Family Voices is a national, grassroots clearinghouse for information and education concerning the health care of children with special health needs. Together, they share the expertise and experiences of families from around the country with state and national policymakers, the media, health professionals, and other families. Families with children who have special needs and professionals who work with them have an expert understanding of what works and what doesn't work within current health care systems. Health systems built upon a set of tested principles and practices that flow from this expertise can improve the health status of all children and families.
Families are the core of any health system .
All families, including those who have children with special health needs, are the primarily caregivers and educators for their children. They should be respected and valued for their expertise and commitment to their children. Universal access . Whether public or private, a health care system must provide effective, flexible services that are guided by medical and family needs, rather than by the policies of standard medical insurance practices or government bureaucracies. Comprehensive, coordinated, community-based care .