Pass Legislation for the Establishment of PPEC Centers in Ohio
The Issue
My son Kairo is medically complex and struggles with many diagnoses, including intractable epilepsy, after being affected by the CMV virus in utero. He has been turned away for care by multiple facilities due to his complex medical needs. As a parent acting as a full-time caregiver to my disabled child, I find that opportunities for me to generate income are slim to none, as are his opportunities for socialization.
In Ohio, we lack Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers - facilities designed specifically to provide safe and specialized care for children like Kairo. These agencies currently exist in 12 states and allow medically complex children to receive care up to 10 hours per day while their parent or caregiver generates income. This gap in our state leaves families like ours struggling daily with limited resources and support.
The situation is even more critical considering that Ohio does not have a caregiver payment program in place. This leaves parents who act as full-time caregivers to their disabled minor children without any financial support or respite from their demanding roles.
It's time we change this reality. We urge our legislators to pass legislation supporting the establishment of PPEC centers across Ohio. These centers would provide medically complex children with the specialized care they need while offering their families much-needed relief.
We also call on our lawmakers to consider establishing a caregiver payment program that recognizes and compensively supports parents who dedicate their lives to caring for their disabled children full time. A $943/month Social Security payment simply isn’t enough to survive when meeting our children’s complex medical needs around the clock.
By signing this petition, you're advocating not just for Kairo but also thousands of other children living with complex medical conditions across Ohio who deserve better access to healthcare services and socialization opportunities. Please sign this petition today!
Here is a link to supporting research on PPEC centers, straight from our neighboring state of Kentucky’s legislature: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/CommitteeDocuments/354/21050/24Aug2022%20The%20Kidz%20Club%20Presentation.pdf
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The Issue
My son Kairo is medically complex and struggles with many diagnoses, including intractable epilepsy, after being affected by the CMV virus in utero. He has been turned away for care by multiple facilities due to his complex medical needs. As a parent acting as a full-time caregiver to my disabled child, I find that opportunities for me to generate income are slim to none, as are his opportunities for socialization.
In Ohio, we lack Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers - facilities designed specifically to provide safe and specialized care for children like Kairo. These agencies currently exist in 12 states and allow medically complex children to receive care up to 10 hours per day while their parent or caregiver generates income. This gap in our state leaves families like ours struggling daily with limited resources and support.
The situation is even more critical considering that Ohio does not have a caregiver payment program in place. This leaves parents who act as full-time caregivers to their disabled minor children without any financial support or respite from their demanding roles.
It's time we change this reality. We urge our legislators to pass legislation supporting the establishment of PPEC centers across Ohio. These centers would provide medically complex children with the specialized care they need while offering their families much-needed relief.
We also call on our lawmakers to consider establishing a caregiver payment program that recognizes and compensively supports parents who dedicate their lives to caring for their disabled children full time. A $943/month Social Security payment simply isn’t enough to survive when meeting our children’s complex medical needs around the clock.
By signing this petition, you're advocating not just for Kairo but also thousands of other children living with complex medical conditions across Ohio who deserve better access to healthcare services and socialization opportunities. Please sign this petition today!
Here is a link to supporting research on PPEC centers, straight from our neighboring state of Kentucky’s legislature: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/CommitteeDocuments/354/21050/24Aug2022%20The%20Kidz%20Club%20Presentation.pdf
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Petition created on February 21, 2024