Our new MCH Bridges podcast episode addresses the critical importance of planning for and responding to the needs of women, children, and families, particularly those requiring complex care, during public health emergencies. The efforts described in this episode reflect the panelists' personal and professional experiences advocating for and implementing a state-level policy change to do just this. 

Tune in now to this detailed discussion about what it takes to implement a policy change aimed at ensuring that children with the most complex health care needs are less vulnerable to the impact of natural disasters and other emergencies. This example demonstrates how family advocates and staff from multiple state agencies partnered to create an amendment for the Medically Fragile Technology Dependent Medicaid Waiver that enabled critical power generators to be purchased with the use of waiver service funds.  

This episode is a part of AMCHP’s Building Resilience from Lived Experience anthology.

Resources

• Building Resilience from Lived Experience: AMCHP’s Collection of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Stories  
• Home Generator Information for MFTD Waiver Families (University of Illinois Chicago's DSCC) 
• Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Checklist for Maternal and Infant Health (AMCHP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)   
• Prepared4ALL: Whole Community Inclusive Emergency Planning (Association of University Centers on Disabilities) 
• Find a Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F) or Family Voices Affiliate Organization (FVAO) 
• Parent to Parent USA