Public Policy
Policy Priorities to Support Children with Special Health Care Needs and Disabilities and Their Families
Our Strategic Policy Priorities
Children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities, and their families, face systemic barriers and biases that impede their ability to experience their best possible lives. Systems of care do not respond to their needs holistically or facilitate access to supports that enhance their quality of life.
To make the most impact, we focus our policy actions across all levels of government – federal, state, and local. We work with our family and organizational partners to lean on the various levers of policy change through education and advocacy.
Our current policy agenda includes:
- Expand access to peer-to-peer support for families of children and youth with special health care needs
- Support and expand Medicaid coverage for children and youth with special health care needs and their families and caregivers
- Improve the transition to adult health care for youth and young adults with disabilities and their caregivers and families
- Eliminate language access barriers
Family Voices collaborates with national child health and disability organizations, such as the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, The Arc, Autism Speaks, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other groups.
Recent Policy Briefs
Recent Policy-Related News
ACTION NEEDED ON PANDEMIC RELIEF!
A national call-in day has been organized by the Coalition on Human Needs and other organizations. Please read below and take action TODAY. COVID-19 Senate Call-In Day – TODAY (Wed.) At the moment, Congress seems unlikely to provide additional relief to those...
Announcing: Family Voices United to End Racism against CYSHCN and Families
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...
Washington Update, August 7, 2020
The capital city is focused right now on reaching an agreement on the next bill to address the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Should legislation get enacted, it is expected to be the last COVID bill before the election. Congressional...
Washington Update, July 22, 2020
The name of the game on Capitol Hill is still the next COVID bill, which is being negotiated now that Congress is back from recess (having returned on Monday, July 20). It is expected that legislation will be enacted before Congress adjourns in two or three weeks for...
Washington Update, July 2, 2020
From July 3 until July 20, both the House and Senate will be in recess, which presents a good time to educate your Members of Congress about the pandemic-related challenges facing families of children and youth with special health care needs, the health care providers...
Legislation
The legislation tracked below is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be an endorsement for or against the legislation. Action updates may occur daily, if actions are taken by Congress. Newly introduced legislation will be added weekly.
The legislative tracker is sorted by latest action. To navigate this page, you can scroll through just as you would a normal webpage. You can also click Ctrl+F on your keyboard and type in the search box.
For additional information and to read the full text (if available), click the highlighted bill number. You can also navigate to Congress.gov and search using key terms or phrases, or the bill numbers listed below.
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