This newsletter was sent January 31, 2017. If you’d like to receive our next bi-weekly digest full of a curated collection of resources, workshops, policy highlights, and action items that affect children and youth with special health care needs, please sign up here.

Family Voices of California Health Summit & Legislative Day To Be Held Feb. 27-28

Registrations for our 15th annual Health Summit & Legislative Day are quickly filling up! This conference brings together families, providers, state agencies, and others to identify and address the health challenges that affect children and youth with special health care needs. We are honored to have Senators Richard Pan and Holly Mitchell as this year’s keynote speakers. Panel topics will cover the future of California Children’s Services/The Whole-Child Model, mental health, and Medi-Cal. To view the agenda, click here, and to register, click here (free for families, $50 suggested donations for professionals).

New to the summit this year is our youth track—a separate session organized and led by youth and young adults with disabilities that will focus on health care transition. Co-sponsored by Yo! Disabled And Proud, we hope this session will serve as a safe space for 13-24 year-olds to discuss health care issues with peers while also learning from adult role models who have previously transitioned from pediatric to adult care themselves. To register for the youth track, click here (select the youth track drop-down option).

RESOURCES

Report: The Health Effects Of Cannabis And Cannabinoids: The Current State Of Evidence And Recommendations For Research

The National Academies Press has issued a report compiling research from a number of individuals and groups on the health effects of medical cannabis. It provides a history of cannabis, its policy landscape and public opinion, and its various therapeutic uses for both physical and mental ailments. The publication also highlights research recommendations in this “pivotal time in cannabis policy and research,” which include a call for more pediatric-focused research. To read the report, click here.

New City, County-Wide Data On Children With Special Health Care Needs In California

Kidsdata.org has released new wide-ranging data on children with special health care needs in collaboration with the Child And Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative. By providing local estimates of demographics, insurance coverage, impact on families and quality of care, the data offers a deeper understanding of the disparities and needs within the community. To access the data, click here.

The Year Ahead: Medicaid Works! A Fact Sheet From The National Health Law Program

This fact sheet details how Medicaid continues to help tens of millions of Americans annually. With the new administration suggesting they will pursue changing the program through block grants or capping or cutting federal funding, attorneys from The National Health Law Program created this fact sheet to illustrate how Medicaid works as is, and that we’re all better because of it. To read the fact sheet, click here.

OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT

Disability Rights California Seeks Feedback On Regional Center Child Therapy Services

Disability Rights California is collecting information from families on the ability of regional center clients to obtain therapy services through Medi-Cal or private insurance. To complete a short survey about your child, click here (includes information on how to submit your answers).

Stanford Researchers Recruiting Boys With Disabilities For Eye Gaze, Social Skills Study

The Center For Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stanford is looking for boys with disabilities ages 8-18 to participate in a study investigating behavioral training methods to improve eye contact and social skills. Participants must be local and be able to tolerate a 30 minute MRI scan. An honorarium of $100 will be provided. For more information, click here.

Upcoming CalABLE Events Scheduled Throughout California

During the month of February and early March, multiple California Achieving A Better Life Experience (CalABLE) informational sessions are scheduled for Sacramento, San Rafael, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Pomona, Torrence, Culver City, and Stockton. For the full list of dates and times, click here.