Family Voices Indiana

By Rylin Rodgers, Director, Board of Directors
I want to take a minute to talk to you parent to parent. I know you’re busy. I know you have a lot on your plate. I know you feel like you can’t do one more thing. But, I need you to do something. I need you to speak up on behalf of your child and other children.

There are several threats to programs for our children at the federal level, primarily the ACA and Medicaid.

Many of you depend on the provisions of the Affordable Care Act:No exclusions of pre-exisiting conditionsNo cap on lifetime limitsA prohibition against rescinding coverage when someone gets sickABA and other services provided by marketplace plans The plan is to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I know it’s not perfect, but we have very few details about what the replacement would be, if anything. If the ACA matters to your family, you need to share your story with your Representative and Senators. They need to know why it’s important to you.
Here’s a basic script and you can ad…

From Indiana Association of United Ways:

The 2017 legislative session is underway The Indiana General Assembly has begun, and committee meetings are being scheduled. The last day for bills to get filed is today, and more than 840 bills have already been filed.  This session is a "long session" where lawmakers will decide the state's next two-year budget which is typically about $30 billion.  Legislators will make tough funding decisions on state government services including education, infrastructure and public safety. 
Links to help you follow are below:  WFYI's Following Along in the Legislative SessionStanding Committee RostersSenate Committee Calendar, House Committee CalendarBills for the 2017 SessionIaUW's

The Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism has developed a checklist that focuses on student transition from ABA programs to school programs. Factors for a successful transition include skills the child/student has gained, how they were prepared for the transition process, the relationships between the ABA program/provider and the school district, and how the school is prepared to receive the child.

Transition Checklist: Moving From ABA Programs to School Programs builds upon the information from the article entitled Transitioning from ABA Programs to School Programs and to provide some additional guidance.

Last night, the Senate took the first step towards repeal of health care reform. Health care reform, otherwise known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and/or Obamacare, made several changes to federal laws which have especially benefited people with mental health and addiction needs. These changes include: Made mental health and addiction treatment a benefit that all insurance plans must fully coverRequired insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditionsAllowed young people to stay on their parents’ family insurance plan until 26 years oldIncreased access to individuals who previously were not able to access coverage, through the exchange, MedicaidImproved coordination of mental, behavioral, and physical medical care for people The House is poised to take similar action tomorrow. Any changes to the Affordable Care Act must keep these priorities in place. Right now, more than ever, we need you to contact your Member of Congress and tell them you want to protect mental he…

from Community Catalyst:

Early this morning, the Senate voted 51-48 mostly along party lines to pass the budget resolution that includes instructions to repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This completes the first step in the process to repeal and delay, which would strip health care coverage away from 30 million people and consumer protections from millions more. (See our recent alert for a refresher on the process.)

While this new development moves them closer to a vote on repeal, our message is working. Over the past two weeks, we have seen several Republicans speak publicly about concerns regarding repeal that does not include a simultaneous plan for replacement. In response, and in order to keep up the momentum we have gained so far, we must continue to generate as much noise as possible through earned media, social media and high-visibility public events.

Additionally, we know that the public and Congress are watching the enrollment numbers this open enrollment per…