Though Barbara Moore has taken care of and provided for her grandsons– Justin, Andrew, and Nathan– their whole lives, she became their legal guardian in January 2012. The boys’ mother struggled with addiction and their father had moved out due to that addiction. Now that Barbara is their guardian and caretaker, their father, who lives in another county, is able to visit with them once a week.

The kids say that without their grandmother, whom they call “Nanna,” they would have been separated and placed in foster homes. Barbara takes them for regular checkups and gets them ready for school. She also spends time with each of them to ensure that they develop to their fullest potential and so that they know they are special and deeply loved.

Justin, who is the oldest at 11 years old, likes to play Xbox, football, and baseball. He also really likes people. Justin had a hard time coping with having to care for his younger brothers, but the stability of living with his grandmother has made a huge difference in Justin’s ability to deal with his feelings. Justin is continuing to progress and thrive with the help of services from Centerstone and the support of his grandmother and brothers.

Andrew, now a loving 8 year old, enjoys putting puzzles together. Andrew has been diagnosed with autism. When he came to live with Barbara, he could not talk, could not feed himself, was not potty-trained and was not able to attend school because he was disruptive. She was told he needed to be institutionalized, but she refused. Now, with therapy and Barbara’s care, Andrew is able to sign to communicate and has learned 55 words. He is attending school every day and no longer has to be restrained on the bus. Andrew is also able to tell Barbara that he loves her.

Nathan, the youngest brother, is 7 years old. Nathan loves Nintendo, football, and playing outside. Nathan has been diagnosed with ADHD. When he first came to live with Barbara, she said he would climb on furniture and bounce off the walls. However, counseling and medication have made a huge difference in Nathan’s behavior. He is now calm and able to concentrate, and he loves school.

Just recently, Barbara was able to purchase a home for herself and the boys. Her previous home needed repairs and was not an ideal environment for the three boys. She said buying the home may cause some financial strain, but it is worth it because the boys needed a home that is safe, clean, and in good condition. Barbara says her faith and knowing that she is giving these boys a second chance at a happy life keeps her going.

Barbara is learning that caring for three boys is not easy, especially when they have special needs and she has disabilities herself. Barbara says, “I am trying to make up for all the bad things they have gone through.” Barbara’s courage and love for her grandchildren is making a positive difference in their lives. She says, “All they need is love and understanding, and they have already responded and are doing better.” For Barbara’s commitment to ensuring Justin, Nathan, and Andrew have a safe and loving home, we are proud to recognize Barbara as a Community Mother of the Year.

Do you have a child with special health care needs? Is your income too high for your child to get TennCare?

The Katie Beckett waiver allows states to offer Medicaid to children who have disabilities if it will keep them from being placed in an institution, regardless of their parent’s income.

Many states offer the Katie Beckett waiver but Tennessee does not. We want to make this option a reality for families in Tennessee!

The Tennessee Justice Center and the Tennessee Disability Coalition are working together to educate families about the Katie Beckett waiver for children who have special health care needs.

We want to hear your stories about how this could benefit your child and give you the tools you need to be a powerful voice!

When:
Tuesday, May 22, 10:30 am- 12:30 pm

Where:
Poplar-White Station Branch Library
5094 Poplar Ave, Memphis TN 38117

We would love to hear your stories! If you want to share your story with us at this meeting, please contact us at the email below.

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide childcare, but you are welcome to bring your children to the meeting if that works best for you.

If you will need accommodations, have questions, want to share your story,  or want to RSVP, please contact Nikki at 615-255-0331 or nviverette@tnjustice.org. When you RSVP, we will send you more information.

Please feel free to download and share our flyer!

We hope to see you there!

Jennifer Miller lives in Gallatin with her husband, and their son, Gary Jr. Gary is an adventurous and curious four-year-old boy who enjoys roller-skating, pizza, and cats. Gary also likes painting, playing tee-ball, and singing. He is independent and creative, and as Jennifer describes, a little bit mischievous. Loving and well-mannered, Gary never misses an opportunity to thank his family.

At the age of 3, Gary was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, hyperactivity, expressive receptive disorder, and developmental delay. One of the prominent characteristics of these conditions is an inability to communicate properly. On one occasion, Gary swallowed magnets and coins and was unable to tell his mom what happened. To treat Gary’s condition, his pediatrician ordered occupational therapy and speech therapy. These therapies are imperative for a child Gary’s age with autism and expressive receptive disorder.

Even though TennCare approved Gary for occupational and speech therapies, Jennifer found that quickly securing a provider for these services was not going to be easy. There were three possible therapy providers available in the area, but two of them had extensive waiting lists and the third would not accept Gary’s TennCare HMO. Jennifer knew that time spent on a therapy waiting list was time wasted. She knew that she would have to fight to get Gary the services he needed, when he needed them.

Jennifer requested to have Gary’s HMO changed so that he could start his therapies right away. Her request was denied by TennCare. Jennifer was not willing to take no for an answer, so she filed an emergency appeal. Her appeal was once again rejected because TennCare said Gary did not meet the hardship criteria necessary to switch HMOs at that time.

During this time, Gary’s HMO sent a letter indicating that they had secured an appointment for Gary at one provider. However, the HMO later told Jennifer that she had to take Gary to another provider. After an initial evaluation, the second provider never got back to Jennifer, and by that point the opening at the first provider had closed.

In the meantime, Gary was approved for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to his disability and was consequently moved to another TennCare HMO. A call by a TJC client advocate pushed up Gary’s enrollment date, just in time for Gary’s appointment with his doctor. However, during the time that the appeals were processed, the only provider who initially had an opening for occupational and speech therapies had filled that slot.

Jennifer quickly arranged for speech therapy at Vanderbilt until a permanent provider could be set up. Finally, a slot with the initial provider reopened in mid-2011, more than three months after she initially tried to get services. Gary was finally able to obtain speech and occupational therapy from a permanent provider. Currently, Gary is still not receiving the full amount of services that his doctor prescribed last year. Jennifer said Gary has made great progress since starting his therapies, but more therapy is needed for Gary to reach his full potential.

Jennifer, with help from TJC, had to fight to get Gary the services he needed to help him learn, communicate, and flourish. Through her tireless efforts and dedication to Gary’s health, she managed to piece together the services he needed. Jennifer has shown a great desire to not only advocate for her own child, but also on behalf of children across Tennessee. The time and energy Jennifer put into getting her son the services he needs to thrive and her tenacity in the face of denials and limitations demonstrate her commitment as a mother and advocate, and for that TJC honors her as a Mother of the Year.

Deborah Balthrop lives in La Vergne with her son Brace and her daughter Cheyanne. Cheyanne is outgoing, happy, and helpful.

Early last year, Cheyanne became pregnant. Recognizing the importance of prenatal care to ensure Cheyanne and her baby remained healthy, Deborah took Cheyanne to the health department to apply for TennCare. The health department approved her for TennCare through presumptive eligibility, a way for uninsured pregnant women to get TennCare right away so that they can access prenatal care. To get full benefits, Cheyanne had to fill out an application for TennCare with the Department of Human Services (DHS). Deborah and Cheyanne quickly submitted her application to DHS.

Cheyanne should have been able to access prenatal care right away, but instead Cheyanne and Deborah were put through a gamut of frustrating obstacles, conflicting messages, delays, employee errors and bureaucratic indifference. Deborah spent countless hours and made dozens of phone calls trying to get Cheyanne a TennCare card, find a physician who would see Cheyanne, and find out whether Cheyanne was approved for long-term TennCare coverage.

Deborah made four separate requests to Cheyanne’s HMO for her TennCare card, waiting up to 14 days for the card to arrive between each request. The first three times, the order for the TennCare card was not made, not processed correctly due to employee error, or not processed at all. Numerous doctors told her they would not accept presumptive eligibility without the TennCare card- even doctors that Cheyanne’s HMO suggested would see her right away. Cheyanne got very sick and still couldn’t access a doctor. She had to go to the emergency room to get care. Ultimately, Cheyanne was denied service over 20 times because she was not given her TennCare card in a timely manner.

Deborah contacted TJC to help with the process. Deborah, having worked for an advocacy organization before, had some knowledge and familiarity of the process. However, even for her, the process was overwhelming. TJC helped Deborah file an appeal regarding the delays in getting a doctor’s appointment and getting approved for TennCare. TJC also contacted the state on Cheyanne’s behalf.

Through TJC’s advocacy and Deborah’s persistent efforts, Cheyanne’s application for TennCare was finally approved, and she was able to go to a doctor. However, it had taken so long for Cheyanne to receive her TennCare card that she was sixteen weeks pregnant when she was finally able to see an obstetrician and get the prenatal care that she and her child so desperately needed. Thankfully, Cheyanne’s baby, Kayleigh-Anne, was born in October 2011, healthy and beautiful.

Throughout the entire process, Deborah never gave up. She made phone calls every day, kept records of these phone conversations, submitted and resubmitted forms and documents, and kept applying pressure where it was needed. She recognized the importance of early prenatal care and she was not going to let her daughter and grandchild fall through the cracks. Deborah is not only a tireless advocate for her own children, but has also spoken out to ensure that other children around the state are given the care they need. She told her story in federal court to ensure that all pregnant women get the timely adequate prenatal care their health and their babies health depends upon. For Tennessee’s children, Deborah says she is “not asking for more than they deserve.” For her tenacity and persistence in the face of obstacles that would have discouraged many others, Deborah is recognized as a Mother of the Year.

Ida Roberts lives in Kingsport with her husband Mitch and their three daughters, Amber, Sarai, and Elisabeth. Two of Ida’s daughters, Amber and Sarai, were born with severe disabilities, including mental retardation and autism. The oldest daughter, Amber, was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, which deprived Amber’s brain of oxygen. During Ida’s pregnancy with her second child, Sarai, there were concerns about the health and even the survival of the child. Sarai had a single umbilical artery, which greatly increases the risk of congenital and chromosomal defects, and Sarai was born with profound disabilities. Regardless of their health challenges, Ida’s profound love for her daughters is unabated.

Ida has courageously and persistently fought TennCare for years to ensure that her children are able to get the medical services that they desperately need. She has fought to get the medicines that their doctor has prescribed, to get the diapers and other equipment that Amber and Sarai need from suppliers, to find appropriate specialists for her children, and to keep their speech, occupational and physical therapies in place, which are imperative for Amber and Sarai’s development and growth. Ida has advocated relentlessly for her children to ensure they are given every opportunity to function well, develop, and reach their potential.

Amber, now age 16, has worked to develop basic communication skills. She loves going to school and is taking life skills courses there. She is learning to write her name and learning other daily living skills, such as how to brush her teeth and how to wash and dry dishes and clothes. Amber is also taking other steps to learn work skills she can use outside of her home. Three days a week she goes to Goodwill where she is learning how to fold, sort and place clothes in bins. Sometimes she also works at a grocery store where she is learning how to stock groceries. More than anything, Amber loves horses and enjoys looking at the horses in the pasture across from her home.

Sarai is now 11-years-old and is unable to read or write. Sarai is not able to talk except to sometimes say “momma.” When she is able to walk, Sarai sometimes goes from room to room with her hands out, looking up and smiling. “I think she plays with the angels,” says Ida. She loves music, especially nursery rhymes, and almost any kind of noise, including the sound of a lawnmower and squeaky toys. Sarai also really likes watching cars race.

For Ida, it is a full-time job ensuring that Amber and Sarai get the TennCare services they need. Ida has exhibited tireless effort and dedication to her children to ensure they are able to get the health care services they need to not only grow, but to also thrive. Ida says that “no child with or without a disability should have to go without needed medical services.” Ida adds that the “the challenge of fighting TennCare to get the medical services my children need and working to change the system are worth it so that another parent won’t have to fight quite as hard.” It is this mindset, and a deep commitment and love for her children, that drives Ida’s devoted desire to ensure her children get the health care they need.