Search for answers or browse our knowledge base.
-
Family Voices Resources
-
-
-
- 1. Introduction and Overview
- 2. Is My Child Eligible for the CLTS Program?
- 3. Completing a Functional Screen
- 4. What to Expect After a Child is Determined Eligible
- 5. Developing Your Child's Individual Service Plan
- 6. Your Child's Service Plan: Creating Outcomes
- 7. What Services Might be Covered?
- 8. Appealing a Denial
- CLTS Complete Series 1-8
-
- Your Voice Counts #1: Introduction to Family Leadership
- Your Voice Counts #2: Being an Effective Advocate
- Your Voice Counts #3: Families Need to be at the Table
- Your Voice Counts #4: Participating in a Children’s Community Options Program Advisory Committee
- Your Voice Counts #5: Joining a Committee: Thoughts for Families
- Your Voice Counts #6: Overcome Barriers and Get Involved
- A "Medical Home" - What Should I Expect From My Doctor
- ABLE Accounts: What Wisconsin Families Need to Know
- Are You Tele-Ready? Making the Most of Telemedicine Visits
- Birth to 3 Program: A Family Perspective
- Community Connections and Friendship for Children with Disabilities
- COVID and School Safety: Options for Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Conditions
- COVID Vaccines and Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Needs
- Creating a Vision for Your Child’s Future
- Early Choices Matter: Children Building Choice-Making Skills
- Finding and Hiring Direct Caregivers
- Finding the Right Doctor for Your Child With Special Needs
- Inclusive Child Care for Children with Disabilities
- Insurance Prior Authorizations
- Katie Beckett Program: A Doorway to Medicaid for Children with Disabilities
- Making the Most of Doctors Appointments
- Medicaid and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
- Medicaid Coverage for Diapers and Other Incontinence Supplies
- Medicaid HealthCheck "Other Services"
- Medicaid HMO Coverage for Diapers
- Medicaid Personal Care Services
- Medicaid: Appealing a Denial
- Medicaid: Explaining and Exploring Wisconsin Medicaid
- Preparing for Emergencies
- Questions for My Health Plan or Insurance Company
- Respite Services for Children with Disabilities
- School and Community Based Therapy Services: Understanding Your Options and Avoiding Insurance Denials
- Self Determination and Children with Disabilities
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Children with Disabilities
- Supported Decision Making for Transition-Age Youth
- Transition - Health Coverage Options for Young Adults
- Wisconsin’s Guardianship Training Requirement: What Families Need to Know
- Working with a Fiscal Employer Agent
- Working with an IRIS Consultant
- Show all ( 18 ) Collapse
-
-
- Birth to 3 Program: Why is a Natural Environment Important?
- Birth to 3 Program: Why is Early Intervention Important?
- Care Map Instructions: Making a Care Map for Your Child
- Emergency Preparedness: Make a Plan
- Medicaid and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: Reimbursement
- Medicaid and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: Schedule a Ride
- Medicaid Coverage for Diapers and Other Incontinence Supplies
- Newborn Screening: What if Your Baby's Screening Results are Concerning?
- Newborn Screening: What is Genetics?
- Newborn Screening: What is Newborn Screening?
- Respite Care vs Personal Care: Is there a difference?
-
-
Equity and Diversity
- Connecting with your Child with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities about Racism, Police Brutality, and Protests
- Racial and Social Injustice (ep. 2)
- Structural Racism, Child Health and the Need for a Racial Equity Lens
- Understanding Racial and Social Injustice (ep. 1)
- Understanding Racial and Social Injustice (ep. 3): Mama’s Circle, Part 1
- Understanding Racial and Social Injustice (ep. 4): Dads' Round Table Talk
-
Family Leadership
- Advocacy for Change Institute
- DHS: Statutory Boards, Committees, and Councils
- Find Your State Legislator
- Partners in Policymaking
- State-Level Committees and Councils
- Wisconsin Family Leadership Institute (WiFLI)
- Your Voice Counts #1: Introduction to Family Leadership
- Your Voice Counts #2: Being an Effective Advocate
- Your Voice Counts #3: Families Need to be at the Table
- Your Voice Counts #4: Participating in a Children’s Community Options Program Advisory Committee
- Your Voice Counts #5: Joining a Committee: Thoughts for Families
- Your Voice Counts #6: Overcome Barriers and Get Involved
-
Family Support
-
- Birth to 3 Program
- Birth to 3 Program: A Family Perspective
- Birth to 3 Program: Why is a Natural Environment Important?
- Birth to 3 Program: Why is Early Intervention Important?
- Disasters and Emergencies - Keeping Children Safe
- Finding and Hiring Direct Caregivers
- Inclusive Child Care for Children with Disabilities
- Respite Care vs Personal Care: Is there a difference?
- Respite Services for Children with Disabilities
- Tips for Keeping Your Family Healthy this Summer
-
- An Introduction to Special Education
- ARC Toolkit to Telling Your Story
- Community Connections and Friendship for Children with Disabilities
- COVID and School Safety: Options for Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Conditions
- Emergency Preparedness: Make a Plan
- Finding the Right Doctor for Your Child With Special Needs
- How to Tell Your Story
- Organizations to Assist Families
- Regional Centers for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs
- Sports and Recreation
- Starting and Sustaining Family Support Groups: Sustaining a Family Support Group (#3 of 3)
- Starting and Sustaining Family Support Groups: Virtual Support Groups (#2 of 3)
- Starting and Sustaining Family Support Groups: Where to Begin? (#1 of 3)
- Summer Camps
- Wisconsin’s Guardianship Training Requirement: What Families Need to Know
-
-
Health Care
- A "Medical Home" - What Should I Expect From My Doctor
- Care Map Instructions: Making a Care Map for Your Child
- COVID Resource List
- COVID Vaccines and Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Needs
- Glossary: Health Care Acronyms & Abbreviations
- Insurance Prior Authorizations
- Making the Most of Doctors Appointments
- Nursing Services for Students with Healthcare Needs
- Partnering with Your Child's Provider
- School and Community Based Therapy Services: Understanding Your Options and Avoiding Insurance Denials
- TIPS: Partnering with Your Child's Health Plan
- Youth to Adult Health Transition
-
Long-Term Supports
- 1. Introduction and Overview
- 2. Is My Child Eligible for the CLTS Program?
- 3. Completing a Functional Screen
- 4. What to Expect After a Child is Determined Eligible
- 5. Developing Your Child's Individual Service Plan
- 6. Your Child's Service Plan: Creating Outcomes
- 7. What Services Might be Covered?
- 8. Appealing a Denial
- Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP)
- CLTS Complete Series 1-8
- Early Choices Matter: Children Building Choice-Making Skills
-
Medicaid
- Children's Long-Term Supports Program
- Find Your Federal Representative
- Forward Health - Health Care Programs
- Katie Beckett Program: A Doorway to Medicaid for Children with Disabilities
- Medicaid and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
- Medicaid and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: Reimbursement
- Medicaid and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: Schedule a Ride
- Medicaid Coverage for Diapers and Other Incontinence Supplies
- Medicaid Coverage for Diapers and Other Incontinence Supplies
- Medicaid HealthCheck "Other Services"
- Medicaid HMO Coverage for Diapers
- Medicaid Personal Care Services
- Medicaid: Appealing a Denial
- Medicaid: Explaining and Exploring Wisconsin Medicaid
- SSI Child Disability Starter Kit
-
Mental Health
-
Money Matters
-
Recursos en español
Family Voices hojas informativas y boletines en español
-
-
- 1. Introducción y descripción general
- 2. ¿Mi hijo es elegible para el programa de exención para CLTS?
- 3. Completar una evaluación funcional
- 4. Qué esperar después de que se determina que un niño es elegible
- 5. Desarrollando el Plan Individual de Servicios de su Hijo
- 6. Plan de servicios de su hijo: Creando resultados
- 7. ¿Qué servicios se podrían cubrir?
- 8. Apelando una denegación
- Programa de Apoyoa Largo Plazo para NiñosHojasInformativas-Enero de 2019
-
- Su vos cuenta #4: Participación en el Comité Asesor del Programa de Opciones Comunitarias para Niños de Wisconsin
- Su voz cuenta #1: Introducción al liderazgo familiar
- Su voz cuenta #2: Cómo ser un defensor eficaz
- Su voz cuenta #3: Las familias necesitan estar presentes en la mesa
- Su voz cuenta #5: Únase a un comité, Ideas para las familias
- Su voz cuenta #6: Supere barreras y participe
-
- WITPP 1: Introducción a Una Transición Integral Para Jóvenes y Familias
- WITPP 2: Jóvenes participando e involucrándose plenamente con su comunidad
- WITPP 3: Transición para jóvenes con necesidades de salud mental
- WITPP 4: Planificación para Conseguir Empleo
- WITTP 5: Programas de apoyo a largo plazo para adultos
- Apelación de un rechazo de Medicaid o BadgerCare
- Aprovechar al máximo las citas médicas
- Asociándose con el proveedor de su hijo
- Autodeterminación
- Autorizaciones Previas del Seguro
- Búsqueda de personal para respiro y cuidados personales
- Búsqueda y Contratación de Cuidadores Directos
- Cobertura de Medicaid HMO para pañales
- Cobertura de Medicaid para pañales
- COVID y la Seguridad Escolar
- Cuentas ABLE - Lo Que Las Familias de Wisconsin Necesitan Saber
- Cuidado Infantil Inclusivo para Niños con Discapacidades
- Cuidados de relevo para niños con discapacidades
- Decisiones Hechas con Apoyo
- Eligiendo Al Doctor Correcto
- Hogar Médico
- Katie Beckett Medicaid
- Los Servicios de Cuidado Personal Y Medicaid
- Medicaid HealthCheck “Otros Servicios”
- Medicaid: Explicando y Explorando Wisconsin Medicaid
- Medicaidy el transporte a citas médicas
- Opciones de cobertura de la salud para jóvenes
- Preguntas para mi plan de salud o compañía de seguros
- Preguntas para una agencia de salud mental
- Preparación para emergencias
- Requisito de capacitación para la custodia en Wisconsin: Lo que las familias deben saber
- Seguro de ingresos suplementario y niños con discapacidad
- Servicios do terapia
- Soñar e imaginar el futuro de su hijo
- Trabajar con un agente fiscal del empleador
- Trabajar con un Consultor de IRIS
- Vacunas de COVID y Niños con Discapacidades o Necesidades Médicas Complejas
- ¿Estás tele-listo/a?
- Show all ( 18 ) Collapse
-
-
Telehealth
- Are You Tele-Ready? Making the Most of Telemedicine Visits
- Internet Connectivity Program in Wisconsin
- Internet Resources for Wisconsin Residents during Public Health Emergency
- Telehealth Glossary
- Telehealth Security
- Telehealth Webinar 1: Are You Connected?
- Telehealth Webinar 2: Do You Have a Device?
- Telehealth Webinar 3: Can You See Your Provider?
- Telehealth Webinar 4: Your Family's First Telemedicine Appointment
-
Transition to Adult Life
- Adult Long-Term Support Programs
- Creating a Vision for Your Child’s Future
- Introduction to Integrated Transition for Youth and Families
- Planning for Employment
- Self Determination and Children with Disabilities
- Supported Decision Making for Transition-Age Youth
- Supported Decision Making Guide - BPDD
- Transition - Health Coverage Options for Young Adults
- Transition for Youth with Mental Health Needs
- Working with a Fiscal Employer Agent
- Working with an IRIS Consultant
- Youth Fully Participating and Engaged in Their Community
- Youth to Adult Health Transition
How It All Began
National Family Voices (FV) began with a small group of families around a kitchen table. Our roots are with those families who challenged the medical provider who recommended an institution for their son; who insisted on staying with their hospitalized daughter overnight; or who convinced their local school to enroll their child with special health care needs.
FV was started by parents like Julie Beckett. Julie is an Iowa mom, whose advocacy efforts led to the federal law that created the Katie Beckett Program, which has helped tens of thousands of families across the country. This law allows Medicaid to pay for high medical bills for children with the most significant disabilities and medical needs to live at home rather than in hospitals or institutions.
In the early 1990’s, President Clinton’s Health Care Reform Plan began, but families whose children had disabilities or special health care needs weren’t part of the discussion. The initial plan had no provisions for children with special health care needs. It was up to parents, like Family Voices of Wisconsin (FVofWI) Board Member, Dr. Bill Schwab, to advocate that the voices of families be at the table when decisions are being made. FV was founded to be this voice.
“It has been a fun journey to partner with Family Voices to support families of CYSHCN over the years! Thanks for all you do!”
Family Voices of Wisconsin’s Start
In 1995, FVofWI Co-Director, Liz Hecht partnered with other parents, including Linda Rowley, FVofWI Board Member, to be Wisconsin’s representatives to FV. Organizing with other families, FV helped shape our current programs for children with disabilities.
In 2005, Liz brought Barbara Katz onboard. Together they published newsletters, wrote grants, developed trainings and printed our first family-friendly fact sheets.
After the passage of the Family Opportunities Act, FVofWI was awarded federal funding to be Wisconsin’s Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F). In 2010, we became an independent, non-profit organization.
“We at DHS appreciate the valuable partnership with Family Voices and the work that Family Voices has done and continues to do for CYSHCN and families!”
Our Partners
Our work would not be possible without strong relationships with the University of Wisconsin, state agencies and advocacy organizations including:
- Alianza Latina Aplicando Soluciones,
- American Family Children’s Hospital—Complex-Care Program,
- Board for People with Developmental Disabilities,
- Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Network,
- Department of Health Services—Bureau of Children’s Services,
- Department of Public Instruction—Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative,
- Family Voices—National,
- Maternal Child and Health Bureau,
- Parent University,
- Survival Coalition,
- Waisman Center,
- WI FACETS,
- Wisconsin Family Ties,
- And many others!
“Thank you for educating me, supporting my family and empowering me to make a difference!”
0 out of 5 stars
5 Stars | 0% | |
4 Stars | 0% | |
3 Stars | 0% | |
2 Stars | 0% | |
1 Stars | 0% |