Family Voices
It is estimated that 10.2 million children in the United States have special health care needs. Like other children and youth, those with special health care needs deserve a happy, healthy childhood and youth – attending school, enjoying community events, living with their families, and worshiping with friends and neighbors – as well as the opportunity to become productive adults. However, unlike other children and youth, these children have challenging health conditions – physical, mental, or emotional – that can make their lives and their families’ lives more complicated.
Family Voices aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Through our national network, we provide families with tools to make informed decisions, advocate for improved public and private policies, build partnerships among professionals and families, and serve as a trusted resource on health care.
Family Voices at the University of Connecticut
In Connecticut, as in every other state, there is an established Family Voices State Affiliate Organization. Connecticut’s State Affiliate is at PATH (Parents Available to Help). The PATH/FVCT organization partners with the Center through our Family to Family Health Information Network project, to implement a quarterly Family Voices Leadership Summit. The Leadership Summit is comprised of 21 leaders of family organizations across the state. They meet to address policy, service and support needs. In the spring of 2009 the FV Leadership Summit partnered with the CT Department of Public Health to implement a one day conference on Emergency Medical Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs. Additionally, PATH/FVCT provides parent to parent support in the state, links to the national Family Voices organization, and partners with the Department of Public Health in training regarding youth as they transition to adult health care.
For more information please visit PATH.org
and familyvoices.org.