Resources


Signs of Mental and Emotional Abuse

Examples of what to look for and what to do if a person is in an emotionally abusive relationship is described in this article.

Visit the Healthline website

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

People who get Medicaid services will find resources to help with them get to medical appointments. Includes information about getting paid for travel costs and options for rides to medical visits.

Visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website

Self-Care for Kids with Special Needs

Find tricks, tips, and creative ways to encourage independence in personal care tasks. These strategies were designed by Physical and Occupational Therapists for all children.

Visit the The OT Toolbox website

SNAP Eligibillity

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides support to low income individuals that can be used to buy groceries.

Visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website

Transition to Adult Health Care Quick Guide

This guide from the University of Iowa Hospitals focuses on building independent health care skills. Includes self-advocacy skills, preparing for the adult model of care, and transferring to new providers.

Visit the Child Health Specialty Clinics website

NAMI Iowa website

Find out about mental illnesses and resources that are available from NAMI Iowa. This includes training and support groups.

Visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Iowa website

Spend Smart Eat Smart

Information about meal planning, shopping tips, cooking and healthy recipes. Includes videos, handouts and a blog from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Visit the Iowa State University Extension website

Sexual Education Resources

These sexual education resources from RespectAbility include videos and curriculum to support individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Visit the RespectAbility website

Teach Self-Care Skills to Children with Disabilities

This article describes the importance of teaching life skills. Outlines techniques that are often used by teachers, therapists and parents to teach life skills to children with disabilities.

Visit the Very Well Family website

Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities

A collection of resources for sexuality education. Includes information about disability and sexuality and information about the role of parents to educate their child.

Visit the Parent Center Hub website

Sample Transition Readiness Assessment

This tool can help determine if a person is ready to manage their own healthcare. This assessment identifies skill areas that need work. Development of those skills helps a person transition to managing their own healthcare.

Visit the Got Transition website

Words on Wellness

Learn about incorporating healthy practices into daily living with research-based information. Topics include nutrition, exercise, and food safety from the Words on Wellness blog from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Visit the Iowa State University Extension website

Video series:Taking Charge of My Own Healthcare

Youth leaders discuss the process of taking charge of their own health care with a series of short videos.

Visit the National Parent Center on Transition and Employment website

Habilitation Services- Iowa Department of Human Services

Habilitation services is a program that provides home and community based services to individuals with limitations associated with mental illness. Habilitation Services are designed to assist participants in acquiring, retaining and improving the self-help, socialization and adaptive skills necessary to reside successfully in home and community-based settings.

Visit the Iowa DHS website

Transition Planning Guide- (MFP)

A transition planning guide with important questions and topics to consider for adulthood for any individual with a disability. Topics covered include physical and mental health, housing, transportation, education, employment, money management, social, leisure, community, family support and public safety.

Visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website

Transition to Adult Healthcare

Resources from the National Resource Center on Healthcare Transitions aim to improve the transition from pediatric to adult heathcare through information for youth and families.

Visit the Got Transition website

Transition to Adulthood Webinar Series

The University of Iowa's Child Health Specialty Clinics offers a webinar series on Transition Planning for families of youth with special needs. Topics include: School Transition Planning, Applying for Social Security, Estate Planning, Promoting Self Determination, A Youth and Parent Panel, Guardianship and Shared Decision Making, and a screening of the Intelligent Lives Documentary with Guided Discussion.

Visit the Child Health Specialty Clinics website

Youthood Website

Youthood is a virtual classroom-based transition tool for youth with disabilities that includes activities.

Visit the Youthood website

Heathcare Transition Timeline

This document provides suggestions for youth involvement to gradually build the skills they need to manage their own healthcare.

Visit the Got Transition website

Webinar on Family Toolkit: Pediatric to Adult Health Care Transition

This webinar walks through the Family Toolkit from Pediatric to Adult Healthcare and explains the importance of each piece from a parent's perspective.

Visit the Got Transition website

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Individuals with Disabilities

This site includes information about how to be prepared and have a plan in place in case of a natural disaster including tips on building an emergency kit.

Visit the Ready.gov website

HCBS Program Comparison Chart

Iowa DHS provides a comparison of the different Home and Community Based (Waiver) Services (HCBS) available in Iowa. Services support independent living for people with disabilities.

Visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website

HCBS Waivers

Basic information about Iowa Home and Community Based Waiver Services (HCBS) and options are described in this fact-sheet.

Visit the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services website

How to be Your Own Best Advocate: A Guide on How to Navigate Managed Care in Iowa

Use this resource to navigate Iowa's Managed Care System. Includes information about getting started, rights and responsibilities, and the grievance and appeals processes.

View the resource from Iowa Department of Human Rights

UNDERSTANDING HIPAA: What Parents Need to Know About Privacy & Their Adult Child's Health Information

The HIPPA law is described with a focus on what is and isn't allowed for parents with adult children.

View the resource from the National Family Support Technical Assistance Center

Iowa Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is described including who is eligible and how to apply.

Visit the Benefits.gov website.

Recruiting, Selecting, and Retaining Direct Service Workers to Provide Self-Directed HCBS

This interactive training series was created for individuals who self-direct home and community-based services (HCBS), their family members, and others for recruiting and hiring the right direct service worker (DSW).

View the training