Children and Families

As part of the New Freedom Initiative, 17 states have been awarded Real Choice System Changes grants. The $25.8 million in grants is to help people of all ages with disabilities or long-term illnesses live in their homes and participate fully in community life. Review the list of Systems Transformation Grant Awardees and Family to Family Health Information and Education Center Awardees.

Family Voices of North Dakota developed two presentations to assist families in advocacy, navigate the health care system and create collaborative relationships with health care providers and payers. Review the first presentation <i>Getting the Most From Your Health Care Visits</i> for helpful ideas. The second presentation <i>Parent Leadership: Creating Partnerships</i> offers practical tools in care coordination.

Family Voices of North Dakota is a state chapter of the National Family Voices organization and provides health information and education. As part of the Family to Family grant, this chapter has begun to produce <i>Pass It on…Health Care Policy</i>, an e-newsletter that shares resources, information, and activities regarding care for children with special health care needs. Also visit their website for publications, a link directory, and other interactive resources.

New Jersey Family Care is a federal and state-funded health insurance program which helps uninsured children receive affordable health coverage. The SPAN of NJ program has developed a number of presentations that explain their program, provide an overview of all medical insurance options, individual health plans and the other vital information. Presentation titles include: New Jersey Family Care, Medically Necessary Services, Individual Health Plan, EPSDT, and Medical Insurance.

Medical Home is an initiative funded by the MCH Bureau and HRSA and administered by SPAN of New Jersey as an approach to providing high quality, cost effective health services. The concept is for coordinated & respectful health care partnership among a child, his/her parents and the child’s Primary Care Provider. The presentations provide an overview of partnering. Titles includes: The Medical Home, Why do Parents Get Involved, Parent Professional Collaboration, and Partnering with Providers.

This listing is a series of family-friendly brochure from the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey. They are designed to help family with important decisions and to introduce families to the New Jersey Care 2000+. Brochure topics include: Medicaid Managed Care, Choosing a Provider, Provider Relations and Advocacy, Dispute Resolution, Welfare, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid, Important Terms, Resource List.

The presentation from the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey discusses advocacy and the elements necessary to effect social change: strategic planning, information and research, involvement of others, support for parent participation, diversity and outreach, leadership building, understanding public policy and the legislative cycle, and effective advocacy strategies. Available in English and Spanish, these presentations address how families can be involved in the advocacy process.

<i>Standards for Family-Serving Programs: Building Success through Family Support.</i> The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) of New Jersey provided this presentation defines family support and details the components of successful family support programs: beliefs in principles, effective practice standards, and effective administration standards. The presentation was developed by The NJ Task Force on Child Abuse & Neglect & Family Support America.