Stories and Conversations
Introduction
Sometimes it's helpful to hear directly from families and health care providers about their personal experiences with medical homes or meeting special needs. The stories below focus on medical homes, being a parent or family member with a child or youth with special health care needs, or being a youth with special health care needs transitioning into adult life, including adult health care services.
Medical Homes
Families
Youth
Medical Homes
Why I Appreciate My Children's Medical Home
by Kate Orville, Parent and Co-Director, Medical Home Leadership Network
A parent talks about her children's medical home and what the physicians and office staff do to make the relationship a rewarding one for the family.
www.medicalhome.org/families/stories_convers_orville.cfm
Medical Home Team Member: Ashley Peterson
Read about how one mom became a parent advisor for her child's medical home and how the clinic used family feedback to become more family-centered. This story is from the Institute for Family-Centered Care's "Profiles of Patient and Family Advisors and Leaders" series.
www.familycenteredcare.org/advance/pafam-medical.html
Medical Homes Aren't Just for Kids
While the concept of the medical home was first promoted by pediatricians for children, family physicians are promoting the concept for patients of all ages. Article from the American Academy of Family Physicians with brief interview with rural Washington State Family Physician Leslie Waters.
www.aafp.org/fpr/20040500/1.html
Families
You Are An Advocate for Your Child with Special Health Care Needs!
A one-pager, written from one parent to another, on tips for being the best advocate for your child with special health care needs. From Family Voices.
www.familyvoices.org/Information/YouAreAnAdvocate.pdf 
Profiles in Improvement: Beverley Johnson, Institute for Family-Centered
Care
Read or listen to an interview with Beverley Johnson, President of the Institute for Family Centered Care about the importance of family-centered care and her thoughts on how to get there. From the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Stories from Dads in Washington State
The Washington State Fathers Network has collected some wonderful stories from dads who have children with special health care needs. "The men unabashedly share with us their tears and depression, fears and pain, and ultimately the love, care and understanding gained through the extraordinary relationships they have with their children."
www.fathersnetwork.org/692.html
The Dance of Care for the Disabled
Seattle Times Newspaper article about the health care experiences of two Puget Sound area families who have children with special needs and how training programs for health care professionals at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital are working to strengthen the relationship between families, doctors and other health care providers. Article also includes tips for families for finding a doctor who is right for your child and how to make visits productive.
www.fathersnetwork.org/979.html
Youth
Adolescent Transition Stories from Youth and Young Adults
Youth and young adults with special health care needs and disabilities from across Washington share their stories of how they have successfully transitioned or are transitioning from the adolescent world to adult life including health, postsecondary education, work and independence. From the Adolescent Health Transition Project.
www.depts.washington.edu/healthtr/story/default.html
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