NM F2FHIC
(New Mexico Family to Family Health Information Center)
Parents Reaching Out serves communities as the New Mexico Family to Family Health Information Center through a recently awarded grant from the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Previous grants from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) helped us build a strong foundation for improving health access in our state. We offer tools and resources to families that build their capacity to understand the health care system and make informed choices to access quality health care services that best meet their needs.
It is our goal to help families understand their rights and become informed about:
- Health Care insurance
- Managed care providers
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Home Community Based Waiver options
- Developmental Disabilities Waiver
- Medically Fragile Waiver
- Disabled & Elderly Waiver
- Mi Via
We also provide training and consultation for health care professionals to promote family involvement and informed decision making in health care issues. The Family to Family Health Information Center brings the family perspective to policy discussions through our work with local, state and national advisory boards of agencies and services providers.
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Learning Opportunities
We offer a variety of workshops and training experiences designed for families, educators and community members. Please contact us, if you would like to set up a workshop in your area.
- PROspective 101-Parents and professionals are invited to discover the resources, support and advocacy tools offered by Parents Reaching Out.
- Coping with Stress and Navigating the Health Care Systems- Tips to reduce stress for families facing the daily challenges of special health conditions. Tools that help families navigate the health care system. Learn about your rights and the eligibility process Medicaid, SSI, Salud, and home-community waiver programs.
- Medicaid Resources- Learn about Medicaid resources and how they apply to your child. Find out if your child may qualify for Medicaid though Income Support Division or through one of the Home and Community Based Waivers. Learn about optional and mandatory services provided through Medicaid.
- Medicaid 101-Parents and professionals learn about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, services offered, application/eligibility/appeal processes. Find out about Medicaid changes at local and national levels.
- Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) Application Process- Learn important tips to apply for the Development Disabilities Waiver and the information that you will need to provide to the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division. Other waiver programs are also covered.
- How to Apply for Home and Community Based Waiver Services- Learn about eligibility and how to apply for New Mexico's Home and Community Based Service Waivers (Development Disabilities waiver, Medically Fragile Waiver & the Disabled & Elderly Waiver).
- Helping Systems Change - Community Based Advocacy - Learn how you can take action to influence decision-makers, the media and the public on behalf of children with special healthcare needs. Tools to identify the issues, develop a message, write letters and other effective action strategies.
- Adolescent Healthcare Transition - Learn health and medical planning tips that will prepare teens to maintain their own health.
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Family Leadership Action Network
Do you have a child with special health care needs?
Do you have experience navigating the health care system?
Would you like to help families like yours meet their child's needs and their own?
We invite you to join our Family Leadership Action Network (FLAN) as a Health Information Parent Specialist. This group of caring volunteers provides support and information about critical health care resources for children with special health care needs in their community. You will receive training and resources from Parents Reaching Out as you join others who are helping to continue a proud tradition of families helping families through our Parent to Parent network.
Health Information Parent Specialists help families in many ways. We invite you volunteer in a way that would work best for you.
- Support families either through phone calls or personal meetings. Share your knowledge on health care resources or medical issues with others.
- Participate in phone trees and contacts with policy-makers in your community during critical times during the year when health care and Medicaid resources may be in jeopardy.
- Share your personal testimony at hearings during the Legislative session to support health care services and Waiver services affecting your child.
- Present or assist with workshops on health care services to support families in your community. Training and mentoring is provided.
If you have any questions or would like to become a Health Information Parent Specialist contact Parents Reaching Out at 1-800-524-5176 or e-mail: nmffhic@parentsreachingout.org
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NM F2FHIC Publications
Parents Reaching Out offers a variety of materials as outreach tools as we connect with communities across New Mexico. Our publications are designed to provide information and resources that build informed decisions as families work with systems to create successful opportunities for children and young adults. We invite you to browse through our Publications and Fact Sheets page for topics that cover early intervention, education, special education, health care access and systems change.
Our Health Care Access publications and Family Health Care Tip Sheets cover topics including: Medicaid, SSI, DD Waiver, Preparing Your Child for a Doctor's Visit and much more. We use family friendly language to help unlock the mysteries of complex topics. Many of our publications can be downloaded from the publications link on our web site and are available in English and Spanish.
In addition to the publications that can be downloaded from our web site, you can obtain copies of the following materials by contacting the Family to Family Health Information Center or our Resource Center.
- Guidebook to Supplemental Security Income What is SSI? Who can get SSI? How can SSI Help? How do I apply? What can I do if I am denied? (English and Spanish Versions)
- Step by Step Guide to New Mexico's Health Care Services for Children What is Medicaid? Can my child receive Medicaid? What is a Medicaid Waiver? Who is eligible for Medicaid Waivers? (English and Spanish Versions)
- Navigating Medicare & Medicaid, 2005, A Resource Guide for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates (#7240, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, February 2005) Who is eligible? Which groups of people are required to be covered? How do I find out if I am eligible? What benefits and services does Medicaid Provide? (English Version)
- EPSDT: Supporting Children with Disabilities (National Center for Family Support Human Services Research Institute) What is EPSDT? What does it stand for? How are EPSDT services delivered? Who is eligible for EPSDT? (English Version)
- Fitting the Pieces Together: How to Applying for the Developmental Disabilities Waiver How do I apply? Where do I apply? What services are available? Who is eligible? (English version)
Meet the F2FHIC Advisory
Each project at Parents Reaching Out has an advisory committee made up of stakeholders who provide guidance and promote the goals of the project.
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Contact NM F2FHIC: nmffhic@parentsreachingout.org
