Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
May 2013
Inside this issue:
1) Learn More About Mississippi’s Health Insurance Exchange – May 13, Jackson
2) Toolkit on Creating Patient and Family Advisory Councils
3) New Web Tool for Educators and Medical Professionals
4) Family Voices of Mississippi Board to Meet – May 30, Jackson
5) Voice4Hope Provides Resources for Teens with Mental Health Conditions
6) Mississippi disAbility MegaConference – June 20-21, Jackson
1) Learn More About Mississippi’s Health Insurance Exchange
Under federal law, all health insurance exchanges, which are a set of standardized healthcare plans from which individuals may purchase health insurance and are eligible for federal subsidies, must be fully certified and operational by Jan. 1, 2014. Learn more about what this means for Mississippi on Mon., May 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. during a discussion in the third floor community meeting room, Suite 3536, at the Jackson Medical Mall. Aaron Sisk, senior attorney, Mississippi Department of Insurance, will provide information about the state’s Health Insurance Exchange. Lunch will be provided. To attend, please contact Kim Robinson at krobinson@childrensdefense.org or 601.321.1966.
2) Toolkit on Creating Patient and Family Advisory Councils
The National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ) has created a toolkit for pediatric providers on how to effectively engage family perspectives by creating patient and family advisory councils. Practices that encourage, value and utilize family perspectives in planning for high-quality medical care can accelerate their path toward becoming truly patient- and family-centered. For more information, visit http://www.nichq.org/resources/PFAC-toolkit-landingpage.html.
3) New Web Tool for Educators and Medical Professionals
Genetics Education Materials for School Success (GEMSS) is a new website featuring information that schools and medical professionals can use to support students who have genetic conditions. The aim of GEMSS is to assure all children with genetic health conditions succeed in school-life. Children who have genetic conditions are members of neighborhood schools across the country. In fact, it is estimated that about 1 in 20 children have a genetic condition. For more information, visit http://www.gemssforschools.org/.
4) Family Voices of Mississippi Board to Meet – May 30, Jackson
Family Voices aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs or disabilities. The board of Mississippi’s Family Voices state affiliate, Family Voices of Mississippi, will meet Thurs., May 30, from 10 a.m. until noon in Room 108 of the IHL Building at 3825 Ridgewood Road in Jackson. For more information about Family Voices of Mississippi, call Cookie Smith at the Institute for Disability Studies at 1.888.671.0051.
5) Voice4Hope Provides Resources for Teens with Mental Health Conditions
Voices4Hope is a place for teenagers and young adults with mental health conditions to find resources and stigma busting information that can help them lead happy and independent lives. This website was created and is maintained by four young adults with mental health conditions at the Transitions Research and Training Center (RTC). Voices4Hope has launched three new webpages on eating disorders, young adult parenting, and bullying. These pages offer young adults information about conditions or circumstances that can affect them, recovery stories to read, and resources to help them make the best of their lives. http://www.voices4hope.net/
6) Mississippi disAbility MegaConference – June 20-21, Jackson
Mark your calendars now for the second annual Mississippi disAbility MegaConference scheduled for June 20-21, at the Marriott Jackson. Expect interesting speakers, important information, exhibits of products and services, opportunities for networking and fun and friends. Family stipends are available. For more information or to register, visit http://msmegaconference.org/.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Family Health Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Health Notes is sponsored by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Mississippi’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at The University of Southern Mississippi. IDS provides university training, community service activities, research and information that promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information about IDS, visit www.usm/edu/ids or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit www.usm.edu/ids/supportus.html.
The Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center (F2F) is a family-focused, family managed resource center that empowers families of Mississippi children with special health care needs to be partners in the decisions made concerning the health of their children. F2F is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#H84MC07948).
The Mississippi Integrated Community Systems (MICS) for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs project is working to create a seamless system of family-centered, community-based, culturally competent services and supports for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). MICS is funded by the Maternal and Child Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#D70MC12841).
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