National Center for Family/Professional Partnerships (NCFPP)
The National Center for Family/Professional Partnerships provides leadership on implementing the core component of a system of care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN), that is: Families will partner in decision-making at all levels and will be satisfied with the services they receive.
News & Happenings
- March 23, 2010: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law on March 23, 2010, provided a three-year extension of funding for Family-to-Family Health Information Centers. For each of the next three fiscal years (2010, 2011, and 2012) the F2F program will receive its current level of funding ($5 million), which provides approximately $97,000 annually for each of the 51 F2F HICs (every state plus DC).
- March 4, 2010:
The 2008-2009 F2F HIC Data Report and Fact Sheet are now available.
The Data Report reviews statistics on the activities of 40 Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs) from July 2008 through May 2009, along with data from the National Survey of CSHCN and other sources, to demonstrate the importance of F2F HICs in assisting families of children with special health care needs/disabilities. This report highlights the impact of special health care needs on children, families, and programs/policies. Poignant quotes from families and F2F staff are included to underscore the importance of F2F’s in assisting families and professionals. The one-page fact sheet includes highlights from the lengthier Data Report.
- June 1, 2009: 10 New Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs)
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) recently announced the awards of Family-to-Family Health Information Center grants to ten new organizations, resulting in F2F HICs in every state and the District of Columbia:- Alabama: Family Voices of Alabama
- Alaska: Stone Soup Group
- Arkansas: Arkansas Disability Coalition
- Idaho: Idaho Parents Unlimited
- Iowa: University of Iowa - Child Health Specialty Clinics
- Kentucky: KY Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs
- Ohio: Family Voices of Ohio
- South Carolina: Family Connection of South Carolina
- West Virginia: West Virginia Parent Training and Information
- Wyoming: Parents Helping Parents of Wyoming
- May 5-6, 2009: Annual F2F HIC Grantees Meeting:
The 2009 Annual Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Grantees meeting was held on May 5 and 6, 2009 at the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. For the first half of the meeting, the F2F HIC Grantees were joined by the State Implementation Grantees for a discussion of collaborative activities. The F2F HIC Grantees also met with the Family Voices Public Policy Team to learn more about the funding for Family-to-Family centers. On the second day, grantees participated in sessions on budgeting, collecting data on race and ethnicity, and helping families with complex needs. Presentations and other materials may be found on the 2009 F2F HIC Grantees Meeting page. 
January 15, 2009: 2007-2008 F2F HIC Data Brief
A 1-page data brief has been developed to highlight the activities of Family-to-Family Health Information Centers from July 2007 through June 2008. Please check it out.
- November 24, 2008: Learn the Signs - Act Early Campaign.
While parents are very aware of changes in their young child’s physical development, such as height and weight, there are also important milestones children should reach in terms of how they play, learn, speak, and act. Smiling for the first time, making eye contact, and pointing are just a few of these developmental milestones.
A delay in any of these areas could be a sign of a developmental problem, even autism. The good news is, the earlier a delay is recognized the more you can do to help a child reach their full potential.
To educate parents about developmental milestones and warning signs of a development delay, such as autism, and the importance of acting early, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign.
The campaign offers free materials and resources including fact sheets, milestone checklists, growth charts, and flyers, in English and Spanish. To order or download materials, visit www.cdc.gov/actearly.
- November 4, 2008: New Funding for Next Round of Family-to-Family Health Information Centers
The program guidance (HRSA-09-149) for the application to fund new Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs), in the remaining states that do not currently have a center, is now available by download here or from the HRSA website. Approximately $95,700 is available for each new F2F HIC. Applications are due December 19, 2008. 
June 8-10, 2008: Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Meeting
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) hosted a gathering for all existing and newly funded Family-to-Family Health Information Centers recently in Washington, D.C. A Sunday evening reception at the Jurys Washington Hotel and meetings on Monday and Tuesday at the Pew Charitable Trusts provided many opportunities to network, meet with the MCHB Project Officer, Diana Denboba, and learn about and share information on cultural diversity, family leadership, data, technology, and more with other centers and Family Voices staff.
The underlying theme of this meeting, "A Community of Learners", was the strengthening of the capacity of F2F HICs to help families by establishing and nourishing connections among the centers. Learn more about this meeting and access the handouts here.- May, 2008: MCHB Announces Newly Funded Family-To-Family Health Information Centers
In keeping with the goal of funding Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HIC) in all 50 states by 2009, MCHB has awarded grants to 11 new states, bringing the total to 41 and counting. These newly funded F2F HICs, developed in strong partnership with Family Voices in their respective states, will begin their 3 year grants on June 1, 2008. To learn more about these new centers, check out our article in Friday's Child.
Family Voices, Inc. is funded as the National Center for Family/Professional Partnerships for CYSHCN through a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA 5-U40-06-002).
