Family Voices Colorado is a chapter of the national, grassroots organization composed of families and friends who care for and about our children with special health care needs. Family leaders from around the nation organized Family Voices in December 1992. The primary goal of the organization is to ensure that our children's health is addressed amidst change in public and private health care systems. Currently, there are over 40,000 Family Voices members throughout the country.

What We Do

Information and Referral
If you are looking for a health care provider, help to pay for a health or related service provider, programs a child or adult with special needs might be eligible for, connections to other families, advocates, etc we probably can help. (800) 881-8272.

Family-To-Family
Creates a Collaborative of Family-Driven Organizations and Family Navigators to assist families across the state, and much more. Click here to visit our Family-To-Family support page.

Provider Helpline
The Helpline serves state-wide Medical Home pysician practices with children with special health care needs as well as typical children. Families are welcome to access the  Helpline.  We assist fmailies with transportation, private and public insurance, school issues and the like.  Just call with a concern and we will find the best way to help your family!!

Advocacy Support
We can assist families you have encountered problems with

• Health insurance plans
• Communicating with a service provide
• Navigating Medicaid
• School accommodations for a child's health needs

Systems Change/ Policy Work
Family Voices Colorado employs a part time lobbyist to track state legislative issues that impact children and youth with special health care needs (CSHCN). The staff members also work on many policy committees to ensure that the stories and data regarding this population are presented to the decision makers at all levels. If you have a story that you think might be helpful to an elected official or other policy-making persons and it regards the access to needed services by children with special needs, let us know!

Medical Home Certification Process
Together with the Colorado Children's Healthcare Access Program (CCHAP), Family Voices staff visit pediatric and family practices across the state to explain the principles and process to be certified as a Medical Home, providing care that is family-centered, coordinated, comprehensive, culturally competent, and community-based. After completing a self-assessment and receiving guidance on quality improvement, practices that are certified can receive a higher Medicaid reimbursement rate.

Medicaid and CHP+ Outreach and Enrollment
Family Voices became a Certified Application and Assistance Site in 2010 and is now able to assist families with completing the application for public health insurance, including verification of necessary documents. In addition, through a "MORE" Grant (Maximizing Outreach, Retention, and Enrollment) from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, FVC will conduct outreach activities through connections in the health care and disability fields to families who may be eligible for Medicaid and CHP+ but are not yet enrolled.

Our Programs

Family to Family Website

Transition
The Healthcare Transition Navigator is working with the national Health Care Transition Center on a pilot project transitioning youth and young adults with special health care needs from pediatric to adult care.  The goal is to establish tools and processes to help youth and families plan for independence as youth grow into adulthood and to transition into supported adult health services.

Family Support 360 Program
Family Support 360 provides home-based services to low-income families with one or more children wth special health care needs in the Denver metro area.  Our staff, called Family Support Navigators, work with families to help identify their strengths, needs, and goals, and to develop a plan to reach those goals.

Navigators are especially knowledgeable about health and disability-related agencies and systems, but they also do a lot of work with families around other areas of life that will help strengthen the family and allow them to be more stable in the long tern, like housing, transportation, and child care.

Navigators work alongside of families.  Families set their own goals, and Navigators guide them through the landscape, helping them overcome obstacles to reach those goals.

To learn more about Family Support 360, call 303-733-300 x104 or our toll-free line, 800-881-8272.