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| A family support program of Parent to Parent of Vermont providing health information. |
FAMILY VOICES of Vermont is a family support
program of Parent to Parent of Vermont providing health information. Check
out Family Voices of Vermont and National Links on http://www.partoparvt.org/fv.html
"Respite Summit" Seeks Improvement
in Nursing, Personal Care, and Respite Programs in Vermont
On November
20, 2001, nearly 30 representatives from Vermont State Agencies and nonprofit
groups serving individuals and families with special health and mental
health needs met to discuss the challenges families face in obtaining nursing,
personal care, and respite services and supports. Dubbed the "Respite Summit,"
the gathering was sponsored by Family Voices/Parent to Parent of Vermont,
the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights (VCDR), and the Vermont State
Agency of Human Services. Other groups participating included ARC, TASH,
Vermont Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Vermont Parent
Information Center (VPIC), and the Vermont Center for Independent Living.
The
purpose of the meeting was to share information; to understand different
points of view, experiences, and perspectives; to identify approaches to
improve existing programs and systems; and, to identify specific next steps
to implement those improvements.
All
the participants agreed on goals of equity (equal access to the same sorts
of services regardless of what the disability is or the city/town in which
you live), flexibility (individual and family driven programs), and maintaining
quality and existing funding levels while working toward statewide consistency.
The
issues previously identified by families participating in the Parent to
Parent focus groups and surveys about nursing, personal care, and respite
services formed much of the starting point for the discussion. Problems,
challenges, and issues were discussed at length, and many possible approaches
to improvement were put out for discussion.
The
Agency of Human Services (AHS) has proposed a number of new initiatives
from information gained, in part, from the meeting, and internal work continues.
In addition, Parent to Parent, VCDR, and other groups are continuing to
work collaboratively on identifying issues and proposing possible improvements
to the systems which help provide care and respite to individuals and families
in Vermont.
A second
summit is planned for late spring, and we hope to be able to report more
specific changes and initiatives resulting from these collaborations in
our next issue. ©
Revised 6 Ways
to Access Medicaid Booklet- Now Available
Family
Voices and Parent to Parent of Vermont have just completed a major revision
of our 6 Ways to Access Medicaid booklet. This resource is a helpful guide
for parents and professionals who are seeking information about the six
most common ways that children living in Vermont can obtain Medicaid.
We
Need Your Help and Your Voice!
Together
we can make a difference.
Please
sign on to the email alert network now.
Please
Join Our Email Network!
Parent
to Parent and Family Voices of Vermont have been highly successful
working
with families to seek change in local, state, and national policies
that
provide barriers to family centered, adequate health care for children
with
special health needs.
Your
family stories are the key. Policy makers respond first and foremost
to
real
people and real situations to understand what is or is not working for
Vermont
families.
Family
Voices at Parent to Parent of Vermont is starting an email alert
network
to better inform and connect families on what is happening which may
affect
our children. If you would like to stay informed, please email us
at
p2pvt@partoparvt.org
and put "email alert network" in the subject line and
you
will be added to the list. You may be as active or quietly supportive as
you
like.
We need
your help and your voice. Together we can make a difference.
Please
sign
on to the email alert network now. ©
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