Webinar – “The Best Kept Secret – Programs and Policies Across States to Support Accessible Homes for Children with Disabilities”

Gain insight into how different states help support accessible housing for children with complex needs and their families, as well as strategies for helping families access supports, in this free webinar

The Lucille Packard Foundation for Children’s Health will host “The Best Kept Secret – Programs and Policies Across States to Support Accessible Homes for Children with Disabilities” on Sept. 29 from 1 to 2 p.m. This is part two of a two-part series on home accessibility for children with disabilities and complex health needs.

This series provides insight into how different states help support accessible housing for children with complex needs and their families. The information comes from a foundation-funded study that included interviews with over 60 experts across 10 states.

A panel of experts, including those with lived experience, will discuss:

• Examples of home modification resources available across the United States
• How they are structured within different systems
• Strategies for helping families identify and access these supports

Callie Kaplan, Senior Research Scientist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, will host this discussion with panelists:

• Dr. Carolyn Foster, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and an attending physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago in primary and complex care. She is also a primary investigator of the Foster Health Lab and directs Lurie Children’s Stanley Manne Research Institute’s Health@Home Initiative. Dr. Foster is also chair of the Division of Specialized Care for Children’s Medical Advisory Board.
• Lori Berrong, ATACP, MEd, MFA, is the Executive Director of the Assistive Technology Program of the Maryland Department of Disabilities. With more than 20 years in the disability and assistive technology field, Lori Berrong brings extensive experience in policy, government program leadership and direct Assistive Technology service delivery.
• Dr. Molly Hofmann, APRN, DNP, provides leadership for four statewide care coordination programs and oversees the Title V systems of care initiatives for which the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) is responsible as Illinois’ Title V program for children and youth with special healthcare needs. She is committed to strengthening systems of care that improve health outcomes and enhance the experiences of children and families across Illinois.
• Dr. Rebecca Seltzer, MD, MHS, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Division of General Pediatrics, with joint faculty appointments at the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Her academic work focuses on optimizing the care and well-being of children with medical complexity and disabilities. She is a primary care pediatrician at the Johns Hopkins Harriet Lane Clinic. Dr. Seltzer is an Associate Program Director within the Johns Hopkins Pediatric residency program and co-directs the Health Equity and Advocacy pathway.
• Tami Allen is the Co-Executive Director for Families Together Inc., the Kansas Parent Training and Information Center and Project Director for the Family-to-Family Health Center. She has had over 35 years of experience working with Families Together as a voice for children and youth with special health care needs. Tami’s son Skylar is a young adult with special health care needs, including cerebral palsy.

Discussion topics will include:

• Examples of home modification resources available across the United States
• How they are structured within different systems
• Strategies for helping families identify and access these supports
• Why these resources remain under-recognized and what can be done to connect families to support intended for them
• Where gaps persist

A question-and-answer session with the audience will follow the panel discussion.

The webinar is free. Self-advocates, families and professionals are welcome to attend.

Register for “The Best Kept Secret – Programs and Policies Across States to Support Accessible Homes for Children with Disabilities” on Zoom and learn more about the panelists.