Birth Injury Resources: Help and Support for Children with Birth Injuries

Birth injuries often result in lifelong traumatic conditions and disabilities that can be financially, mentally, and emotionally challenging for families. For children suffering from cerebral palsy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and other birth injuries and disabilities, medical, state, and community resources are available to help ease some of the hardships associated with these conditions.

It can be beneficial for families to become educated about local and national support services and programs so that they do not miss opportunities to take advantage of vital resources. At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, we have assembled the following links and information regarding national, city, and state programs that provide aid and support to families caring for children with traumatic birth injuries.

The First Form of Compensation – Holding Negligent Providers Accountable for the Injuries They Cause

The links to resources provided below are to organizations that provide a wide variety of help and assistance to those suffering from birth injuries, as well as for their parents and caretakers. These organizations understand well the emotional, physical, and financial tolls that caring for a disabled child take on parents and other caretakers, including the brothers and sisters of the child.

While these organization provide valuable help, it is not the job of these organizations to provide the compensation required to care for a disabled child. Instead, if a birth injury was caused by medical malpractice and negligence, full compensation should be provided by the doctors, hospitals, and all others that were responsible for the birth injury.

In seeking full compensation, it’s important that parents understand that there are time limits (called the statute of limitations) by which a case must be brought in Michigan. If the case is not brought within this time period, all rights to seek compensation will be lost. We therefore urge parents to call us as soon as possible in the case of a birth injury, or when developmental delays or other conditions appear that may suggest a birth injury. We offer a free case consultation and evaluation, including a review of a child’s case by an expert physician and by our nurses on staff, so that we can determine if medical malpractice likely occurred. If the facts support a case of medical malpractice, we can advise you of your options to pursue full compensation against all those responsible for the lifetime of care and other compensation that is due under the law.

We work tirelessly in building the cases for our clients one step at a time. In addition to retaining expert physicians and our nurses on staff to prove medical malpractice, we also retain experts who can assess the costs of the care likely to be required over a child’s lifetime, as well as to determine the full amount of all other damages that are legally compensable.

We demand full compensation. If defendants are not willing to pay what they owe, we will not hesitate to go to trial. We are experienced birth injury trial lawyers, and know how to present the cases of our clients so that a jury can determine the damages that may be owed.

Information about Child and Developmental Disabilities

ADA. The ADA website provides essential information about the Americans with Disability Act, as well as vital information regarding state and government disability regulations.
Healthfinder. This website offers a comprehensive database regarding a variety of health topics, from nutrition to pregnancy. Additionally, it provides lists of doctors from local areas across the state.
Mayo Clinic. Regarded as one of the top health systems in the country, the Mayo Clinic offers detailed information on diseases and conditions, as well as their symptoms, tests, and treatments.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website is among the most extensive and up-to-date medical resource guides for health conditions and disabilities. The CDC also provides information regarding government assistance for specific conditions and the next steps.
Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides comprehensive information about health insurance, public health concerns, and local social services.

Premature Birth and Pregnancy Resources and Information

WebMD. This website offers general information regarding a multitude of pregnancy and birth-related concerns, including preterm birth signs, symptoms, and causes.
March of Dimes. March of Dimes is an organization focused solely on fighting for the health of all mothers and babies. They provide extensive information regarding premature births, birth defects, and infant mortality, intending to help expecting parents avoid potential birth complications.
What to Expect. Based on the book What to Expect When You’re Expecting, the What to Expect website provides helpful guidance regarding pregnancy issues, complications, premature births, and many other pregnancy issues.

Resources Addressing Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

Hope for HIE. Hope for HIE provides comprehensive and personalized support services for families with children affected by HIE. This worldwide organization is run entirely by parent volunteers and provides both in-person and online support outlets.

Information About Cerebral Palsy (CP)

United Cerebral Palsy. United Cerebral Palsy provides education, support, and other services to those affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Information

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). CHADD provides evidence-based information, face-to-face family support groups, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by ADD and ADHD.

Michigan Financial Assistance Program

Family Support Subsidy Program. The Michigan Family Support Subsidy (FSS) is a program that provides a monthly payment to families to cover special needs that occur as a result of caring for a child with a severe disability.

Health Care and Health Insurance Resources

Michigan Medicaid. Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid provides health care for Michigan residents who cannot afford care for disabled children. To qualify, individuals must have limited means and meet income and asset limits.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The CHIP program provides low-cost health insurance coverage to families who are unable to qualify (i.e., make too much money) for Medicaid.
MIChild. MIChild is an alternative insurance program that provides insurance to children of working parents. Like Medicaid, there are income qualification requirements that must be met.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is a government assistance program that offers food and nutrition resources to women, infants, and children.

Government Assistance Programs

Michigan Developmental Disability Council. Part of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Developmental Disability Council provides support and opportunities to those affected by life-altering disabilities.
Children’s Special Health Care Services. This website strives to improve health outcomes for disabled individuals. This service assists individuals with special health care needs in accessing the broadest possible range of appropriate medical care, health education, and support.
Children with Special Needs Fund. The Michigan Children with Special Needs Fund is a privately funded program within Michigan’s Children’s Special Health Care Services program. It provides financial assistance to families when other funding sources are not readily available.

Michigan Therapy and Support Programs

Hope Network. The Hope Network provides comprehensive services that address the social, physical, and mental barriers that individuals living with disabilities face.
Michigan Alliance for Families. The Michigan Alliance for Families provides information, support, and education for families who have children and young adults who receive or need special education services.

How Can We Help?

Children suffering from traumatic birth injuries, such as cerebral palsy, HIE, brain damage, and other disabilities often require intensive and expensive health care and lifestyle adjustments. If you believe that your child suffered a birth injury because of medical malpractice, we encourage you to contact us to learn about your options for seeking compensation, and how we can represent your child.

Help for Families