Vermont Family Network

Programs: Vermont family network (vfn) empowers and supports all vermont families of children with special needs. Vfn is the federally designated family to family health information center and the parent training and information center for vermont, as well as the state's parent to parent and family voices organization. Vfn provides support, information, and training as well as leadership opportunities for families throughout vermont. The organization provides professional development opportunities for its education, human services, and medical community partners, as well, utilizing the expertise of 60 skilled staff, many of whom are themselves parents of children with special needs. Their personal experience uniquely (continued on schedule o) qualifies these staff to effectively support and inform the families who contact vermont family network for help. Vermont family network is a hub of information, referral and assistance services located in williston, and community-based regional family support consultants in newport, rutland, and franklin/grand isle. Vfn strives to educate families about their rights and their resources, and to assist professionals in understanding and fully engaging families as partners in every child's success. Examples of vfn's efforts include: - vermont family network's children's integrated services early intervention(cis-ei) program served 544 children in chittenden county. Cis-ei saw a 40% increase in referrals over the last five years. -vfn's statewide family support staff served 1,508 families through 4,386 contacts this year, a 30% increase over the number of families served in the previous year. Family support also served 325 professionals who serve families of children with diabilities and/or special health needs. - 40 workshops were conducted and 16 webinars were offered (also recorded for 24/7 access on the website). Family faculty trained 918 graduate and undergraduate medical students using 62 unique parent volunteers. Across the three areas of acheivement, high rates of satisfaction were documented. Leveraging strong community collaborations statewide, vfn makes a measurable difference for children who have a chronic illness or disability, their families, and the professionals who serve them.