This newsletter was sent November 7, 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.

Save the date: Family Voices of California’s 16th annual Health Summit & Legislative Day will be held Feb. 26-Feb. 27, 2018 in Sacramento. More information and registration here.

Webinar: Understanding California’s Regional Centers: From Yesterday To Today And Tomorrow

Date & Time: Nov. 29 / 12 p.m – 1 p.m.

Hosted by: Family Voices of California

California is home to 21 regional centers throughout the state that serve more than 300,000 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This webinar will delve into the history of the regional center system, its current status, and issues that will shape the future. Additionally, attendees will learn what sets California’s service system apart from other states as well as how federal funding shapes its operation today. Webinar presenter Amy Westling is the executive director of the Association Of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) which represents all California regional centers.

To register, click here.

Having Trouble Finding Nursing? Golden Gate Regional Center Wants To Know

The Health Care Impact Team at Disability Rights California is looking for families who have been impacted by the nursing shortage. If you’ve had trouble finding a nurse for your child through EPSDT or a home health agency, please contact Karis Draggs, the Client’s Rights Advocate at Golden Gate Regional Center. Email: karis.daggs@disabilityrightsca.org

RESOURCES

New Website On National Standards Of Care For Children And Youth With Special Health Care Needs

The Association For Maternal And Child Health Programs has launched a new website devoted to easily navigating the National Standards 2.0, a comprehensive set of system standards that can be used or adapted by various systems and organizations that serve children and youth with special needs. To view the new website, click here, and to watch an introduction video, click here.

CDC Introduces Developmental Milestone Tracker App

The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention has released a free app designed to help parents understand when their kids should be hitting developmental benchmarks. It includes checklists with photos and videos detailing important milestones for kids 2 months to 5 years old as well as information on when to contact a doctor about potential issues. For more information, click here, and to register for a Nov. 29 webinar on how to best use the app, click here.

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Renewal Update, Advocacy Resources

On Friday, the House voted to reauthorize federal funding for CHIP for five years and extend community health center funding for two (H.R. 3921). However, advocates are concerned with the House cutting billions from the ACA’s Public Health And Prevention Fund to supply CHIP funding. CHIP reauthorization now requires a 60 member vote in the Senate, and current funding is set to expire early January 2018. Use the below resources to urge Congress to act:

Advocacy resources from Health4AllKids

Advocacy toolkit from the American Academy Of Pediatrics

OPEN ENROLLMENT INFO

Enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is currently open and will close Jan. 31, 2018. The window for signing up is much shorter than in years past, and there will be less on-the-ground assistance to help consumers navigate registration. Here are some helpful resources as you begin to browse the marketplace.