Family Voices of Maine

http://www.mpf.org/

Contact Information

Bev Baker
(207) 623-2144
bbaker@mpf.org

Family Voices of Maine offers support and information to families of CYSHCN through several venues, including conferences, focus groups, support groups, listservs, newsletters, direct support, parent matching, training, resource guides, care notebooks, surveys, lending library and website. Funding from several sources supports this effort, including MCHB (Integrated Services Grant and F2F HIC Grant), SAMHSA, ME DOE, ME Dept of HHS, CSHCN/Title V (Newborn Hearing Grant).

“Sherry is a parent who has become a strong advocate for her child. She recently sent a letter to the Governor expressing her concerns about availability of services in a rural area of Maine…With help from our advisory/support group she has gained knowledge and confidence and now serves on the State’s System of Care Board.”
- a Family Voices of Maine regional staff

HIGHLIGHT: Parent Advisory Council
With a second round of funding from MCHB as a Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F HIC), Family Voices of Maine focuses on expanding assistance to families of CYSHCN, a population representing 16% of all children and 24% of all households* in the state. In Maine, 40% of families of CSHCN are under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (compared to 26% nationwide)*, underscoring the importance of public health care to many families. With funding from the F2F HIC grant, Family Voices of Maine looks forward to:

continuing their regional family support work across Maine,
expanding their Parent-to-Parent program,
increasing their parent leadership through advocacy and legislative workshops, and
exploring exciting new partnerships with organizations with similar missions.

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS: Developing Family Leadership
Family Voices of Maine offers workshops on Building Partnerships to assist families and youth to be more comfortable with advocating within systems, working with legislators and serving on policy setting committees.

“ Through the mentorship programs and youth leadership, I (have) met new friends, helped other youth to join, and learned what I wanted to do with my life. With the encouragement and help of the group, I decided that I wanted to finish my high school years early in preparation for the career I have chosen.”
- a youth mentor and leader

WORKING TOGETHER FOR CYSHCN:
Family Voices of Maine has collaborated with many partners to improve care for CYSHCN, including working with DHHS to help reinstate specific benefits, positively affect eligibility standards, and reduce proposed premium payment under Medicaid - Katie Beckett waiver program. Other partners have included:

CSHN program System of Care grantees
NICU at Maine Medical Center
Jason Program
Healthy Maine Communities
American Lung Association of Maine
Regional Children’s Cabinets
Maine Doe’s Committee on Transition
Title V’s Newborn Hearing Program
Pediatric Hospice Program
Maine Equal Justice Partners (a legislative & legal advocacy organization giving low-income people an effective voice on issues they care about)
Hi-Fidelity WrapAround Projects (serving families of children with severe emotional disorders)

* Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (2005). National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs Data Resource Center. Retrieved 04/02/07 from www.cshcndata.org

Family Voices of Maine

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