Resources for you

Each month, Family Voices Indiana provides the families we serve with a summary of the month’s hottest items. If you missed us on Facebook, here is the latest!

Awareness:

National Children’s Dental Health Month. To locate low cost Indiana dental resources, visit this site.

February 1: National Wear Red Day to raise awareness of heart disease in women. Learn to be heart healthy.

February 28: Rare Disease Awareness Day.

February 7-14: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. About 1 out of every 100 babies are born each year with some type of Congenital Heart Defect in the United States (approx. 40,000/year). Learn more here.

February 10-16: Feeding Tube Awareness Week. Watch this video for more information.

Family Voices:

Check out our Family Voices Staff Spotlights! This month’s page featured our fearless director, Rylin Rodgers; Family Leadership Specialist, Brenda Darrol; and Health Information Specialist, Heather Dane.

Facebook fans liked our many inspirational quotes. Be sure to check out our page for a pick-me-up.

We liked this Bill of Rights. It’s a great reminder that we, too, are entitled to the typical desires and emotions of parenthood. Regardless of where you are on your journey, this post will remind you that you have permission to ask for help.

If you’re a mom of a child with special needs, you may welcome this post, which supports our desire to tread lightly during “birth defects prevention” month.

How do you handle staring? Read and share this article with others! We’d also love your feedback on how you’d like to be approached (or not).

Listen in as this brave teen with an ASD shares her experience through music. Here’s a great list of the “Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Autism” written by a college student who is autistic.

Sometimes we forget (and so do others) that we’ve been fortunate enough to own a Ferrari but have only the manual for a Ford. If you’ve ever heard criticism for parenting your child in a way that is mindful of his diagnosis and doesn’t fit the norm, you’ll enjoy this read.

Sometimes making the decision whether to pursue a diagnosis is not clear-cut or supported by family, friends, and professionals. If you are on the fence, this article offers good tips to consider.

Facebook followers liked this article, which shares the ten things this mother wishes had been shared with her about parenting a child with special needs. And, on those lines, this post was also a favorite. If you are a “seasoned” special needs parent, try to help pave the way and “throw down the rope,” to a new member of our club.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that our journeys are all unique. This article puts the preemie milestones in perspective.

Training and Learning Opportunities:

Family Voices works to fulfill our mission of empowering families by providing you with educational opportunities and resources. Check our website frequently for learning resources by visiting: http://www.fvindiana.org/training. This month, we shared the following on Facebook.

Not exactly sure what Family Voices does? Check out our youtube video.

Check out our post focusing on hiring support staff using waiver funds. We have a list of questions to ask your case manager. Visit the FSSA page for more helpful hints.

Simply by answering age-specific questions via The Ages and Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ) you can see if your child’s developmental progress is on schedule. If your child benefited from early intervention, won’t you share this with others?

Have you settled in with your routine during case conference and IEP meetings? This is a good read and great reminder to be prepared for each meeting.

Are you trying to juggle the demands of full-time employment with caregiving? This article gives great tips for communicating with your employer and knowing your rights.

Between 7 and 12 million American youth suffer from mental, behavioral, or developmental disorders at any given time. The AACAP developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. Click this link to find the fact sheets, available in several languages.

Having a hard time making ends meet? Look here for tips and resources that can help you stretch your food dollars.

Newsworthy:

We've created a FB page for our Latino families who prefer information in Spanish and/or would like to connect with other families. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/VocesDeFamiliaDeIndiana.

Did you know we're on Pinterest, too? Check out our boards at http://pinterest.com/fvindiana/

Family Voices was featured in Indy’s Child this month. Check out the article, and pass it along to friends who might be able to use our assistance.

Do you shop online? Do you know that you can help us raise money without spending any extra? Simply register with We-Care http://fvindiana.we-care.com/getstarted and it will automatically donate a small percentage of your purchase to us when you shop at participating stores. They also have coupons available so you might save money, too. Thank you for your support!

Collaboration:

Family Voices encourages you to use your voice to influence care, public and private policy, and educate others. In that vein, we strive to share with you opportunities to collaborate with others to improve the systems we engage. Here are some upcoming opportunities:

Want to help make Riley an even better place? Join the Pediatric Family Advisory Council—where your input shapes our decisions. Please email pfac@iuhealth.org.

Need a ramp and live in Southern Indiana? The Ramps to Freedom Project helps individuals with physical limitations, persons with aging conditions, and families and caregivers of these individuals obtain access ramps. To apply: Call Aging and Community Services at: (812) 372-6918 or (866) 644-6407. Visit the Bartholomew County United Way Center: 1531 13th Street Columbus, IN 47201, or check out the website: www.agingandcommunityservices.org.

In May 2012, the U.S. Department of Education issued a publication that outlines principles for educators, parents and other stakeholders to consider when developing or revising policies and procedures on the use of restraint and seclusion.“Ultimately, the standard for educators should be the same standard that parents use for their own children,” stated Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “There is a difference between a brief time out in the corner of a classroom to help a child calm down and locking a child in an isolated room for hours. This really comes down to common sense.” To access Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document, go to 
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/seclusion/restraints-and-seclusion-resources.pdf. Be sure to contact your legislator to share your thoughts.