you know your son's matrix right now? If not, call your exceptional ed dept. and find out.

I'm trying to follow this...for the residential portion Med Waiver will cover, but for the educational portion his school district must cover it?

I want to make sure I give you good information. When my son was in reshab, his SD paid for everything.

My son just got home, but I'm checking email often to see what we need to do. Isn't Carlton Palms in Seminole County? Or is it Orange?

We're in Seminole. They fund res-hab if the parent knows the law inside and out. But, even if at Carlton, as a school district placement, Broward would be responsible for paying, not the district that Carlton Palms is in. We hashed out that issue with our son. Broward places him, Broward pays.

Traci

[Guest guest]

Traci,

's matrix is at a 254 and yes we are in Broward that means Broward pays. But that is the problem Broward wont pay Reshab. And medwaiver will not pay education. So we fight, but I am tired with a sick husband and son and trying to care for my typical 12yr old daughter I feel completely beat. I was just saying to Ruth I know I am a smart girl, but I am not a lawyer and you can only trust and hope that the professionals that you speak to know what they are doing.

Thanks Kim

[Guest guest]

I'm so sorry to keep asking questions. Is Carlton Palms telling you that a 254 matrix number McKay funding is not sufficient, or that Broward has a history of reducing the existing matrix number for a McKay. We didn't use a McKay for 's funding. Instead we stuck it to his IEP team, and they finally caved in and agreed that they had no appropriate placement for within their existing continuum of services. If your IEP makes Carlton Palms (school portion) his placement because their continuum of services is insufficient to provide your son with educational benefit, then a McKay becomes unnecessary, irrelevant, and your child's procedural safeguards under IDEA remain intact.

Sweetie, I'd get me an advocate and insist that my sons IEP team place him privately at public expense. I wish I lived closer. I'd do it for you. I so love sticking it to these jerks.

Is my take on the situation correct? CP is telling you to use the McKay to place him in the educational school, but that the 254 funding is not adequate?

I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I have a thirteen year old girl. Does your daughter need an email buddy right now? is very sensitive to these types of situations, she's lived with them all her life. She's grown into such an amazing young woman.

Traci