Arc Action Alert on Family to Family Program

The Arc is fighting to extend federal funding for Family-to-Family (F2F) Health Information
Centers which we now operate here in Illinois. Our current funding ends on May 31, 2014.

Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Pallone have introduced bills to extend F2F
funding.

Two Representatives from Illinois serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee,
Health Sub-Committee, and we need you to contact their health legislative aides now.

Important negotiations are currently underway, and action on the legislation is expected soon,
so the TIME to ACT is NOW!  Please spend 10 minutes TODAY to guarantee F2F funding!

Here is their contact information:

Jan Schakowsky (D-IL): Waverly.Gordon@mail.house.gov
202-225-2111     Health Sub-Committee Member

John Shimkus (R-IL):       Chris.Sarley@mail.house.gov
202-225-5271     Health Sub-Committee Member

Here is a sample message for you to share:

I am writing/calling  to ask that the Representative to become a cosponsor H.R. 564,
sponsored by Representative Pallone, to reauthorize funding for Family-to-Family Health
Information Centers (F2F HICs).

Authorization for the program must be extended, or the centers — including the one in Illinois
— will have to close their doors or drastically reduce services by the end of May 2014.

As you may know, F2F HICs are statewide, parent-run information and referral centers that
provide families with information about how to obtain and finance health care for their children/
youth with special health care needs, such as disabilities and chronic medical conditions.
There is a center in every state and the District of Columbia, each of which receives a federal
grant of $95,700 per year.

About one in five families in Illinois have a child with a special need – either a physical disability,
such as cerebral palsy; a developmental, intellectual or emotional disability, such as autism,
Down syndrome or mental illness; or a chronic health condition, such as sickle cell anemia or
epilepsy.
Through their work to promote access to family-centered care for these children, F2F HICs are
making valuable contributions to improving the cost-effectiveness and quality of health care.

Over the past eight years, The Arc of Illinois F2F HIC in has helped thousands of families in
many ways — especially to access services for their children.
Our F2F HIC is run by trained family members who have themselves had to navigate the maze
of programs needed to ensure that our children receive the services they need.

The F2F HIC funding bill would extend funding for F2F HICs at the current level of $5 million
per year through FY 2016.
It has been referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.
A possible vehicle for an extension of F2F funding is the Medicare physician payment bill
that is now being considered in Congress.

Again, I would greatly appreciate it if the Representative would cosponsor H.R. 564, and/or
express support for the F2F program to committee leadership.  The contact in Mr. Pallone’s
office is Tiffany Guarascio at 225-4671.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  I can be reached at this email address:fayemanaster@gmail.com or 847-922-2174.

Thank you for your time.
Feel free to forward this e-mail and link to families and other partners in our state.

.

Tony Paulauski
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org