Anybody here from California? or .....

[faithhope]

who used to live there? Hi, sorry if I have asked this before, but if I have I can't remember ;D Reason I ask is because we currently live in Florida ( my husbands hometown) and I really miss my family and California as well .
I have always loved California ( I know alot of people hate it and the people but I am born and raised Southern California and I love it and never noticed rude people) I mean don't get me wrong I know there are rude people there, just like anywhere.
Anyways I will drop that, that is not the point I am trying to get to LOL!!!! I need to focus, I just don't get enought sleep these days ;D

So I am asking this because we are considering moving there. I would be there in a heartbeat, having this newest baby, now I have 3 babies ages 3 and under! I really would love to have family around to help to get together. I grew up in a large mexican family, we get together alot and it is fun. We fight we make up and we love eachother
Here in Florida, well it is just my mother in law and even though I love her, she is a VERY busy woman and her priorities are just not us. I don't expect her to revolve her life around us but she always acts so happy and blessed that we live near her but yet we hardly ever see her. ( That is another long story, will not get into that).
Bottom line is I miss and need my family. My husband however is not convinced. He is not crazy about california, (pollution, traffic, EXPENSIVE!)
We would like to have a few acres and have our own garden. but this would probably not be possible there.
Ok anyways I digress again! so here is the question(s):
How are the services in the area you live? How do I get started on investigating this? Like what do I type in the search engine to find places that give speech, ot, pt, etc.? Any info would be soooo appreciated.
Sorry for going on about everything but the true question How are the hospitals?
In our county I can say that we have amazing therapists who really care and top of the line childrens hospitals and the BEST pediatrician ( I would really miss having such a great pediatrician!)
OK well hope somebody out there can direct me to someone or somewhere to investigate. We really want what is best for our kids.
Thanks!!!
Jessika

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

www.yellowpagesforkids.com/help/ca2.htm

You could always move to Oregon. The house next door is for sale. Garden spot and everything Here is a link to services in So. Cal.

[faithhope]

I would love to be your neighboor!!! : ) Thanks for the link.(((HUGS)))

[Myria]

yea, california's great and all, but DC has history! and lots to do, and great hospitals and awesome services and pediatricians..and US!! : ) just a thought...

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Hehehehheheheee

[faithhope]

We need to just start our own little commune, our own little unomas land, where we could all live next to eachother! How perfect would that be to have Myria on one side and Jennifer on the other : ) Couldn't get better than that, I am NOT JOKING!

[Emilysmom]

We've actually talked about that over the years........all of us living in the same area! I'm voting for Tennessee!! Come on down! (Or up, or over!)
Seriously....what a wonderful neighborhood that would be!

[laurasnowbird]

Michigan's good! We have services until TWENTY SIX years of age! And you can get a great price on a house here right now, LOL!

[kg91207]

We would be up for settling in our own little UnoMas commune! ha!! The Texas Panhandle isn't the best for services/resources and we've talked about moving a lot.

[Kristin]

I'm in California...the southern end of the central valley. I know, I know not the best reputation. It is one of the most affordable housing markets. We have large lots on the edge of town. Many of the school districts are good. With the exception of stuff lost to budget cuts, I've never felt like I was missing much in services at this time. We have a great parent and resource center. Special olympics is very active, and we have a several other organizations that offer modified sports programs. It is a great town for raising kids. Lots of things for families. We're fairly close to the mountains, beaches, and So. Cal. We have a new children's hospital wing opening up in town. Most other specialties are within a couple of hours. Speech, OT, PT is all done locally. We had a very thorough pediatrician. Now we all see a family doctor who is keeping up, too!

[faithhope]

Thanks for all the responses! I am telling you, I never get a chance to come here as often as I'd like : ) Well looks like we are gonna have to start that Uno Commune one day!!! Until then though I am gonna keep researching my home state.
Thanks for your input Kristin, sounds like a great area!

[Jackie]

Well we are stuck in Texas. Emily is on the Home and Community Services program which took 12 years of standing in line for ...but its only good in Texas and it pays for just about everything for her. Heard tho taking no more enrollments...so good time Brandi to move.

Jackie

[kg91207]

Yup, all HCS slots are currently frozen, except for the ones CPS gets to give to our aging out youth with severe I/DD. But we only get like 60 a year to give out statewide, and we need so many more! I hate it that they've frozen the slots. At least Kaelyn had 3 years into the wait, I hope they open them back up soon!

[faithhope]

Sorry to be so ignorant ( embarrased), what are HCS slots? and CPS? I am sure it has to do with services. That sucks!

[Jackie]

Ha Jess you are not ignorant. All of this is very confusing and not sure I really understand it. I don't know what it is called in other states but in Texas there is funding..(believe it is a medicaid waiver program) that you can apply for if you meet the criteria and kids with DS do. Here it is called Home and Community Services (HCS) I believe this funding came about with the advent of deinstitutionalization. It is designed to help keep a person with disabilites living in their home or the community. Usually you have to go get on a list for it...one that often takes many years for your name to come up on. In our case it took 12 years. Brandi I am sure knows more than I do about its specifics.

I know how it works with Emily, though. I believe a person is eligible for up to about 100, 000 a year based on diagnosis and need. I think Emily gets about 40 000 a year and it goes thru her service provider and is not paid directly to us. It could be if we chose another option but would require quite a bit of paper work and accountability. In Emily's case it pays for case management, her arts program, and...(Brandi help me here...) I think it pays for her foster care as well because it is not out of our pockets. No cash benefit for Emily. She gets cash monthly from her SSI which she started receiving at age 18. Most of her cash goes to the foster family for rent but she has enough extra to meet her personal needs. Seems to me her foster family is well paid already for her being there but thats the way it works.

Brandi works for Child Protective Services (CPS) so she can probably fill you in.

Others here can tell you what California has in this regard because it does vary State by State. All I know is if someone tells you about a "list"...any "list" get on it...LOL. You never have to take the services if you dont want them when your name comes up.

Hope this helps a bit.

Jackie