Care, Protect, Grow

How do you ensure your child with special needs will thrive after you're gone? What legal protections do you need today? How can you plan financially for two generations while navigating a complex web of government benefits? For families struggling to meet the challenges posed by significant health problems, developmental disabilities, and other lifelong conditions, the journey from diagnosis to comprehensive planning can feel overwhelming. In Care, Protect, Grow: Empower Your Family through Special Needs Financial Planning , Kristin Carleton, Dr. Kathy Matthews, and Mary McDirmid--the co-founders of All Needs Planning and parents to children with special needs--deliver a holistic blueprint for navigating life as part of a special needs family. Their signature framework explains care needs, legal protections, and growth opportunities to ensure every member of a family that includes a person with special needs is supported. This comprehensive guide tackles the complex challenges that traditional planning approaches ignore, from calculating lifetime care costs to understanding decision-making supports like guardianship and supported decision-making, navigating special needs trusts, and maintaining government benefit eligibility. You'll discover how to establish a care plan for daily supports, prepare for retirement while investing for your child's lifetime, minimize insurance risks, plan for taxes in a changing legal landscape, and create person-centered plans that empower your loved one to live their best life. With clear explanations, practical worksheets, and real-world examples, this book transforms the overwhelming special needs planning process into manageable steps that provide peace of mind. Perfect for special needs families, families of people with developmental disabilities, and families dealing with a rare disease, Care, Protect, Grow is the comprehensive resource you need to sleep well at night knowing your child will be well cared for and protected--now and in the future.