April 7, 2011
Inside this issue:
1) New Family Health Notes Listserv
2) Free Family Health History Tool
3) Health Transition Resources
4) Advisory Council Members Needed
1) New Family Health Notes Listserv
The final Birth-to-Five and Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center Memo listserv was published on November 30, 2010. The Birth-to-Five Memo listserv was established in 2006 as an extension of the original Mississippi Infant Toddler Technical Support (MITTS) Memo to serve families and professionals in early intervention. The listserv was expanded in 2008 to include health information for children’s health care providers and families served by IDS’ Family to Family (F2F) project. The new Family Health Notes listserv will continue to serve families and health and education professionals interested in health-related topics and information. The six health care areas of emphasis for Family Health Notes are measures for the progress of family-centered health care.
- Families partner in decision making at all levels and are satisfied with the services they receive.
- Children receive coordinated, ongoing, comprehensive care within a medical home.
- Children are screened early and continuously for special health care needs.
- Community-based services for children are organized so families can use them easily.
- Families have adequate private or public insurance to pay for services they need.
- Youth receive the services necessary to make transitions to all aspects of adult life, including adult health care, work and independence.
2) Free Family Health History Tool
The Genetic Alliance has developed the Does It Run In The Family? tool to help you create personalized booklets to start conversations about health in your family and community. The tool is customizable so you can add your own information such as stories, quotes and local resources. You can make it a health history booklet about you! To learn more and make your booklet, visit http://www.familyhealthhistory.org/.
3) Health Transition Resources
Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) is a national, grassroots project created by youth with disabilities for youth. Over 60 tipsheets and guides are available and are written for youth, by youth! These are real life stories told by youth and young adults with disabilities who have agreed to share their experiences and helpful information with other youth. Resources include information on various transition topics including several health transition resources such as Surviving a Doctor’s Visit, Communicating With Your Doctor and others. To view these and other resources, please visit http://fvkasa.org/resources/index.php.
4) Advisory Council Members Needed
Start Today Empowering Peers through Uniting and Participating (STEP UP) Advisory Council . . . young leaders of tomorrow with and without disabilities . . . has openings for members. The STEP UP Council is the youth and young adult advisory council for the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS). The council consists of youth and young adults with and without disabilities and provides guidance to all activities and training that target youth and young adults. The next council meeting is being scheduled for late April and will be held at the IDS Library, on the 4th floor of Bond Hall at The University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg campus. For more information or to request a membership application, please contact Terri “Cookie” Smith at 1.601.266.4093 or Terri.Smith@usm.edu.