Family Advisory Council

In a Child-Family Centered Care environment, it is imperative that parents be integrally involved in processes throughout Children’s Hospital. That is why Children’s Hospital has a family Advisory Council to work with staff and at the strategic-planning level. Having parents serve in an advisory role allows families to have direct input and influence on policies, programs and practices affecting the delivery of care and services for children and families.

The role of a parent serving on Children’s Hospital's Family Advisory Council could include activities such as:

• Serving as a member of a Children’s Hospital committee or task force, such as the Patient Education Committee
• Telling the story about their Children’s Hospital experience during the hospital’s General Orientation and other programs for employees and medical staff
• Serving as mentors for other patient families
• Reviewing hospital audiovisual and written materials to give a parent’s perspective
• Participating in needs assessments in designated areas
• Serving as parent advocates for Children’s Hospital in any number of situations
• Participating in focus groups
• Participating at fund-raising events to tell the benefits of Children’s Hospital from a parent perspective
• Participating at conferences and meetings

Council members are asked in which areas they have an interest in serving, and, after they have been placed in a specific role, they participate in a training session to acquaint them with their new role and to learn more about Children’s Hospital.