Children at Home

This program is designed to assist families raising a child with a disability in obtaining needed services and supports. The family’s intent must be to secure services and support that enable their child to remain in the family home.

“Family” means a group of interdependent persons living in the same household. A family may consist of an individual with a disability and any of the following:

1. The individual’s parent.
2. The individual’s sibling.
3. The individual’s grandparent, aunt, or uncle.
4. The individual’s legal custodian.
5. A person who is providing short-term foster care to the individual subject to a case permanency plan that provides for reunification between the individual and the individual’s parent.

“Family” does not include a person who is employed to provide services to an individual with a disability in an out-of-home setting, including but not limited to a hospital, nursing facility, personal care home, board and care home, group foster care home, or other institutional setting.

In the Children at Home program, “individual with a disability” refers to a person who is 21 years of age and younger and meets the definition of developmental disability.

“Services and support” help children with disabilities to remain at home, function more independently and increase community inclusion. Services and support may include, but are not limited to, funding for:

1. Purchase of equipment, respite care, supplies or assistive technology.
2. Payment of other costs that relate to the individual’s disability .

To qualify for the Children at Home program:

• You and your family must reside in the state of Iowa.
• Your family must include a child with a disability, which is defined as an individual who is less than 22 years of age and meets the definition of developmental disability.
• Your family’s intent is to secure those services and supports that would enable your child to remain living in the family home.
• Your family’s Federal Net (not gross) taxable income for the most recent tax year is less than $60,000.

You can find the application to apply to the Children at Home program here:

Children at Home application – English

Children at Home application -Spanish

Completed applications can be submitted by:

• Mail: Iowa Family Support Network
  1111 9th street, suite 320
  Des Moines, IA 50314
• Fax: 515-558-9994
• Email: iafamilysupportnetwork@everystep.org

You can reapply to the Children at Home program every fiscal year; the fiscal year is July 1st through June 30th. A new application is required each fiscal year you wish to apply. Any application received after April 30th will be placed on a waitlist and processed as funding allows in that current fiscal year. Only services provided in the current fiscal year are eligible for payment or reimbursement.

In order for an Intake and Referral Specialist to contact or speak to any agencies/individuals outside of EveryStep, a Release of Information needs to be completed.  Below is the Release of Information form:

• CaH Release of Information-English
• CaH Release of Information-Spanish

If your Children at Home application has been approved for the current Fiscal Year, but you would like to request an additional item or service a Request for Funds form will need to be completed.  Below is the Request for Funds form:

• Request for Funds page-English
• Request for Funds page-Spanish

In order to send payment directly to an agency or individual, a W-9 form will need to be completed by the individual or agency receiving the payment.  Below is the W-9 form:

• W-9 Form- English
• W-9 Form- Spanish

For respite care, if we are paying a individual person directly , a respite log is required.  Below is the respite log form:

• Respite Log

If your application or request for the Children at Home program is denied, you may file an appeal. Please see the form below for more details in order to file an appeal:

• Appeal Process

For details on the effects of Children at Home assistance on other programs, please see the form below:

• Effects of Children at Home Assistance on Other Programs

The information below provides details on allowable and excluded categories, however, this is not an exhaustive list. Each request will be evaluated individually based on information provided in the application.   If you have any questions on allowable or excluded items, funds available or need more information you are encouraged to call and speak with an Intake and Referral Specialist by calling toll-free at 1-888-425-4371 or email iafamilysupportnetwork@everystep.org.

Allowable Funding Request Categories

• Equipment
  • Adaptive
  • Therapeutic
  • Functional
  • Technology — additional documentation may be required and other guidelines met.
• Therapy
• Inclusion Activities
• Parent/ Caregiver Education
• Personal Care
• Respite/Adaptive Child Care — additional guidelines may apply
• Medical related expenses
• Transportation — out of area
• Nutrition

Categories that will NOT be considered for funding:

• Adoption fees
• Animals or training of animals that do not fall within the Service Animal category (as defined by the Americans with Disability Act)
• Basic child items (non adaptive) clothes, shoes, school supplies, food, car seats, household furniture, cribs, toys, diapers/wipes
• Basic living expenses (rent, water, utilities, heat/LP, etc.)
• Childcare for a child age 12 or younger unless there are extenuating circumstances specifically pertaining to a child’s disability that is above and beyond everyday child care costs.
• Costs incurred from illegal activities such as court costs and fines.
• Firearms and/or Weapons of any kind.
• Gas cards (note: travel/transportation to appointments is an allowable request –however reimbursement will not be made in gas cards)
• Guardianship costs
• Insurance deductibles and co-pays (co-pays for equipment may be considered, please contact IFSN staff to determine eligibility)
• Phone, Phone minutes
• Purchase of or repair of vehicles (Modification/adaptation of vehicles is an allowable request)

Please note, while Children at Home funds can not pay for daily living expenses, you may contact Iowa Family Support Network to be connected to resources that may help.

The Children at Home Advisory Committee will help to steer program policy and spread awareness about the services available through the Children at Home Program.  The Advisory group will meet quarterly in August, November, February, May.

Applications for membership may be submitted at any time throughout the year.  Upon receipt, applications are discussed within the context of current the Children at Home Program needs. Newly selected members will be notified at least 30 days prior to the next scheduled meeting.

Committee participants may qualify for a stipend for attendance and mileage reimbursement.

We are very happy to have you consider joining. We hope that, if selected, you will find the experience to be professionally and personally enriching.

Please complete the application listed below to help us understand your potential contribution and maintain diversity among our members. Family members who have a child with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Children at Home Advisory Committee Application