Enrollee Testimonials

HSCSN Parents and Caregivers Tell Stories

Young girl wearing a pink dress and smiling.

Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Inc. (HSCSN) has worked in Washington D.C.'s communities for over 26 years. We are a Washington D.C. Medicaid Health Plan for children and young adults with special needs. We are the contracted health care plan provider for the District of Columbia’s Child and Adolescent Supplemental Security Income Program (CASSIP).

Our motto is "Caring, Serving, Empowering." Our families motivate us to live by this motto in everything we do. We are excited to share stories from our families about the health plan.

These stories are about how our health care services have helped families who have children with special needs. We help our families manage their full health! These stories have inspired us and we hope they inspire you!

Patricia

"Andrene has been the best Care Manager my son has ever had. From the moment she started supporting our family, she has gone above and beyond to ensure he receives the care and services he needs. She is always prompt in scheduling appointments and makes sure he has reliable transportation to and from school and his ABA services.

Within just one week of receiving the referral for ABA therapy, my son was already enrolled and receiving services, which meant so much to our family. Andrene regularly checks in to see how he is doing, and whenever he has health concerns or needs to go to the hospital, she follows up to ensure we understand what is happening and have the support we need.

She has also helped me learn about important resources I was not aware of, such as access to free wipes and diapers because of my son’s autism diagnosis. Andrene is caring, supportive, and always thinking about what is best for him. I truly feel she cares about my son.”

Patricia is the mother of a five-year-old boy with autism, congestive heart failure, expressive language delay, urinary incontinence, moderate persistent asthma, eczema, and a history of gastrostomy. He has been enrolled in HSCSN since 2021.

Desiree

15-year-old African American male on couch with dog.

“My son enjoys being part of HSCSN and has significantly developed his social skills. He now interacts much more comfortably with other kids and young adults. loves participating in the Youth Athletic Program, especially the basketball and volleyball classes. He has also formed special bonds with some of the other HSCSN enrollees. One significant aspect of HSCSN's programs is that they are tailored to children with various disabilities.

I also appreciate being part of the Parent Advocate Leaders Support Group, as it allows parents to connect and build relationships with others who have children with special needs. We can exchange valuable resources regarding the school system and housing."

Desiree is the mother of a 15-year-old African American male with asthma, allergy, autism, and developmental delay. He has been an HSCSN enrollee since 2014.

Aiesha

“My baby has shown significant improvement under the care of Pia Lipscomb. Thanks to all she has done for my daughter to be part of Strong Start, and to all the different practitioners she has helped coordinate with her therapy sessions and the recommended kids’ program, her life has changed; she now walks down the steps more and is feeding herself better. Thank you, Pia, for taking my family in as your own and for always being there for us.”

Aiesha is the mother of a 4-year-old girl with autism. She has received HSCSN services since 2024.

Arnita

“Deborah does everything I ask and always goes above and beyond. She checks in with me each week to ensure my son has everything he needs. There’s nothing I’ve asked for that she hasn’t done, from coordinating and reminding me about D.S.’s appointments and transportation to attending IEP meetings at school with me. She gives her very best in everything she does, and she is an exceptional Care Manager.”

Arnita is the mother of a 9-year-old boy with autism and a speech and language disorder. He has been enrolled in HSCSN since 2023.

Flora

"My daughter has become a more open person since Norma became her Care Manager. Due to their strong connection, she now has a better way to express her feelings, whereas in the past she was extremely quiet. She is also willing to participate in events, something that would have been inconceivable before. There is nothing we can ask Norma that she doesn’t provide in a timely manner. This has created a sense of confidence and reassurance not only in my daughter but also in me."

Flora is the mother of an 18-year-old girl with post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and sensorineural hearing loss. Flora has been using HSCSN Care Management Services since 2013.