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Parents as Advocates
Years ago, Children’s Special Health Care Services established an Advisory Committee made up of parents of children who get CSHCS services, professionals who serve them, and people who are advocates for children with special health needs. It advises CSHCS about its activities.
The Advisory Committee recently discussed the fact that, as a result of term limits, very few legislators even know what CSHCS is, much less how critical its services are to families. Given severely increasing cuts to government and competition for scarce revenues a group felt that action needs to be taken to assure the future of this and other key programs.
It is critical, given the effects of term limits, that parents and families of children who depend on state and federal services create and maintain the capacity to communicate effectively with policy makers at all levels. Parents whose children receive services from CSHCS and other programs need to be identified, recruited and empowered to take on this advocacy work. The Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, partnering with other interested groups, is willing to develop supports for parents about being effective advocates for their children and the programs that serve them.
Because Advocacy can be confused with Lobbying, it is important that the work of parents in politically supporting publicly funded programs be kept distinct from the roles of parents as members of formal advisory bodies.
If you are interested in advocacy on behalf of vulnerable kids, contact Linda Potter. You can reach her at 800-828-2714 or by email at potter@ucpmichigan.org.
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