Between the extra medical bills, therapeutic equipment and the cost of a special diet for my child, I feel like I can barely make ends meet. Forget trying to pay for a babysitter who is trained to handle my child’s special needs or for just having fun like a regular family. I don’t want to complain. I just wish I had an hour or two off every once in a while. Is there any hope for me?

-Broke  but not yet broken

Dear Broke,

First of all, it sounds like you’re trying to do all the right things for your child, so kudos to you. And yet, making sure you get breaks and your child has some opportunities for fun are both important. There are a number of public services out there for families of children with disabilities that might be able to help you.

Regardless of family income, children may qualify for medical assistance through a program called TEFRA. Offered through medical assistance, TEFRA can help you afford additional medical costs and payments for a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) for your child. Personal Care Attendants are specially trained caretakers for your child.

In addition, Hennepin County Social Services offers Family Support Grants for qualifying families. The purpose of these grants is to provide cash grants to families to offset the higher-than-average costs of parenting their children with disabilities at home. The family may purchase their choice of supports and services that are directly related to their child’s disability, which can range from therapeutic equipment to specialized swimming lessons for your child. The goals of the grant are to delay or prevent out-of-home placement of children with disabilities and to assist the growth of family health and social wellbeing. Call Hennepin County’s Front Door at (612) 348-4111 for more information.