Providing financial help for youth and families to address emotional and behavioral health challenges

What is the Focus on Youth Fund?

 

Informational Brochure  Folleto en Espanol

The Focus on Youth Fund is able to fund service gaps when insurance or other programs don’t cover all of a family’s needs or expenses. The purpose of the fund is to help parents:

• Keep their child in their home, school or community
• Shorten a child’s length of stay if placed in foster care or residential treatment

Parenting is a tough job, especially if your child has special needs. Our goal is to make things a little easier for families to meet their children’s needs so that everyone is happier and more secure.

Funding for the Focus on Youth Fund is provided by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

Who Qualifies for Help?

Any child (0 to 18 years old) who has been diagnosed with an emotional or behavioral disturbance, and lives in Johnson County, may qualify for these supplemental assistance funds. If the child has not been diagnosed but you suspect the child may have an emotional disturbance, the Focus on Youth Fund may be able to assist in paying for a psychiatric evaluation as a diagnostic tool. Some disturbances that qualify for funding include:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Attachment Disorder
• Adjustment Disorder
• Conduct Disorder
• Depression/Anxiety (mood disorders)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Eligibility is based on the child’s diagnosis. To qualify the family household income must not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines.

2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines:
Family Household Size - 2, 300% Federal Poverty - $4,930.00 monthly
Family Household Size - 3, 300% Federal Poverty - $6,215.00 monthly
Family Household Size - 4, 300% Federal Poverty - $7,500.00 monthly
Family Household Size - 5, 300% Federal Poverty - $8,785.00 monthly
 

The fund may assist with expenses that are not covered by insurance or other funding sources. The fund can help cover co-pays for medications, counseling, or other services.

Who Does Not Qualify for Help?

We are not able to approve funding for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders including;

• Autism Spectrum Disorders, which includes Kanner’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and Asperger Syndrome
• Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and impairments in other academic areas
• Intellectual disability
• Rett syndrome.

What Expenses Does the fund Cover?

If insurance or another programs can’t pay for necessary services, and parents cannot afford them, the Johnson County Focus on Youth Fund can help pay for the following types of services:

• Screening, assessment, and evaluations
• Prescription medication
• Medication management appointments
• Individual, group, and family therapy
• Other: contact the Program Assistant with questions about services that are not listed.

Next Steps?

If you believe your child qualifies for the Focus on Youth Fund, and you need financial assistance in meeting your child’s needs, please download an application and submit it to the Focus on Youth Fund Program Assistant (contact info listed below).

Focus on Youth Fund Application
Formulario de Solicitud en Español

If you have any questions, please email or call for more information or to find out if your child would qualify.

email: [email protected]

phone: 319-356-6090 (ask for Focus On Youth)

Johnson County Social Services
Attn: Focus On Youth Fund
855 S. Dubuque Street, Suite 202B
Iowa City, IA 52240