WASHINGTON DC (May 23, 2019) — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey today introduced S1647, the Supporting Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Act. This legislation would continue federal financial support for these centers through Fiscal Year 2024.
Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this program supports family-staffed organizations in each state to assist families of children with disabilities or special health care needs. Last year, Congress provided additional funding to support the development of centers in the territories and at least one center for Indian tribes.
“Family-to-Family Health Information Resource Centers are significant resources for families trying to arrange health-services for their children with special health-care needs,” Sen Grassley said. “It’s important Congress continues to support these centers and the families they serve.”
"The Family-to-Family Health Information Resource Centers offer invaluable assistance, helping families with children who face complex challenges access-services and supports they need,” Sen Menendez said. “I’m proud to work in a bipartisan way to secure a five-year reauthorization of this important program that will help the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network continue to support thousands more families with special needs children across New Jersey.”
The Family-to-Family Information Center program was established in 2006. Funding for this program supports family-staffed and family-run centers that provide information, education, technical assistance and peer support to families of children with special health care needs and health professionals who serve such families. In addition, the centers help ensure that families and health professionals are partners in decision making at all levels of care and service delivery.
Bill text is available here.
