Following its Black Lives Matter Statement of Solidarity, Family Voices, a network of 59 family-led Family-to-Family Health Information Centers across the United States and its territories, has launched an 18-month project to address and dismantle racism in the health care of CYSHCN and their families.
This lofty goal, starting with its own network of family-led organizations, will be guided by three objectives: Build Competence by learning about the history of race in the U.S. and racial disparities in healthcare, Foster Connectedness by creating opportunities to connect and engage in raw, honest, uncomfortable conversations necessary to bring about change, and Encourage Confidence to Act with the creation of materials and guidance to equip network members to start, lead, and sustain conversations to dismantle racism in health care of CYSHCN in their own locality. Efforts within the network will be organized around monthly Town Hall meetings, with related activities and resources focused on specific topics, and then will expand in focus and activities to include work with our partner organizations to end racism against CYSHCN and families.
This project is being co-led by Family Voices National staff Allysa Ware and Cara Coleman in collaboration with Family Voices Network members Nanfi Lubogo of PATH/FV CT, Yetta Myrick of Parents’ Place of Maryland, and Shea Cleveland of Family Resource Center South Atlantic. An advisory group of diverse family leaders drawn from the FV Network will also inform this work.
The forthcoming Family Voices United to End Racism against CYSHCN and Families project webpage will share regular updates and resources from this initiative.
Encourage confidence to act