Earlier this month, Yaneth, Lillian, and Eileen from Family Resource Navigators in San Leandro presented Assemblymember Rob Bonta with an award honoring his work on AB 187 and thanking him for being a champion for children and youth with special health care needs. The ladies also shared a bit about their children and why CCS is so crucial for the continued well-being of our most vulnerable population. Check out a video of the award presentation below.
Month: March 2016
State Rebuffed, Won’t Move Fragile Kids to Managed Care—For Now
FVCA families attended a key budget subcommittee meeting in Sacramento on March 15th which ruled, thanks to chairman Tony Thurmond, that the Department of Health Care Services’ push to move roughly one-fifth of the state’s medically vulnerable children to managed care come January 2017 would have to be “shelved and sent back to the drawing board.”
Thurmond stated that he didn’t want to change the existing CCS system given its longevity and the apparent satisfaction of the children’s families. “If this is one of the oldest programs around and it’s something we can hold up as a shining example of how to do things right, then let’s not mess with it,” Thurmond said.
For more information and a look a a few FVCA families who attended the subcommittee meeting, check out California Healthline’s article State Rebuffed, Won’t Move Fragile Kids to Managed Care—For Now.
Special Hope Foundation Movie Premiere: Supported Decision Making & Bridging the Gap
The Special Hope Foundation will be premiering two short films, “Supported Decision Making: Gabby’s Story” and “Bridging the Gap: Improving Healthcare Access for People With Disabilities,” on March 18th via OVEE, an online streaming platform. Online registration is required in advance.
The Special Hope Foundation aims to promote the establishment of comprehensive healthcare services for adults with developmental disabilities designed to address their unique and fundamental needs. Their two short films were developed following a conference they held last fall and highlight a theme that emerged as a result of their engaged stakeholder conversations. It is their hope that the films will not only provide deeper understanding of these complex healthcare access issues, but that they will promote greater awareness to healthcare provides, advocates, and policymakers.
FILM DESCRIPTIONS
SUPPORTED DECISION MAKING: GABBY’S STORY
Supported decision making is an emerging strategy to enable individuals to make their own choices. This is especially helpful in the healthcare setting where every person utilizes the expertise of their provider and other resources to make difficult health-related decisions. This film uses Gabby’s story to illustrate the benefits of the strategy, both in the decision making process and as a way to maintain personal autonomy.
BRIDGING THE GAP: IMPROVING HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Too often, healthcare providers do not receive adequate training to practice culturally sensitive care towards those with disabilities. This creates a barrier to primary and emergency medicine. This film highlights Melissa and her stories of both frustration and victory, working with practitioners to break down assumptions.
Video & Summary: Senate Select Committee on Children With Special Health Care Needs
The Senate Select Committee on Children with Special Needs was recently formed with the goal of identifying ways to strengthen and integrate the services that benefit children, youth, and their families. Chaired by Senator Richard Pan, the committee aims to break down the various silos of care and make it easier for those with developmental and behavioral disabilities to access crucial support systems. The committee held its first hearing on December 1, 2015, and a summary report of their findings can be found here. In addition, they also released an issue brief that maps care systems in California.
FVCA advocates Wendy & Derek Longwell spoke at a press conference in February announcing the formation of the Select Committee. Check out a video recap of the day below!