Pediatric Personal Care & IHSS
Your Child’s Care is Full-Time Work.
It Should Be Paid Like It.
We help Colorado parents of children with disabilities turn “Extraordinary Care” into a stable, professional income—without needing a nursing degree.
Parenting is Love. Caregiving is Labor.
Many parents feel guilty about getting paid to care for their own child. Don’t. The care you provide—managing G-tubes, lifting a teenager for a shower, suctioning a tracheostomy—is not “just parenting.” It is skilled healthcare. If you weren’t doing it, the state would have to hire a nurse to do it. At Caregivers First Choice, we believe you are the best possible caregiver for your child, and you deserve to be compensated for that expertise.
What Counts as “Billable” Care?
Medicaid pays for tasks that exceed what a typical child of the same age needs.
| Activity | Typical Parenting (Not Paid) |
Extraordinary Care (We Pay You) |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding | Making a sandwich for a 10-year-old child. | Feeding a 10-year-old via G-Tube or spoon-feeding due to swallowing difficulties. |
| Hygiene | Reminding a teenager to take a shower. | Physically lifting a teenager into the bath and washing them. |
| Toileting | Changing a diaper for a 6-month-old infant. | Diapering, catheterizing, or performing a bowel program for a 12-year-old. |
| Mobility | Helping a toddler learn to walk. | Transferring a child from a wheelchair to a bed, car, or toilet. |
Which Level of Care Does Your Child Need?
Most agencies only pay for basic personal care. At Caregivers First Choice, we specialize in Level 2: Skilled Health Maintenance. By utilizing the IHSS Nurse Delegation model, we can compensate you for the complex medical tasks you are already doing.
Level 1
Personal Care Services (CFC & PHS)
For children who need physical help with daily routines.
- Hygiene: Bathing, dressing, and grooming assistance.
- Mobility: Transfers (bed to chair), positioning, and walking assistance.
- Tolieting: Diapering (for older children) and basic toileting help.
- Protective Oversight: Supervision to ensure safety for children with behavioral needs.
Level 2
Skilled Medical Care (IHSS) The “No CNA” Option
Unlike standard agencies, our RN trains you to perform “Health Maintenance Activities” legally.
- Feeding Tubes: G-tube and J-tube feedings and site care.
- Bowel & Bladder: Catheter care, suppositories, and bowel programs.
- Respiratory Support: Oxygen management, suctioning, and nebulizers.
- Medication Administration: Managing oral and injectable medications.
No Nursing Degree? No Problem.
The “Nurse Delegation” Advantage
Many parents assume they need to be a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to get paid for medical tasks. You don’t. Under the IHSS program, our Registered Nurse (RN) delegates the care directly to you.
- We Train You: Our RN comes to your home and verifies that you know how to care for your child.
- We Sign You Off: Once you demonstrate competency, you are legally authorized to perform skilled tasks like bowel programs and catheter care.
- You Get Paid: You clock in for these medical tasks just like a professional nurse would.
We Specialize in Colorado’s Complex Waivers
To become a paid parent caregiver, your child generally needs to be enrolled in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and require “Extraordinary Care.”
We work with families on the most common pediatric waivers:
- CHRP (Children’s Habilitation Residential Program): For children with complex behavioral or medical needs who are at risk of out-of-home placement.
- CES (Children’s Extensive Support): For children requiring extensive supervision.
- CFC (Community First Choice): A state plan option available to many children.
Not sure which one you have? Don’t worry. When you apply, we check your eligibility and help you find the program that maximizes your family’s hours.
Common Questions from Parents
Can I really get paid to care for my child?
Yes. Medicaid distinguishes between “typical parenting” and “Extraordinary Care.” As a Class B Personal Care Agency, we help you get reimbursed for the tasks that exceed what a child of the same age normally needs.
Do I need a license?
No. You do not need a nursing license or CNA certificate. You operate under the license of our agency through “Nurse Delegation.”
Stop Providing Free Healthcare. Start Getting Paid.
Join the agency that puts families first.