SKIP of New York

Sick Kids need Involved People (SKIP) of New York, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for profit agency for families who want to care for their chronically ill, medically fragile, or developmentally disabled children. SKIP is an advocacy and service agency that helps families who have seriously ill children access the necessary resources and support to enable them to live at home with their families. SKIP helps set in place the health insurance and services required for these children and serves as collaborative and innovative stewards to these families and children as they navigate the health care system. It insures that families remain equal partners with professionals in determining their children's needs.

History

SKIP of New York began in 1970 with two parents' dream of caring for their seriously ill child at home.
In the early 70's, medical technology had advanced beyond the bounds of health care policy and throughout the country there were too many children living in intensive care units who required long-term life sustaining equipment and treatment. Julia Mikol was one of these children, a little girl who had spent almost every day of her two and a half years of life in an intensive care unit. The technology to support Julia’s life existed, but the system to grant her a childhood did not. There was no precedent, so the social workers, doctors and insurance providers refused to discharge her. Determined to find a way, the Mikols researched meticulously and became the first family in New York State bring a child home on life support equipment. The costs of caring for their daughter at home decreased by more than 85%, inspiring the Mikols to take action to prove that this was possible for all parents who were spending days, hours, and years in hospitals, acting as observers in the lives of their children. As they walked out of the hospital for the last time, Margaret and Yves Mikol looked back and saw four other children with situations similar to Julia’s. Their parents wanted to know how they could bring their child home, and the Mikols knew they now had to help other parents follow in their footsteps.

After five wonderful years at home, Julia passed away, and in 1983 SKIP of New York was founded as her legacy. Parents began reaching out to the Mikols as a resource for advice and information. Started with 10 families, over the past 25 years the agency has grown to positively impact over 10,000 families statewide. SKIP is a recognized advisor to the Department of Health, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and national health care forums. SKIP continues to grow at a rate of 50% annually, and continues to respond to the needs of families of children who are chronically ill, medically fragile and/or developmentally disabled, partnering with them for as long as SKIP is needed.

References

[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1625193,00.html When the Prescription is Home Care] Time Magazine, June 4, 2007.
[http://www.child.com/child/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/child/story/data/childrens_champions.xml&categoryid=/templatedata/child/category/data/1131129665280.xml&page=6 Child Magazine's Children's Champion Awards: Local Hero: Margaret Mikol] Child Magazine, November, 2003.
Knoll, James A. [http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/22/59/15.pdf Come Together: The Experience of Families of Children with Severe Disabilities or Chronic Illness] Human Services Research Institute, Cambridge, MA. September, 1989.
Stillerman, Elaine [http://www.realsavvymoms.com/parenting/article.php?category2=26&article=402 Margaret Mikol and SKIP] Real Savvy Moms
[http://www.uhfnyc.org/press_release3159/press_release_show.htm?doc_id=326476 United Hospital Fund Provides $502,000 in Grants to Improve City's Health Services] United Hospital Fund, November 22, 2005.
Cummings, Betsy [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04EED6143DF931A35756C0A9629C8B63 Home Front; Illness Strikes, and Insurance Falls Short] The New York Times, May 2, 2004.

External links

* [http://www.skipofny.org SKIP of New York (official website)]
* [http://www.cap4kids.org/new_york_city/parent_handouts/special_needs.html The Children's Advocacy Project of New York City]
* [http://www.ddawny.org/ Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York]