Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
September 2015
Inside this issue:
1) Webinar - Medical Home: Primary Health Care We All Deserve – Sept. 2, 12 p.m.
2) Final Statewide Hearings on School Funding Initiatives – Sept. 3 and 8
3) September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month
4) Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation’s Charity Celebration – Sept. 18, 7–10 p.m., Jackson
5) Looking for Technology for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities?
6) DOJ Issues Guidance on Service Dogs
7) Young American Engagement Toolkit
8) Mobile Friendly Resources for Families: HealthyChildren.org
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1) Webinar - Medical Home: Primary Health Care We All Deserve – Sept. 2
This presentation is an overview of what a medical home is and why, as a parent of a child/youth with a special health care need, you should advocate to implement it as standard care. This presentation will also cover the origins and evolution of the medical home model, talking to your primary care manager (PCM), what should be offered and the positive outcomes to having a medical home. Shawn Smith, parent consultant for the Mississippi Family to Family Health and Information Center (MS F2F) at The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies, is the presenter for this webinar which is co-sponsored with the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center (MSPTI). To register, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7227743407768780290.
2) Final Statewide Hearings on School Funding Initiatives – Sept. 3 and 8
Mississippians can express their opinions about proposed school funding initiatives during a series of public hearings in late summer. The hearings, announced by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, will run through Sept. 8. These initiatives will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Initiative 42 would require lawmakers to fund “an adequate and efficient system of free public schools.” Initiative 42-A says lawmakers must fund “an effective system of free public schools.”
The hearings, each starting at 5:30 p.m., will be held:
» Sept. 3 at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Biloxi
» Sept. 8 at the Mississippi School for the Arts auditorium in Brookhaven
For more information, visit http://www.sos.ms.gov/About/Pages/Press-Release.aspx?pr=610.
3) September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month
September marks National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness month. With approximately 72,000 Americans living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), and an estimated two million, including 1 in 12 African Americans carrying the genetic trait for the disease, SCD represents the most commonly inherited blood disorder in this country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Sickle Cell Disease Initiative is working to improve the lives of individuals and families struggling with the disease by improving access to quality care and collaborating with key partners in government, the private sector, researchers, and families affected by SCD. For more information or to find out how to help contact the MS F2F Family Coordinator, Keishawna Smith, at 601.432.6929 or your local sickle cell foundation. In Jackson, the Sickle Cell Support Group meets the first Saturday of every month in the common area of the Jackson Medical Mall at 350 West Woodrow Wilson. The next meeting is Sat., Sept., 5 at 11 a.m.
4) Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation’s Charity Celebration – Sept. 18, 7 – 10 p.m., Jackson
The Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation continues to break the silence, give voice to the cause, and work to find a cure for Sickle Cell Disease. The Foundation stands on the frontlines of providing support to more than Mississippi 2,000 patients and their families who deal with this genetic disorder every day. The Foundation invites you to celebrate the Sickle Cell community and honor long-time pediatric practitioner Dr. Mary Gail Smith. Dr. Smith has treated thousands of children with blood disorders like sickle cell disease at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Children’s Cancer Clinic for decades. Be a part of the “Charity Celebration” on Fri., Sept. 18, 2015 at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Downtown Jackson. This event kicks off at 7 p.m. For tickets, go to http://mssicklecellfoundation.org/.
5) Looking for Technology for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities?
There has long been a need for a service that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) access technology. The Arc decided to step in to help centralize resources in this field. Through a partnership with the Comcast Foundation, The Arc was able to create the Tech Toolbox. Staff from across The Arc’s chapter network came together to design a one-stop-shop, peer-reviewed directory of technology products that are effective for people with I/DD. Through this directory, chapter staff, people with I/DD, and the general public can find, review, and post examples of technology tools that work well for them. There are already over 500 apps and devices in Tech Toolbox, and the list will continue to grow with your input! For more information, visit https://toolbox.thearc.org/.
6) DOJ Issues Guidance on Service Dogs
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division recently issued a new resource on service animals, titled Frequently Asked Questions About Service Animals and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This publication provides helpful guidance on general rules governing service dogs that employers may want to review to ensure they are providing equal access for both employers and customers who may use them. In addition, it defines what constitutes a service animal and the many ways they assist people with a variety of disabilities, not only visual impairments. To view the guidance, visit http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html.
7) Young American Engagement Toolkit
This toolkit, created by Enroll America, provides strategies, tools, and resources that encourage young Americans to enroll in health insurance, including effective messages and communication techniques that families, pediatric clinicians, and community-based organizations can utilize to enhance access to care. For more information or a copy of the toolkit, visit https://www.enrollamerica.org/research-maps/toolkits/young-americans/.
8) Mobile Friendly Resources for Families at HealthyChildren.org
Now available in mobile and tablet versions, these family-friendly articles provide a variety of health information, including explaining medical home and its benefits for families. Articles are available in English and Spanish. For more information, visit https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx and https://healthychildren.org/English/family-life/health-management/Pages/Your-Childs-Medical-Home-What-You-Need-to-Know.aspx
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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 http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies/support-ids.
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).
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