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
Your Input Sought/Of Possible Interest (Washington Update, August 22, 2018)
YOUR INPUT SOUGHT Indian Health Service Seeks Comments on Draft Strategic Plan Comments due August 23. As described in a Federal Register Notice, The Indian Health Service (IHS) is developing an agency-wide Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2018-2022, and is seeking...
Upcoming Webinars from the Field (Washington Update, August 8, 2018)
NEW HRSA Grants Education & Technical Assistance WEBINAR SERIES for Tribes, Tribal Organizations, Indian Health, Tribal and Urban Indian Health Programs Wednesday, August 8, 1:00-2:30 pm ET – Preparing a Budget for Your Grant Proposal Wednesday, Sept. 12,...
The Courts: Four Major Cities Sue the Administration about ACA Implementation (Washington Update, August 8, 2018)
On August 1, the cities of Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio, filed suit in a federal district court in Baltimore. See Four U.S. Cities Sue over Trump “Sabotage” of Obamacare (Reuters, 8/2/18). The plaintiffs allege that the administration has taken...
Congress: Bill Introduced for Paid Parental Leave to Be Paid Back from Future Social Security Retirement Benefits (Washington Update, August 8, 2018)
On August 1, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Economic Security for New Parents Act (S.3345). The bill would give parents the option to take paid parental leave for up to 12 weeks, for a total of 24 weeks per couple, for each child who has been born or...
Medicaid/CHIP News, Information, and Resources (Washington Update, August 8, 2018)
Medicaid Waivers Pending Medicaid waiver proposals (updated) Kentucky Waiver – Open for Public Comment Again – due Aug. 18 As reported in the July 3 Washington Update (under “Courts”), a federal court vacated the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approval...
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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