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 8, 2018)
YOUR INPUT SOUGHT NEW 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 2, 2018)
What Families, Family-based Support Organizations and EHDI Programs Want: Findings from a National Needs Assessment Thursday, August 2, 1:00-2:00 pm ET Hands & Voices™ Igniting Change from the Ground Up: Uplifting Best Practices for Community Organizing and...
THE COURTS: Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
On August 1, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), said that the committee would hold confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in September, and that a Senate confirmation vote could take place as early as October 1. See Judiciary...
THE ADMINISTRATION: Reunification of Immigrant Families (Updated) (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
July 26 was the deadline by which all immigrant children separated from their families at the southern US border were supposed to be reunited with their families pursuant to a federal court order. There are over 2500 such children but, as of July 27, only 1500...
THE ADMINISTRATION: President Signs Bill to Delay Deadline for Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) (Washington Update August 2, 2018)
On July 30 the president signed a bill (H.R. 6042; Public Law No: 115-222) that delays for one year (until January 1, 2020) the implementation of a requirement that Medicaid agencies adopt “electronic visit verification” (EVV) for personal care services provided at...
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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