Contact Information
Donna Gore Olsen
(317) 257-8681
donnagoreolsen@aol.com
Mary Jo Paladino
(574) 273-6019
mpaladin@indiana.edu
Rylin Rogers
(765) 676-9262
rylin@bremc.net
Family Voices of Indiana (FV Indiana) provides assistance to families of
CYSHCN in a many ways: direct support, conferences, focus groups, support groups,
parent matching, training and topical calls, printed materials, listservs and a
library/lending program. Funding from the Family Social Services Administration, the
Department of Education, Division of Exceptional Learners, and Maternal and
Children’s Special Health Care Services (Title V, Indiana State Department of Health)
has supported these efforts. Staff of FV Indiana have volunteered over 260 hours in
providing assistance to families and professionals.
HIGHLIGHT: Families and Policy Makers
FV Indiana facilitated and supported parent involvement in policy decisions by
sending action alerts via the FV Indiana listserv. Last year, parents provided public
comment to the State Advisory Council on Special Education and provided input on
Medicaid Waivers during public hearings. Members of FV Indiana’s leadership
represented the parent perspective in a variety of initiatives including: Sunny Start
(formerly the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant), revisions of the
Medicaid Waiver Consumer Manual, Medicaid Waiver Wait-List Committee, Part C
Family Perspectives, IN-SIG (Indiana State Improvement Grant), State Mental Health
Linkage Project and the Indiana Center for Youth and Adults with Conditions of
Childhood at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS: Developing Leadership
FV Indiana is excited to report that the FV Indiana listserv (groups.yahoo.com/
group/FVIndiana), dedicated to sharing information related to family input into
policy, procedures and program decisions that impact families with children who
have disabilities, developmental delays and/or significant medical needs, has been
launched. Currently, the listserv has over 150 direct subscribers
and reaches hundreds of additional families via information sharing within existing
family networks.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CYSHCN:
FV Indiana has joined several state
groups and organizations to form a
coalition of groups to more effectively
address issues affecting children and
youth with special health care needs.
FV Indiana has worked with other
advocacy groups to address issues
related to Medicaid Waivers.
Partnering with EI programs, Head
Start, the schools, Parent-to-Parent
networks, PTI, and children’s hospitals
and transition programs has resulted
in: increased family involvement in
policy development; increased family
representation in committees and
workgroups; increased information
sharing among entities that impact
families; and increased information
sharing to families.
Useful Links
- Arc of Indiana
- Assistive Technology, Training and Information Center
- Center for Disability Information & Referral On-Line Directories
- Coalition of Volunteers and Organizations for Hoosiers with Disabilities (COVOH)
- Division of Special Education
- Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana
- Indianas Family to Family Initiative Connecting Families in Community
- Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
- Indiana Governor's Planning Council for People with Disabilities
- Indiana Parent Information Network (IPIN)
- Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services
- Indianas Transition Initiative for Young Children and Families Birth to Age 8
- IN*SOURCE - Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs
- Mental Health Association in Indiana
- Very Special Arts Indiana
