Family Voices of Illinois
Contact Information
Faye Manaster
(866) 931-1110 - Toll Free IL
(815) 464-8247
familytofamily@thearcofil.org
familyvoicesillinois@yahoo.com
Rose Slaght
(815) 389-1077
familytofamily2@thearcofil.org
Rojo01@charter.net
The Arc of Illinois Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center/Family Voices of Illinois (FV IL) serves families and friends of children and youth up to age 21 who have special health care needs, disabilities and chronic illnesses. Services are provided in many ways including individual information and referral, focus groups, training and conferences, topical calls, family surveys, listservs, newsletters and resource guides. Funding for these efforts comes through a Family-to- Family Health Information and Education Center Grant from MCHB, a joint project of FV IL and the The Arc of Illinois.
HIGHLIGHT: Partnering to Develop ResourcesFV IL has developed and disseminated a number of publications for families, including:
- Family Manual for Youth Transition,
- Back To School Check-Up Guide,
- Help with Your Questions Flyer (for families applying for SSI for their children),
- IL Family-to-Family Health Information Center Brochure, and
- Many other publications and resource lists available on their website
BUILDING YOUTH LEADERSHIP
A comprehensive Family Manual for
Transition, developed by FV IL/IL
F2FHIC, the IL Dept. of Healthcare
and Family Services, All Kids program
staff and Health and Disability
Advocates, was released in October
2006. This manual, available in CD,
hard copy and on line, provides
information about all aspects of IL’s
current system of services for youth
with SHCN. It includes detailed
information on health insurance options
for youth in transition.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CYSHCN:
FV of IL has successfully partnered with many other organizations to improve care
for CYSHCN in IL, including:
- Engaging in joint activities with the IL State Title V CSHCN agency to share resources, provide and obtain technical assistance, review documents, and host meetings via teleconference to ensure parent participation.
- Collaborating with the IL Department of Healthcare and Family Services Medical Programs Division and the All Kids program to help individual families advocate for their children.
