Cerebral Palsy and Title V MCH Benefits

Fact Checked

Children with cerebral palsy and other special needs are eligible to receive services from several different federal health programs. One of the services is the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant (Title V of the Social Security Act), which provides immeasurable aid to low-income mothers, infants, and children.

About Title V MCH Benefits

After the Social Security Act of 1935 passed, the federal government announced it would help all state efforts to assist mothers and children.

Through what’s known as Title V, the federal government assists state health and welfare departments provide services to mothers and children that fall under their state’s guidelines for low income.[1] The assistance helps to:

• Provide access to MCH services
• Reduce the rate of infant mortality and preventable diseases
• Assist blind children and children living with disabilities such as cerebral palsy and other disorders
• Provide coordinated care services for children with special needs, including family-based community care centers
• Comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care
• Provide monthly income to families with children with disabilities
• Provide development services to children with special needs
• Provide childhood immunization
• Provide a toll-free hotline in each state for parents who need assistance with Title MCH

Title V MCH and Cerebral Palsy

Parents with children who have cerebral palsy generally have a lot of health care expenses, and not all of these costs are covered by insurance.

For instance, many children with cerebral palsy need mobility aids, specialized daycare, educational supplies, and other services. The details of each service provided depend on your state of residence.

For example, one state may give low-income families who have a child with cerebral palsy a monthly stipend of around $250 a month, whereas another country may allow families $300 per month.

Another example includes developmental services. Some states offer children up to age three and their families with family visits, home training, transportation services, nutritional counseling, and free physical and occupational therapy. Another state may allow these services to children up to the age of five.

Title V MCH also provides children with cerebral palsy with needed screenings for additional developmental problems that are often associated disorders, including hearing and vision screening, cognitive assessments, oral health screening, and emotional and social assessments.

After screening and assessments, Title V MCH assists families in finding the most suitable healthcare providers for each child’s specific needs. They can assess the child further, make any additional diagnoses, and provide quality medical care.

Further, Title V MCH provides training to parents of children with special needs to help them obtain the necessary knowledge and skills to care for their disabled children in the best way possible.

Title V MCH Qualifications and How to Apply

Each state has its own set of qualifications that families must meet to be eligible for Title V MCH services. In general, the main requirement is that the family must be low income, but each state may have various other conditions.

To apply, visit your local Department of Health and Human Services office. If you need assistance, feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to help you.