Page 58 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2016

HEALTHY LIVING great resources
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
photos courtesy of Gulf Coast Pediatric Care
or many parents of children with special needs, finding resources and programs to fit their needs can be difficult.
Here on the Gulf Coast, there are a variety of organizations that exist to support these children and their families.
Prescribed Pediatric Extended
Care (PPEC) is a medical day care center that is dedicated to caring
for medically fragile children. These centers aim to develop children’s independence while also providing them with care, therapy and education that will help them to reach their full potential.
PPEC is provided by Gulf Coast Pediatric Care LLC (GCPC), which is located in Gulfport. “Our program is paid for entirely through the child’s Medicaid if they are approved, and allows parents that would normally
Gulf Coast Pediatric Care
1285 Spring Street, Gulfport 228.206.6278
not be able to work or go to school to be able to do so,” said Amanda Levens, a nurse practitioner and administrator for the program.
PPEC plays a large role in the children’s education by preparing children with medically complex needs for school and other social situations.
Gulf Coast Pediatric Care provides care for children with special needs, from infancy to the age of 21, for
up to 10 hours per day. “Aside from providing children who would normally be homebound with the care they need, we are also able to pick up children from school and provide them with after-school care,” said Levens.
Through combined play and socialization, the staff at GCPC helps the children hone skills that will play an integral part in their growth and development.
Another great resource for parents is
Institute for Disability Studies Gulf Park
730 East Beach Boulevard, Long Beach 228.214.3400
the University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies. “The Institute’s Lending Library allows parents, caregivers and teachers to rent special equipment that they need at no cost,” said Levens.
The library offers a wide variety of assistive technology from alternative communication devices to visual impairment and sensory aids, and allows for a borrowing period of up to 90 days.
Other available programs include Advancement for Retarded Citizens (ARC) and First Steps, a program offered by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) for children between the ages of one and three. MSDH also provides
a specialized health program for children with chronic illnesses or disabilities called the Children’s Medical Program.
Mississippi State Department of Health
1.800.844.0898 www.msdh.ms.gov
58 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2016
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