Contact Information
Carla Sandwell
(417) 619-2609
familyvoicesmo@gmail.com
Family Voices of Missouri, Inc. (FVMO) shares information and resources with families of CYSHCN and the professionals who serve them in a variety of ways such as: listservs and web based information; newsletters and brochures; state, academic, public and private agency development; and family and professional leadership training on federal and state policy, family advocacy and partnering, child and family development, cultural diversity and competency, working with families and CYSHCN, child abuse and neglect prevention, and physical, mental and oral health.
HIGHLIGHT: Focus on Mental Health Capacity Building Partnerships
- The National Assembly on School-Based Health Care (NASBHC), through a collaborative agreement with the University of Missouri-Columbia, is partnering with FVMO & other stakeholders to embark on a new initiative to build capacity of state and local education agencies (SEA’s & LEA’s) to provide effective and sustainable school mental health services to young people. The goal of this initiative is to disseminate model mental health policies, programs & services to SEA’s/LEA’s in order to improve access to high quality, school-based mental health services. Missouri is one of only four states selected for this ground- breaking project.
- With support from the Arthur Center, a community mental health partner, a weekly digest is electronically circulated statewide for parents and professionals alike. It is filled with information ranging from current legislation to parenting tips to spotlighting a mental health topic and much more.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS: Families and Policymakers
Through a partnership between
stakeholders, a massive effort is
underway to pass Missouri’s Senate
Bill 621 (SB 621). SB621 changes the
name of the “Division of Mental
Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities” to the “Division of
Developmental Disabilities.” Removing
the term “mental retardation”
advances the support of People First
language in Missouri, a national trend
and major focus for FVMO.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR CYSHCN:
A sample of some of the activities in which FVMO partnered with others in 2006:
“ “Partnering with family members
is essential to creating sound
public policy that supports
systems that are effective and
efficient. It is a partnership that
we cannot afford to do without.”
- CSHCN DIrector
- Participated in Missouri’s CYSHCN Family Advisory Council, Family Partnership
- Assisted with creation and introduction of federal legislation titled Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act of 2007
- Informed families and legislators of disability awareness legislation, meeting with legislators in Missouri and Washington, D.C.
- Worked with Friends of the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Served on the Missouri Assistive Technology Council (MoAT)
- Educated elementary education and child development college majors on “how to” work with families and CYSHCN
