Spring 2000 –  Advocacy1: H629 Bill etc. Advocacy2 Early Childhood Day Vermont Family Voices New Staff/FIRST program PIC news! Readers' Forum Books & Beyond- Biasco Fund Our Calendar Bottom of page

From Our Director...

From Our Director... "The Family Voice" One of the recommendations you suggested to us through our focus group
 discussions and survey was that we become stronger system change advocates on behalf of children and families. We are
 trying to do that. Parent to Parent is part of the Curriculum Design Committee of the College of Medicine, meeting
 regularly with faculty to re-design the four-year medical school curriculum. Diane Magrane, Associate Dean of Medical
 Education has made it a priority to incorporate competencies in family-centered care throughout the curriculum. Family as
 Faculty, presently incorporated into the training of medical students during their pediatric clinical core rotation, are now
 meeting with first year medical students as part of a pilot project. Faculty on the Curriculum Design Committee are
 considering the concept of families not only as teachers of medical student but as evaluators of their progress in
 becoming competent, caring health care professionals.
 Family as Faculty are incorporated into the education of nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists,
 nutritionists, speech pathologists, psychologists, audiologists, educators, and others at the University of Vermont through
 the Interdisciplinary Leadership for Health Professionals (ILEHP) Program. Fellows and Trainees from these disciplines
 are matched with families for a yearlong practicum experience learn about policies, programs, resources, and supports for
 families with children who have special needs. It is our hope in the coming year to expand our Family Faculty Program
 beyond Chittenden County.
 In our Readers' Forum, Pattie Jones shares a letter she wrote to the Governor, Agency Directors, legislators and the
 media explaining the impact the nursing shortage is having on her family. Her letter made a difference. Parent to Parent
 and its partners are working together to advocate for system change, hoping to prevent crisis level intervention.
 Progress toward increasing the Human Service budget has been made through your advocacy efforts including
 Developmental Services, Self Determination and respite and salary and wage increases for home care providers. Where we
 still need your help.
 Parent to Parent, as Family Voices Coordinator for Vermont, has been advocating at the national level for Congress to
 include in its budget funding for Family to Family Health Information Centers to ensure that families have access to
 information and support regarding health care - the introduction of the Family Opportunity Act of 2000 brings us closer
 to that reality.
 Families whose children have been hospitalized at Fletcher Allen Health Care met recently at Parent to Parent to share
 their thoughts and suggestions for improving the physical space on Baird 5. At the invitation of Lewis First, M.D., Chairman
 of the Department of Pediatrics, members of this group were invited to share their recommendations with the architect
 contracted to design renovations.
 These are all examples of how families' experience and knowledge is influencing the practice, policy and the delivery of
 services and supports in Vermont. In this issue you will learn how your help is needed to shape the implementation of a very
 significant piece of education legislation H629 and how you can influence early childhood programs in your community as
 a member of your local Early Childhood Council-- your voice can make a difference. We continue to be guided by your
 voices-- please continue to let us hear from you. ©

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