Family Voices Indiana

DDRS has reinvigorated the Powerful Parents Groups throughout the state as a grass roots effort to meet face-to-face with parents and families of adults and children with developmental disabilities. Our purpose is to disseminate information, gather feedback and stimulate bonding among parents. Through these groups, DDRS hopes to: make DDRS plans and initiatives more transparent in how they affect consumers and families create a network of family contacts within BBDS districts, including more rural areas share information on available resources for families listen to how DDRS can make connections for consumer and family needs Upcoming Meetings All meetings are from 6 to 7:30 pm local time unless noted otherwise. Meetings with fewer than 10 RSVP’s are subject to cancellation. Please check web page frequently for updates. Please e-mail your RSVP to PowerfulParents@fssa.IN.gov November 8  -  Evansville Browning Event Room A – Central Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library– Centra

We’d like to hear from  YOU  about the issue of  child safety and injury prevention Family Focus Group November 14, 2012 Riley Child Development Center CYACC Conference Room 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Rm 5837 Indianapolis, IN 46202 9:00a Registration and a light breakfast 9:30a-11:00a Focus group questions and answers Participants will receive a stipend and/or gift card to offset childcare and other costs. Childcare will not be able to be provided. Parking will be validated. Please  RSVP  to Jennifer Akers at Family Voices Indiana by Nov 9th if you will be able to join us.   317 944 8982     Jennifer@fvindiana.org

Each month, Family Voices Indiana provides the families we serve with a summary of the month’s hottest items. If you missed us on  Facebook , here is the latest! Awareness: Child Health Day, October 1. The US infant mortality rate is at an all-time low, but it is still higher than other industrialized nations. Learn more  here . Unity Day, October 10. People donned orange to unite against bullying. Kids with disabilities are more likely to be bullied than their typical peers. Get tools  here . Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 7-13. Find resources on NAMI’s  website . Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13. Have a plan and practice it! If you need help designing a specialized plan,  contact us ! ADHD Awareness Week, October 14-20. Learn more about the many faces of ADHD at www.ADHDAwarenessWeek.org. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 21-27.  Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. Learn  more  about preventing childhood lead exposure.

Did you know Family Voices Indiana has a series of FREE webisodes and webquests on various topics?  Our first webisode provided information on understanding the funding maze. We covered several private and public programs to address your child’s healthcare financing needs: Private insurance, Medicaid, Medicaid disability, Children’s Special Health Care Services and Medicaid waivers, to name a few. Your child might be eligible for one or more of these programs. Our second webisode provided information on filling the funding gaps: basic needs like food and shelter, specialized assistance like accessible transportation and legal resources, and natural supports and recreational programs to ensure a meaningful day for your child. Our third webisode provided information about all of the various kinds of Medicaid available in Indiana, services and eligibility, and how to find providers Our latest webisode and webquest focuses on the transition to adulthood. It covers insu