Health
We provide families and individuals with the support they need to make informed decisions and choices about their health care. Our family support consultants can help you make connections with other families and individuals to find the information and resources that you are seeking. We are here to support you as you navigate the medical/health care system(s) and as you provide a family voice on your own care teams or on boards and committees at the local and state level. We also empower you to advocate for improved public and private policies and build partnerships with the professionals in your lives.
Making connections is the foundation of Family Support. Most importantly, we connect parents and families to people who have a similar experience:
- Referred Parents are connected to Support Parents in our Parent Match Program. This program enables parents to talk with another parent with shared experiences for support and information.
- Parents and families are connected to each other in a variety of Support Groups.
- Siblings (ages 7 to 14) of children with special needs are connected with other siblings for fun, food, crafts and activities in Sibshops.
Family Support Consultants also connect parents to resources:
- Health Care Financing is a very confusing maze of information for many families. Check out our section on “How to Pay for My Child’s Services” for definitions of terms, an overview of private and public insurance, and options for accessing Medicaid. All parents of a child with special needs should explore applying for Medicaid to help pay for their child’s needs. Medicaid eligibility is NOT solely based on income.
- For more information, check out our publications and links to additional resources.
Our Family Support Consultants help families navigate the medical/health care system(s):
- Learn about health care consumers’ rights in the Vermont Patient’s Rights.
- Family Support Consultants can provide information and supports to families and individuals related to navigating the medical services and systems.
- Health related information is also available in Family Support FAQs.
Family Support also works to empower families and individuals to advocate for change in both the private and public sector and to build positive relationships with the professionals they interact with.
• Learn about the importance of Family-Centered Care and Medical Home.
• Vermont Family Network is the Vermont Chapter of Family Voices, a national organization, that aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Family Voices provides families with the tools to make informed decisions, advocates for improved policies, builds partnerships among professionals and families, and serves as a trusted resource on health care.
• Learn about opportunities to advocate for change on our Action Alert! page.
Vermont Family Network is funded in part by grant number H84MC21506-01-01 for HEALTH CARE INFO & EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS and grant number H84MC21657-01-00 for Family Professional Partnership/CSHCN provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The contents of the website, however, and any documents cited herein do not necessarily reflect the views or polices of the United States Health Resources and Services Administration.
