Family-to-Family Health Care Information and Education Centers

WISCONSIN

Grant Information

Name of Grantee

Family Voices of Wisconsin

Title of Grant

Family Voices of Wisconsin Health Information Project

Type of Grant

Family-to-Family Health Care Information and Education Centers

Amount of Grant

$142,959

Year Original Funding Received

2003

Supplemental Award

$50,000

Expected Completion Date

September 2007

Contact Information

Elizabeth Hecht, Project Director
PO Box 55029
Madison, WI 53705
608-239-1364
liz@fvofwi.org

Subcontractor(s)

Parent consultants

Target Population(s)

Children with disabilities and/or special health care needs (CDSHCN).

Goals

  • Increase coordination between existing, state-funded information and assistance activities, and increase the availability of health and community resources to CDSHCN.
  • Increase the availability to families of information on accessing health and community-based services and supports for CDSHCN.
  • Ensure the availability of resources and training so that parents of CDSHCN, including parents of under-represented segments of the community, can be knowledgeable and effective navigators of their child's system of care.
  • Develop an infrastructure for a sustainable Family-to-Family Information and Training Center.

Activities

  • Develop recommendations for policy that streamline access to information and assistance for families of CDSHCN.
  • Publicize information and assistance availability through interagency network outreach.
  • Identify and train community partners and people in each region who can participate in health benefits training.
  • Develop new and revise existing fact sheets to ensure that (1) Hispanic and Native American families have access to information and (2) families understand their insurance coverage.
  • Develop and implement a dissemination plan for sharing information materials and key resources with consumer groups, support programs, and health care providers.
  • Implement a strategic planning process to establish a private, nonprofit, family-directed organization focused on improving health care for CDSHCN.

Abstract

Families in Wisconsin have consistently identified the need for access to timely, high-quality services and supports in the health and community system of care. The complexities of the current systems, multiple funding streams, and lack of coordination make it difficult for families to obtain the services their child needs. Families who have the information they need to support their child with a disability or special health care need are in the best position to ensure access to quality health and community supports for their child.

Key aspects of this project include involving families in leadership positions in all aspects of project design, implementation, and evaluation. Extensive linkages will be fostered with existing parent groups concerned with CDSHCN. Strategies for supporting and training a network of health benefits specialists will be defined and implemented. All materials and training will be offered to the existing information and assistance network. Project outcomes will be monitored and evaluated throughout the project period.