Arizona is breaking new ground by legally recognizing the hard work mothers and caregivers put into looking after their disabled children. Governor Katie Hobbs announced that the state will now authorize parents to receive payment for the full-time care of their children with complex medical conditions.
Under the initiative backed by the Biden Administration, parents like former schoolteacher Brandi Coon, who tirelessly provides around-the-clock care for her son Tyson who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, can fully invest themselves in the care of their child and be remunerated for it. According to 12News, Coon, along with other determined parents, successfully campaigned to make the "Parents As Paid Caregivers" program a permanent fixture after it originally launched during the pandemic.
The new policy comes in conjunction with the expansion of Arizona's KidsCare, the state's Medicaid program for children, set to benefit an additional 10,000 children by raising the income eligibility to 225% of the federal poverty level. To qualify for the Parents as Paid Caregivers program, children must be enrolled in the Arizona Long-Term Care System, and their parents are required to undergo training from providers hired via the state-funded program.
In parallel, Naomi Carlise, a mother to her daughter Olivia who suffers from Rett Syndrome, has become one of the state’s first licensed health aides, marching through the created barriers to earn an income while tending to her daughter's needs. "It's going to be a really big game changer for our community," Carlise told FOX 10 Phoenix regarding the Family Licensed Health Aide Program offered by Team Select Home Care.
Team Select CEO Fred Johnson highlighted how the new legislation not only empowers parents through education and licensing but also ensures "the continuity of care that matters for these children." Naomi Carlise was able to quickly get her certification, noting that the training was specifically tailored to her daughter's condition. This new Family CNA Program from Team Select Home Care provides a beacon of hope for those who have often had to sacrifice their careers to give their children the best possible care.
