Family Voices Indiana

Our Health Information Specialist Laurren has created a new water safety fact sheet, and it can be seen below.   Find this fact sheet and future child safety ones on our website: Resources > Health & Safety  http://www.fvindiana.org/resources/health-and-safety/ FS Water Safety 7.2020 by Family Voices Indiana on Scribd

Keith Butler, Senior Attorney, talks with Jessica Trimble, Director of Communication and Outreach, about going back-to-school for the 2020-2021 school year. They discuss updating IEPs and 504 plans, how back-to-school guidance works with existing special education law, and wearing masks at school. Information in the video is current as of the morning of Friday, July 24, 2020.

Many paramedics and other community emergency service providers are underprepared to respond to the unique needs of medically fragile children, who are twice as likely as their healthier peers to suffer a medical emergency requiring 911 services. Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis developed a program to identify children who are at risk, provide education to the providers who manage children during an emergency, and share pertinent information with all who will be a part of the care team should an emergency arise.  Read more . From California Advocacy Network for Children with Special Health Care Needs Newsletter

In 2018, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) was awarded the Project AWARE grant. In partnership with the Family and Social Services Administration's Division of Mental Health and Addiction and local community mental health organizations, IDOE selected three districts focused on creating models of effective mental health practices for replication across Indiana. Looking to further the efforts of Project AWARE, IDOE has since selected eight additional partnership districts. All Project AWARE sites are working to create sustainable school-based mental health systems and supports for future statewide implementation. Since the inception Project AWARE, almost 20,000 students have received either an informal or formal mental health related assessment and over 800 referrals have resulted in delivery of mental health or related services. IDOE Press Release Project AWARE From Covering Kids & Families of Indiana Newsletter

From NASHP Home health services, which can help families avoid emergency department use, hospitalization, and institutional care for their children, are particularly valuable during the pandemic. A new report from the National Academy for State Health Policy explains how six states are employing strategies to support access to home health services for CSHCN, and offers insights that other states can use in their own systems to improve service delivery and reduce costs.  Read more . CSHCN and Equity The Benefits of Screening for Social Determinants of Health Screening for social determinants of health, which disproportionately affect children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families, is addressed in two new fact sheets developed by the National Resource Center for Patient/Family-Centered Medical Home, in partnership with the National Academy for State Health Policy. The fact sheets highlight replicable examples from states that are using social determinants screening da

Thursday, July 30, 2020 11 am pst/2 pm est In this webinar, Secure the Future will cover the differences to consider for those who are divorced, separated, or maintain a blended family.   You will learn: How your planning needs will or may change What legal frameworks to consider How to collaborate with your ex spouse What things to watch for in dual planning What happens when one ex dies prior to the other and how that may impact your plan       Register NOW!

Since last year, Indiana Medicaid members can access the services of a doula during pregnancy. A doula is a non-medical provider who gives mothers physical, emotional and informational support before, during, and after childbirth. Members should talk to their health plan for specific coverage guidelines. The National Academy for State Health Policy released a study this month featuring the work of four states including Indiana. One of the lessons learned is that doulas can play a key role in addressing the social determinants of health needs of their clients . Learn More From the Covering Kids & Families of Indiana Newsletter

A unique film festival in Indiana is seeking homemade short films about people and animals with physical or mental disabilities. The films should be made by those who love them, be it a friend or family member, and be up to 90 seconds long, exploring the theme: “I love my ____ with a disability.” The 2020 Pandacademy Awards is a program of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Indiana to raise awareness of disabilities and raise money for the charity. The entry fee is $10. Submit films by Sept. 30 at  www.ucpaindy.org

The Health Advocacy Summit is a no-cost advocacy event for young people between ages 13 and 30 who are living with chronic and rare diseases. The summit is run entirely by young adults with chronic conditions, with the goal of connecting and empowering youth to ensure that they have resources and opportunities to thrive. The summit is scheduled for August 8.  Read more . From California Advocacy Network for Children with Special Health Care Needs Newsletter

From ARCH National Respite Network Providing and Receiving Respite Care Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic  ---    Voluntary National Guidelines for Respite Care Agencies, Providers, Family Caregivers, and Respite Care Recipients DOWNLOAD "As more communities across the country begin to re-open in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, many respite care agencies and other respite providers are also planning to resume services. The guidelines provided in this document are designed to assist providers as well as family caregivers with careful and thoughtful planning and implementation strategies to provide and receive respite care as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.  We want to emphasize that information from the  World Health Organization ,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , and  Local Public Health Departments  should be your primary source for guidance on COVID-19 and other health related issues. It is important to closely monitor local guidance and

View Webinar With schools closed and families social distancing, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the lives of children across the country. For youth with disabilities and special health care needs and their caregivers, the  challenges brought about by the pandemic  have been even more acute, leading to issues accessing critical therapies and disrupted services at home and school.     There are a multitude of questions around how to ensure the health and safety of children with disabilities and special health care needs as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses: What do parents and those who care for children need to know about the impact of COVID-19? What will health and safety protocols for a return to school look like? Can therapies and services that are critical for youth well-being be delivered safely, and what concerns exist around disparities in access? On July 1, 2020, PolicyLab hosted a virtual conversation titled, “Ensuring Support Services for Youth With Disabilitie

From Child Neurology Foundation We are also conducting a short anonymous survey to better understand caregivers’ experiences with their child's journey to a diagnosis. The results will be shared with health care providers to help serve families and find ways to shorten the diagnostic odyssey. We really appreciate your support participating and sharing this survey.  Take the survey here .

Family Voices Indiana is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 30th Anniversary. On July 26th we celebrate  this important civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. #ADA30 #ThanksToTheADA