Sherrill Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Health Care for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs) program. These centers help connect children with special health needs and their families with health care providers and specialists.
The Family-to-Family Reauthorization Act is the next pillar in Rep. Sherrill’s Protecting Our Jersey Quality of Life Agenda, a legislative package she is working on to make life easier and tackle the biggest challenges facing New Jersey families.
“I hear from families across New Jersey about the challenges they face finding high-quality, affordable health care. For families with children with complex health needs, the barriers to finding the right care are even higher. That’s why I am reintroducing legislation that would extend the authorization of the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers program, in order to ensure these critical centers can continue to help New Jersey families find and coordinate appropriate care,” said Rep. Sherrill.
“Family-to-Family Health Information Centers provide invaluable support to the families of children with special health needs. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation that reauthorizes the support system hundreds of thousands of families rely on to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, ” said Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz.
“Family Voices strongly supports and applauds Representatives Mikie Sherrill and Monica De La Cruz for their bipartisan reintroduction of legislation to reauthorize the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HIC) program,” said Allysa Ware, Executive Director of Family Voices. “F2F HICs provide critical support to families of children with disabilities and special health care needs in every state, territory, and three tribal nations. We look forward to continuing to work with congressional champions to reauthorize this critical program with increased funding so that our statewide centers can reach rural families in need, provide translation services, and help connect children with the quality of care they deserve.”
“On behalf of the millions of children and youth with special healthcare needs and their families in NJ and across the nation, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) thanks Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for introducing legislation to continue funding for the network of 59 Family to Family Health Information Centers (F2Fs). As NJ’s F2F, SPAN helps thousands of families learn about partnering with providers, accessing health coverage, and navigating complicated systems. The F2F grant has served as seed money to leverage state and foundation funding to expand our work, helping more families in every corner of our state,” said Carolyn Hayer, Executive Director, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network.
The F2F HICs program has helped families across New Jersey obtain health resources and coordinate health care providers to get care for their children. F2F HICs are staffed by highly-skilled, knowledgeable caregivers who have first-hand experience and understanding of the challenges faced by families of children with complex health needs. The uniquely qualified staff of these centers provide critical support to families caring for children with special health needs, particularly families from diverse communities.
F2F HICs provide families with the information, skills, and confidence they need to support and advocate for their children. In New Jersey, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network helps provide support to the more than 350,000 children in the state with special healthcare needs. Last year, SPAN provided more than 20,000 parents and 4,000 professionals were provided with individual assistance or training.
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