Family Voices Indiana

As we have done in the past, Family Voices Indiana plans to share how the Affordable Care Act has had a positive effect on the lives of families raising children with special health care needs. We’re seeking stories from Hoosier families to share in March, the anniversary of the ACA. We have been featuring information about health care reform each month on our blog . If you would like to share your story, please send it to jen@fvindiana.org or leave it on our voice mail at 317 944 8982 and we'll transcribe it. You can read last year’s posts here . Please submit them before March 20. Thank you.

Family Voices Indiana shares this information from the School of Education Special Education Department at IU Bloomington: The School of Education Special Education Department invites you to attend Education Forum 2012 on Tuesday, March 27th @ 7:00pm in the School of Education Auditorium. The Indiana Department of Education has recently released a second set of proposed changes to the Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability (REPA). We are deeply concerned and feel these changes will undermine the capacity of educators to address the educational needs of children with disabilities and their families! We want to encourage the IU community to reach out and invite parents, teachers, organizations, students, community members, businesses, as this issue impacts EVERYONE! Come...SEE the REPA II Proposal, HEAR of its potential impact, and PARTICIPATE in a time of Q&A. Get Involved...IMPACT YOUR FUTURE!! Please see below for more information: REPA Proposed Changes Jan

Family Voices Indiana shares this important action alert from the Indiana Perinatal Network: Important Legislative Issue Language has been inserted into HB 1376 State Fiscal Matters that could allow the administration to issue emergency rules to change program eligibility and benefits in the Medicaid and Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) without prior public hearing or legislative oversight . In July 2011, a similar provision was used to eliminate Medicaid reimbursement for targeted case management services for pregnant women, without prior legislative or public input. While cognizant of the financial constraints facing the state, we are concerned that this provision circumvents the ability of elected officials, providers, and the general public to debate and provide valuable input on important programmatic changes that could impact health outcomes for pregnant women and children as well as provider reimbursement levels. If you would like to voice your concerns about the emer

Family Voices Indiana hopes you will consider supporting our work as the Family to Family Health Information Center for the state. SUMMARY: In 2006, the Family Opportunity Act was signed into law, as part of the Deficit Reduction Act. Family to Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs) were established under this act, and today there is one in every state and the District of Columbia. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)'s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) provide the primary funding support for the Centers. F2F HICs are non-profit, family-staffed organizations that help families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) navigate the health care system to get appropriate services. The Centers provide assistance in a variety of ways, including support and referral through direct telephone, e-mail or in-person contact, training through workshops, advocating for and connecting families with resources, running listservs and websites, and