After a child with special medical needs is discharged from the hospital, their parents need to collaborate with their medical provider to set up a plan for the child’s home health care. Likely, the plan will call for daily medical treatments and personal care duties to be conducted by a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Sometimes therapists or K-12 Paras intervene and share this program with parents who are not always referred straight from a hospital. Respite care programs also share CNA provider program details to families in need of resources.
While this program is beneficial, employing a part-time CNA represents a financial obstacle for some families. For other families in which one or two parents are employed, taking care of a special-needs child necessitates one of them to cut back their hours so they can stay at home with the child. This also means they forfeit the compensation of those lost hours, presenting another financial setback many families can’t afford.
Colorado’s CNA Parent Provider Program — the only one like it in the United States — was designed to help parents give their special-needs children the devoted attention they need. It allows a parent to become a Certified Nursing Assistant themselves and to receive compensation for the hours they spend taking care of their child through Colorado Medicaid or Colorado Medicaid Waivers.
How the CNA Parent Provider Program works
After they’re approved for the CNA Parent Provider Program, the parent is enrolled in a program to obtain CNA certification. The class can be taken online, in person, or as a hybrid of both.
Student parents learn how to provide all the basic services specific to their child’s needs, including taking vital signs, personal care, nutrition, infection control, coordinating treatment plans, and more. The class includes coursework, quizzes, and hands-on skills instruction at an approved local healthcare facility or Nurse Aide Training Program school.
After a parent has successfully completed a CNA training program they receive a Certificate of Completion. This certificate allows them to register with Colorado to take the state’s CNA Exam. If the parent successfully passes this exam, they receive their CNA license through the Department of Regulatory Agency (DORA).
To become their child’s primary caregiver, the newly certified parent must be employed by a local home health agency. They receive an assignment to work with a supervisor just like any other CNA. The parent receives fair compensation for their in-home care of their own child.
The CNA Parent Provider Program allows parents to give their children the care they need without jeopardizing their financial situation. Just as importantly, the child receives full attention and care from the people they trust the most: their mother or father or a family member.
How to get involved with the CNA Parent Provider Program
To qualify for the CNA Parent Provider Program, your child must be eligible for Health First Colorado. They must also receive approval for home medical services, which can be obtained through a home health agency pediatric assessment.
When you’re ready to start, contact South Denver School of Nursing Arts to speak with a team member about the CNA Parent Provider Program. We will share reputable home health care partners for you to research. You don’t need to have a current CNA license. If your child is eligible, you can enroll in the South Denver School of Nursing Arts’ CNA program to become a fully certified Colorado Nursing Assistant.
