By Payton Gao
My brother is 19 years old and autistic. I live in NJ with my family and we are currently registering my brother for transition and speech therapy services with the Children’s System of Care. We’re grateful for state-funded services, but we were initially uncertain about how to approach the matter. After turning 18 and becoming a legal adult, the process of securing services becomes significantly more complex and time-consuming.
The first step is determining eligibility through the NJ Department of Disabilities, which usually takes a few months to approve. The next step is to register him for Medicaid to cover the government services. My parents handle this process because they have legal guardianship over my brother, which was granted by a court. Guardianship allows my parents to manage my brother's care and services, as he is unable to make legal decisions on his own. Once my brother is covered by Medicaid, which typically takes a few months, we can apply for Children’s System of Care services through NJ FamilyCare (This is New Jersey's Medicaid program). After he turns 21, the services are no longer provided by NJ FamilyCare, and the sponsor switches to the Department of Developmental Disabilities. The entire process takes several months to complete and requires filling out numerous forms.
For children under 18, the process is significantly simpler. Approval with the NJ Department of Disabilities and Medicaid is not necessary, and families can apply directly through NJ FamilyCare, saving a significant amount of time and effort.
Comentários