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Children's Hospital Association Family Advocacy Day stresses the importance of children’s hospitals
2019 Family Advocacy Day
In June, nine-year-old Derell and his mom Etta, from from Milwaukee, Wisc., represented Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Washington, D.C. in meetings with members of Congress as part of the annual Children's Hospital Association's Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day. Derell was having trouble staying focused in school, fidgeting and talking out of turn. He started to show signs of depression as a result of his struggles in school and struggles with his peers. When Children's opened the Midtown Clinic close to their home, Etta brought Derell in and they began participating in the Integrated Behavioral Health Program which brings behavioral health therapists and pediatric psychologists into the primary care setting. Derell was able to open up and work on coping skills and strategies to manage his behaviors and feelings. His behavior transformed rapidly, his grades improved and he was getting along with other kids. Learn more about their trip to Washington, D.C. and more about his care. PS: check out the photo of Derell and Etta meeting with their member of Congress - Congresswoman Moore!
2018 Family Advocacy Day
In June, the Johnson Family from Kenosha, Wisc. represented Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Washington, D.C. in meetings with members of Congress as part of the national Children's Hospital Association's Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day. Gabe, 13, and his twin brother Jed, were born in 2005. At seven days old, Gabe was diagnosed with major congenital heart defects and had open heart surgery two days later. As he grew, he encountered other medical conditions and continues to be seen by many specialists at Children's. Learn more about Gabe's story and why speaking up for kids and meeting with their lawmakers is important to Gabe and his family.
2017 Family Advocacy Day
Molly and Matt Warpinski, along with their children Claire and Steve from Denmark, Wisc., represented Children's in Washington, D.C. in meetings with members of Congress as part of Children Hospital Association’s Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day. Over 45 other children attended the event, representing 28 children's hospitals across the country.
When Molly was 20 weeks pregnant, she and Matt discovered that their son Steve would be born with univentricular heart disease – a complex form of congenital heart disease. In order to survive, Steve had open-heart surgery at just 9 days old, and went on to have two other open-heart surgeries within his first three years of life. Through many appointments, procedures and medications, Dr. Raymond Fedderly and the cardiac team at Children's have given great care to Steve. Take a moment to list to their story and learn more.
The Warpinskis met with Senator Ron Johnson, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Congressman Ron Kind, Congressman Glenn Grothman, and Congressman Mike Gallagher to discuss the importance of the Medicaid program to their family and Steve's care.
Molly and Matt shared Steve's story and urged lawmakers to protect Medicaid, which is the single largest insurer for kids in the United States. Approximately, 54 percent of patients at Children's are insured by Medicaid.
Patients and their families are our strongest advocates when it comes to educating policymakers about the impact of public policies on children's health and why it is important that the pediatric community has a voice in health policy discussions.
If you would like to share why Medicaid coverage is important to your child, please email us at advocacy@chw.org!