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Maine Family Voices Maine Family Voices, the Maine chapter of the national Family Voices organization has an emphasis on access to health and health related services for children with special health care needs. The major program goal of Maine Family Voices is the creation of a statewide Parent to Parent program Maine Parent Federation provides statewide coordination for Family Voices activities in Maine. In 1998, Maine Parent Federation was awarded a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant from National Family Voices to expand efforts in Maine to reach families of children with special health care needs. The Maine Family Voices project provides the opportunity for families of children with special health needs to become informed and active members of a network that will speak out on issues on behalf of children with health care issues.
To create a network of well informed
family members. What's New
These Are Our Children
This Is What Family Voices Does
Family Voices is a national, grassroots clearing house for information and education concerning the health care of children with special health needs. We stay on top of public and private sector health care changes that affect our children and families through the collective efforts of our families: a volunteer Coordinator in every state; 10 Regional Coordinators; and a small staff working in several locations around the country. Together, we share the expertise and experiences of families from around the country with state and national policy makers, the media, health professionals, and other families. We work in public and private hospitals, public health programs, in state capitals, in Washington, DC, serving on boards and task forces, working in partnership with health professionals and policymakers, bringing the family perspective to policy discussions and decisions. There are almost 7,000 Family Voices members - families of children with special health needs and friends and professionals who know and love our children. The Principles of Family Voices Guide Our Activities
1. Families are the core of any
health system
All Families, including those who have
children with special health needs are the primary caregivers
and educators for their children. They should be respected and
valued for their expertise and commitment to their children.
2. Universal access
In order for this nation and its children
to be healthy, it must guarantee unconditional access to quality
primary and specialty health care at a reasonable price - regardless
of a family's health, income, employment, location, pre-existing
condition, or prior utilization of services.
3. Flexibility Whether public or private, a health
care system must provide effective, flexible services that are
guided by medical and family needs, rather than by the policies
of standard medical insurance practices or government bureaucracies.
4. Comprehensive, coordinated, community-based
care
Quality health care means a coordinated system of comprehensive services - prevention, education, screening, diagnosis, primary and specialty care, hospitalization, medication and supplies, equipment and rehabilitation - all available as close to the family's home as possible. 5. Family-professional partnership Outcomes improve when families and professionals make decisions jointly, respecting the expertise, talents and resources that each brings to the care of the child with special health needs. 6. Cost effectiveness By focusing on outcomes, allowing family choice, and strengthening and supporting the role of families in health care systems, costs can be reduced. The elimination of duplicative procedures, unnecessary paperwork, and administrative overhead also reduces costs. As families, we practice cost containment every day! 7. Quality assurance Working as partners and remembering these principles, families and health professionals must regularly review and provide feed-back on health care financing and delivery. JOIN FAMILY VOICES If you want to be part of a grassroots movement to make sure that children with special health care needs receive the health services they need and deserve or if you have a specific question or concern, give us your name, address, telephone number. You may either e-mail us at parentconnect@mpf.org, call us at 1-800-870-7746 (Maine only) or (207)623-2144 or write to us at:
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