Public Spark

Regional Centers

If there is a possibility that a child can become developmentally delayed or is already developmentally delayed, the regional center can help. It provides resources such as nursing care, as well as financial aid for costly equipment. This is a directory of regional centers that exist in California (http://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/rclist.cfm)

SSI (http://www.ssa.gov/)

Depending on your financial situation and prognosis, children can qualify for Social Security benefits.

Medi-cal for Children (http://www.chikids.org/aboutchi/medical.html)

This is also for families of sick children in financial hardship. It helps to pay for medications and expensive procedures.

Family Leave Act (http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/)

In situations where both parents work and one has to take time off to take care of a suddenly ill child, this is a way that can help. There are specific guidelines depending on the company you work for, but you are allowed to take a couple of weeks to a month to care for your sick child, but still get paid and not fired from the job.

Support groups

It is stressful for both the child and adult to face being sick. For children, at hospitals there are pediatric social workers, as well as child life specialists, who can help. There are also support groups for parents and caregivers.