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A Note From the Director’s Desk…
Dear Families and Education Advocates:
The staff at Families Together, Inc. wishes you each a very happy holiday season as we celebrate so many traditions. Those traditions keep us grounded in what is important with family leading the list!
In order to continue to provide you and others with quality services, Families Together, Inc. is working hard to find additional funders. Some foundations and corporations are particularly interested in supporting organizations that have meaning to their employees. Therefore, Families Together, Inc. will be requesting that participants in our events give us the name of their employer. Then we can go to "Corporation XYZ" or “Foundation ABC", and say, "We have served 25 of your employees in 2007. Could you support Families Together, Inc. as they enable these families to get more appropriate services for their son or daughter with disabilities?" We will NEVER refer to individual employees unless we have your specific permission to do so. Would you mind sending that information to the Center nearest to you, by email or on a note? Thanks in advance for helping us to serve you better.
Wilma Andrews has written a darling children’s book (see info in this newsletter). She has graciously decided to give all of the proceeds from the sale of the book to Families Together, Inc. You can order it from our website or by sending $22 to Families Together, Inc., 3033 W. Second, Suite 106, Wichita, KS 67203. Wilma will also be at each of the statewide conferences to autograph this sweet book for your favorite child. Thank you, Wilma, for this generous gift!
Merry Christmas,
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Special Heath Services Family Advisory Council
The Title V Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs Program (CSHCN), administered through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment has a Family Advisory Council facilitated in conjunction with Families Together. The Council is organized to provide parent perspectives on issues for the program and review their program policies and procedures as requested. Council membership opportunities are available. Stipends are available for participating members. If you are interested in volunteering to serve as an advisory member or would like more information, please contact Susan Arnold at the Families Together office in Topeka, 1-800-264-6343, or 785-233-4777. |
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Family Voices Bright Futures for Families Submitted by Susan Arnold, Topeka Center
Bright Futures for Families is a resource for families to provide current information and resources on child health matters, including children with special health care needs. The current edition of Bright Futures: Family Matters provides information on a new federal law which mandates schools create a School Wellness Policy. This policy was to be in place by the 2006-2007 school year. [This is especially important to parents of students with special health care needs/disabilities to be aware of the School Wellness Councils to provide guidance on including students with special health needs in the activities and benefit from the policies.] Examples of how to address various activity needs of students with special health needs and other parent information can be reviewed at www.mchlibrary.info/knowledgepath/kp_CSHCN.html
Another item of interest on the Bright Futures website (http://www.brightfuturesforfamilies.org/pdf/Fall2007SpecialEdit ion.pdf ) is a special, one-page edition of Fall Offerings. New resources are highlighted which provide good information about coordinated efforts of parents and health professionals for children wellness and health care.
(Excerpts from the Family Matters website) |
