Intake

Welcome to the Rochester Center for Children! We are grateful that you are interested in our program and look forward to meeting you and your family. Here is some helpful information about the intake process...

Funding

The Rochester Center for Children currently accepts coverage from two health insurance agencies, Minnesota Healthcare Program (Medical Assistance) and Mayo Clinic Medica. If you are not currently enrolled in either of these health insurance plans, you will need do so prior to enrollment. Please contact your county case worker to apply for Medical Assistance, as they are the most helpful with this process. If you do not currently have a case worker and live in Olmsted County, please call Family Support and Assistance for MA applications at 328-6500.

Enrollment Process

Step 1: Contact Katie Meyer

The first step to enroll your child in the program is to call the Center. You may also email Katie Meyer at katiemeyer@rcenterforchildren.com . She will help you move forward from there.

Step 2: Waiting List

After you contact the Center, your child will be placed on the waiting list. The length of time that it takes for your child to be enrolled varies and is dependent upon many factors. Throughout the year we do our best to help the keep the wait time as minimal as possible. Some suggestions regarding how you can help to minimize this time include being flexible when requesting hours for your child, keep all medical and insurance information up to date, and complete all necessary paperwork in a timely manner.

Step 3: Enrollment Process

When we have a tentative start date for your child, we will be in contact with you about a month prior to enrollment. At this time, we will be looking to schedule a few different meetings that must be completed prior to your child’s start date and complete all necessary paperwork. 

  • New Client Paperwork: In 2021, the Rochester Center for Children moved to electronic health records. You will be given a tutorial regarding how access to your child’s account upon enrollment so that you are able to upload all required documents to their file and complete necessary paperwork.
  • Comprehensive Multi-Disciplinary Evaluation (CMDE): The CMDE is a behavior identification assessment that covers the required comprehensive evaluation for your child. The information gathered in the CMDE is used to determine your child’s eligibility and medical need for EIDBI services and to develop your child’s individual treatment plan (ITP), including treatment type and intensity. 
  • Client Observation: The purpose of the client observation is to complete the necessary components of the CMDE. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for you and your child to meet RCC staff prior to enrollment. The observation typically lasts about an hour and focuses solely on play and getting to know your child. 

Step 4: Start Date

When you have completed and provided all necessary paperwork and attended each meeting as noted above, you will be given a start date and scheduled hours for your child. We do our best to offer each family the therapy hours that were requested; however, it may not be possible upon their start date. It is easier for us to gradually increase your child’s hours once they have started the program as opposed to declining the given hours until more become available.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the intake process, please contact Katie Meyer (katiemeyer@rcenterforchildren.com).