The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a guide on how its chapters can advocate for families to be paid to care for their children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN). Due to changes in funding streams and services over the past few decades, more and more of these children can live in their homes and communities. These changes also mean more families are helping provide the specialized care that the children need.
The AAP reports, “Family caregivers of CYSHCN in the United States provide about 1.5 billion hours of health care to approximately 5.6 million children annually.” Family caregivers are also experiencing stress and burnout from providing this care. Caregiving can create financial hardships as well.
The AAP cites several benefits to children, families and states when family caregivers receive pay for their work:
- Parents can maintain their ’emotional and moral commitment’ to care for their child.
- Families have stable access to high-quality care, which drives continuity of care.
- Payments increased options and flexibility for parents of CYSHCN.
- Paid families lead to the betterment of the child’s health and well-being.
- Payments lead to enhanced family financial stability.
- Acquiring and developing transferable skills (for instance, to elder care) can help parents find employment and boost the provider network when their children age into adulthood or adult care.
The article describes how states can use Medicaid funds for family caregiving. It also lists policy considerations and states (Arizona, Maine, New Jersey, Florida and Montana) that have recently passed laws that enable paid family caregiving. You can read the full guide here.
Families as Allies urges the Mississippi Legislature and the Division of Medicaid to consider options for paid family caregiving in Mississippi.
