Click Here to check out our 2012 Newsletters for Early Intervention and Service Coordination! Newsletters include information about local activities, fun recipes and crafts, as well as organizational events and health information resources.

Please note that Bright Start’s Upstate Office has a special area dedicated to the collection of children’s clothing, toys, and baby necessities. We always accept donations! You may either drop off your donations at our office or contact your EI to have them bring the items in for you. Bright Start will then distribute the donations to our families in need!

Click Here to check out our December 2011 Newsletter featuring our Cook’s Nook recipe, Activity Corner craft, and upcoming events for the holiday season in the upstate.

Breaking News for Bright Start

• Bright Start is now providing services in Chester, Lancaster and York Counties.
• We are excited to announce the addition of Speech Therapy services in Columbia. Susan Kaufman and Kelli Floyd are now members of the Bright Start Team.
• Bright Start has a new toll free number for your convenience. 1-855-221-9265
• Check out our brand new website: www.brightstartsc.com

Bright Start Now Providing ADULT Services

• Home and Community Based Waiver Services
• Transition planning from school to adult services in the community
• In-home supports for aging caregivers who provide care for a family member with disabilities and special needs
• Services for consumers who have intellectual and related disabilities and autism.

In South Carolina, the SC Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is the state agency responsible for all Medicaid funding. South Carolina has chosen to serve several different populations by utilizing the Home and Community Based (HCB) waiver option. SCDHHS, through its Community Long Term Care (CLTC) Division, administers HCB Waivers to serve the elderly and disabled (Community Choices Waiver), people with HIV or AIDS (HIV/AIDS Waiver), and adults who are dependent on a life support system (Ventilator Dependent Waiver). In addition, SCDHHS partners with the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (SCDDSN) to offer waivers to serve people with head or spinal cord injuries (HASCI Waiver), people with mental retardation or related disabilities (MR/RD Waiver and Community Supports Waiver) and people with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD Waiver). For most Home and Community Based Waivers, there is a waiting list.

Don’t Do It! Never Leave Kids Alone In Car

Did you know that a child’s body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s?

It only takes a few short minutes before a child can become dangerously overheated. Child deaths from heat stroke have occurred in cars as early as February with an outside temperature as low as 57 degrees.

When the outside temperature is 101 degrees F the inside temperature of your car is over 140 degrees F. In just 10 minutes a car’s temperature can increase by 19 degrees – and it continues to rise. There is no evidence that cracking the windows helps prevent the temperature in vehicle interiors from reaching dangerous levels. In fact, sunlight coming through car windows makes the car work like an oven.

The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) and SC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) have recently revised standards for service coordination. Some of the revisions may not affect you or your child directly but there are other changes that will impact the amount and type of contact you receive from your Counties.

If your child receives Level I service coordination (i.e. MR/RD Waiver, PDD Waiver) your Service Coordinator is required to meet with you and your child in person once every six months. We know for of our families have very busy schedules and it can be difficult to coordinate a convenient time to meet. Please work with us to schedule these visits in a timely manner as this face-to-face contact is required by DHHS and DDSN. Failure to meet with your Service Coordinator could result in suspension of services for your child.

Strides for Autism

Strides is the premier fundraising event to support the mission of the South Carolina Autism Society. These events include a fun-walk, resource fair, and family-fun activities.

To register online: https://scautism.org/strides or call 803-750-6988

Dates & Locations
Upstate
Saturday, April 9, 2011 – Heritage Park, Simpsonville

Midlands
Saturday, May 21, 2011 – Finlay Park, Columbia

Richland County Recreation Commission’s Adaptive Recreation Department is offering the following opportunity: