Over the last few years, when community services were available, the Hoover family has been whole.

But when those services fell through, Carol Hoover and her husband Steve spent long hours driving between their home outside Abilene and Topeka State Hospital to visit their son Chad.

"It's hard to be a family with a child in Topeka State Hospital," Mrs. Hoover said.

Chad, 17, has developmental disabilities and serious emotional disabilities. He has had three hospitalizations, the first at age 12 and again in 1993 because of homicidal threats. Then last summer, with attendant care and tutoring set up, Chad came home. Everything went well until August. But when the tutor went on vacation, the attendant care worker, a teacher, left to return to the classroom, and Chad faced a return to public schools, a crisis ensued.

"It was more than he could handle, and it sent his behavior back down the fiery tunnel," Mrs. Hoover said about the need for Chad's rehospitalization. "Even with medication, things need to be very stable for Chad."

Undaunted by the setback, Mrs. Hoover and a 'wraparound' team started by staff at the hospital worked to get supports in place for Chad's return home. 'Wraparound' services are set up by a team of people, including the family, who know the child and his or her needs. The people involved, some from professional agencies and others neighbors or friends, work together to coordinate the supports needed to keep the child in the community.

With Chad, the team succeeded. He is now living at home and his mother expects this to continue because of the services now in place. The success came because of a medication program set up by the hospital and the services that were set up in the community, Mrs. Hoover said. She also praised hospital staff and staff at Keys For Networking, a not-for-profit family advocacy agency based in Topeka, for encouraging her to keep pushing to get services for Chad.

Chad's program consists of mornings in a special education classroom and afternoons working for the Salina Parks Department in a job coordinated by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services through the Job Training Partnership Act. He has a special education paraprofessional and a job coach. A neighbor of the Hoovers provides them respite care. And a youth group from the Hoover's church is even involved, taking Chad out for typical teenage 'cruises,' something he cannot do alone.

Besides bringing the Hoover family back together, wrapping services around a child with severe disabilities is much cheaper than institutionalization. A study of successful wraparound situations put together by "Keys For Networking" showed just how much cheaper.

Keys for Networking compared the cost of providing services for Chad in October 1995, when he was in Topeka State Hospital, and in November, 1995, when he was home. In October, the cost of care totalled $12,059. The next month, with Chad back home, the cost totalled $3,069.

"The money figures are amazing," said Jane Adams, executive director of Keys. "If people would just realize that. But when everybody has their own pot of money, they don't care as long as somebody else is paying.

"We need to break down barriers around money," Adams added.

Chad's wraparound team now consists of the Hoovers, an SRS social worker and vocational rehabilitation worker, a number of people from Chad's school, including a school social worker, and representatives from the local community mental health center, including a case manager. This team meets regularly to coordinate services.

"Our team has worked pretty well," Mrs. Hoover said.

With closure of Topeka State Hospital set for no later than December 31, 1997, Mrs. Hoover said it is essential that money be provided in communities to wrap services around children leaving state hospitals. "We've got to make sure the funding is there," she said. "Especially in smaller communities. If money is available for things like attendant care and respite care, that helps keep kids out of Topeka State."

Mrs. Hoover also is involved with a community wraparound committee in her area. She said she likes to provide assistance to other families in need.

"I've been through it," she said. "I know the struggles families can have. It's hard enough dealing with a child and his problems. Then trying to fight the system to get help."

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001