SEARCH PROVIDERS

Family Voices of DC (FV of DC) provides information and support to families of children and youth with special health care needs and the professionals who serve them in several ways: direct support, parent matching, training, focus groups, listservs, and conferences. FV of DC works with numerous families within DC who need help in establishing eligibility for their children on Medicaid, including waivers and spend downs. FV of DC helps families:

• complete forms needed to access Medicaid
• select Medicaid HMOs from within their choices
• connect with the Medical Assistance Program Administration

Family Voices of Pennsylvania (FV PA) shares resources with families of children with special health care needs through a variety of activities including one-to-one contacts with family members, focus groups, conferences and listservs. FV PA works with other organizations to ensure that parents have information on family and youth leadership, legislative advocacy, special education, Medical Home, mental health, cultural competence, foster care services, transition to adult care and vocational rehabilitation. FV PA continues to provide the family perspective while serving as a parent representative on the PA Department of Public Health Special Needs Task Force, a group that counts among its membership representatives of the state Medicaid agency, SCHIP program, Title V agency, private hospitals, medical practices and insurers, advocacy organizations, schools and other stakeholders. As a member of this task force, FV PA has led workshops and training sessions for social workers, program executives, medical practitioners and parents.

Family Voices of Virginia (FV of VA) widely disseminates information and resources to families of children and youth with special health care needs and the providers who serve them, through meetings and workshops, conferences, direct support, and parent matching. FV of VA has been part of the funded Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2FHIC) serving families throughout the state, participating in conferences, meetings, material development and information dissemination. FV of VA has been very involved with partners working together on activities focused on the core outcomes for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN), including:

• Family Participation--Working closely with Medical Home Plus, Inc., sharing a family's perspective on the medical home concept through visiting pediatric practices involved in a medical home improvement project;
• Medical Homes / Community-Based Services: Collaborating with Parent-to-Parent of VA on a presentation and workshop on Parent Involvement; and
• Serving on the Fairfax Region CCC Advisory Committee and serving as co-chair on the Parent-to-Parent Support subcommittee.

The Howard County Autism Society (HCAS) has been awarded a Community Service Partnership (CSP) grant by the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services to provide special education advocacy and familial support for students with special education needs. Services include one-to-one assistance and information on special education issues; one-to-one assistance on special education law and how it applies to personal circumstances; workshops and seminars on special education topics of interest; and a web-based special education news center. In addition, the multi-faceted delivery of services and specialized support will assist speakers of limited English, specifically the Spanish and Korean populations. FAPE is free of charge to families. FAPE helps parents of children with ALL disabilities to navigate the maze of special education laws and regulations through a series of workshops, and through one to one support and advocacy.

Fast Forward College Coaching provides services for students with learning differences / autism and their families to help navigate the transition from high school to (and through) college.  We support high school students as well as new and struggling college students. We offer parent consultations, 1:1 student coaching and skill building, workshops for students and families and resources for educators. Supporting students virtually across the country, Fast Forward College Coaching assists  high scholl & college students:

• Manage their time utilizing weekly and daily schedules
• Break down large projects into small deadlines
• Self-advocacy with professors
• Navigate disability support services (accommodations) in a collegiate environment
• Role play communication scenarios with roommates, peers and professors
• Identify dorm organization strategies
• Facilitate connection to on-campus resources (mental health, tutoring, advising, etc.)
• Conflict resolution with roommates
• Identify clubs and social actvities on campus
• Tutoring for college assignments & essays