Family Voices of Washington

Contact Information

Julie Finholm
253-565-2266
1-800-572-7368
Jfinholm@wapave.org

a young man Family Voices of Washington (FV WA), provides assistance to families to help them navigate health care systems for CYSHCN in Washington. This assistance is provided through several venues: individual information and support, trainings, and information disseminated through newsletters, listservs, surveys and websites. These activities are supported with funding from the US Department of Education (IDEA Part C) and CMS (F2F grant).

HIGHLIGHT: Focus on Health Care Financing
FV WA has moved forward in the last year in partnership with the Washington State Family-to-Family Network in the implementation of the Family-to-Family Health Information Center. The WA Family-to-Family Network is made up of:

“ I have learned many new things about Children with Special Health Care Needs that help my grandson and others who have family members with children with special health care needs. Being an advocate for a special needs child is not an easy job and it takes a family and information to do the best job you can for that child. Family Voices of Washington has helped me become involved with planning the Family-to- Family and getting information for my grandson with special needs.”
- - family advisory board member for FV WA

Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs,
Washington Children with Special Health CareNeeds Program,
Washington Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program,
Washington State Fathers Network,
Washington State Medical Home Program,
Washington State Parent-to Parent Programs,
Parent Support at Children’s Hospital,
Washington PAVE.

FV WA has implemented a listserv and is sharing information on health and wellness for children with special health care needs. Numerous aspects of outreach and training are in development to ensure partnerships and the inclusion of the family voice from diverse communities.

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS: Families and Policymakers
FV WA is active in bringing family perspective to the policy process, including supporting recent successful legislation to expand health care access to all children and to ensure that they have a medical home. This new legislation will expand health coverage, consolidating several health coverage programs into a single unified program. All children will have comprehensive coverage, regardless of income or citizenship status. Benefits are comprehensive: medical, dental, vision and mental health.