Child’s Way maintains contracts with most insurance companies in the tri-state area. After obtaining the prescription from your child’s physician, The Children’s Home will contact your insurance company about approval and payment. Your insurance company will determine the medical need for your child to attend Child’s Way. To review needed information to enroll in Child’s Way, please contact Amy Shuffstall, Director at ashuffstall@chomepgh.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Children with medical needs and behavioral / mental health needs will be assessed on an individual basis to determine their eligibility for Child’s Way.
Child’s Way does not provide transportation. Most parents provide their own transportation. The Children’s Home is centrally located along bus routes so that children can take public transportation with their parents. Many of the children and parents also use the Medical Assistance Transportation Program to provide transportation to Child’s Way. For more information or to see if you qualify, please review the Allegheny County Medical Assistance Transportation Program.
Special education schools and the child’s school district arrange the transportation for the children to and from school to Child’s Way for before and after school programming.
Yes, children may attend Child’s Way full-time (Monday through Friday) or part-time (at least two days per week). On days they attend, children must arrive before 10:00 a.m. Some insurance companies require your child to be at Child’s Way for a minimum of 4 hours a day.
Yes, children who have attended Child’s Way regularly and have reached the age of 3 may begin attending outside special education programs and return to Child’s Way after school with prior approval from Child’s Way administration and their insurance company.
Child’s Way is a day care center with five classrooms separated by age, including a classroom for children ages 3-5 which utilizes the same preschool curriculum as Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Children who qualify for early intervention and school age special education programs may get their therapies at Child’s Way. Physician prescribed services are available based on individual need. The Children’s Home is an early intervention provider and Child’s Way families can choose The Children’s Home for their child’s early intervention needs.
Learn More about The Children’s Home’s early intervention services:
Child’s Way works closely with Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Intervention Program and Allegheny Intermediate Unit DART – Preschool Early Intervention, as well.
Child’s Way does not provide respite or drop-off services. If you’re in need of respite care services, your child pay be accepted to our Pediatric Specialty Hospital. Please call or email to inquire at admit@chomepgh.org or 412-345-7983.
Child’s Way is closed on weekends. We are open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Child’s Way staff are not permitted to be hired privately by families for the purpose of baby-sitting. It is considered to be a conflict of interest.
On average, 33 children attend Child’s Way each day, though the center is licensed to accommodate up to 60 children.
Child’s Way is dually licensed by the Department of Health, as a Pediatric Extended Care Center, and by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services as a day care center. Child’s Way voluntarily participates in the Keystone STARS program and is a 4 out of 4 STAR facility.