Print English

There are many roles families can take to influence change. Some roles are paid and some are unpaid, and they can be short-term or long-term commitments, depending on what is best for you.

Following is a list of roles families can take to impact policy and systems.¹

• Member of Task Force
• Advisory Board Member
• Participant in a Focus Group
• Reviewer of Materials
• Program Evaluator
• Paid Program Staff
• Program Consultant
• Mentor or Support Parent for Other Families
• Provider of Testimony at Hearings
• Advocate (paid or unpaid)
• Fundraiser
• Provider of Input for Quality Improvement Initiative
• Provider of Input for Hiring of New Staff
• Grant Reviewer
• Group Facilitator
• Social Media Contributor
• Blog Writer or Contributor

¹Adapted from Thomas, J. and Jeppson, E.S. (1997), Essential allies: Families as advisors, Institute for Family-Centered Care, Bethesda, MD