A Perfect Fit

By Holly Wheeler, MSc, Interim Executive Director

Two organizations that have served children with disabilities, special healthcare and education needs have come together to form a new organization for the benefit of children and families. Family Voices Indiana and About Special Kids have served families across Indiana for many years combined. On January 1, 2022, they formally joined forces to create Indiana Family to Family (INF2F), a move that strengthens and enhances the health, education, advocacy, and system-navigation resources they provide to parents, families, and professionals throughout the state.

Similar Yet Different Both Family Voices Indiana (FVI) and About Special Kids (ASK) have provided information, training, and one-on-one support statewide to families of children and youth with additional health care and educational needs, as well as the professionals who serve them for many years. This includes children who have physical, developmental, intellectual, emotional, or behavioral needs that require care and support beyond that of a typical child. Staff for both organizations was also parents of children with additional needs themselves, uniquely positioning them to help other families and professionals understand the various systems that families encounter related to caring for a child who has additional needs.

Yet, before coming together, each organization possessed its own attributes and services beyond direct parent-to-parent or family-to-family support. ASK was the sole Indiana-based member of Parent to Parent USA, which supports a national network of Parent to Parent programs to ensure access to quality emotional support for families of individuals with disabilities and/or additional health care needs.

FVI was the state affiliate of Family Voices, a national, nonprofit, family-led organization promoting quality health care for all children and youth, particularly those with special health care needs. Family Voices Indiana also served as Indiana’s federally designated Family-to-Family Health Information Center.

Together, they have continued these valued partnerships as well as the services that families and professionals have come to rely on. Many, however, have questions about how the consolidation has changed the way these services are delivered. The Q&A below provides answers:

Q. Why did ASK and FVI combine to form Indiana Family to Family? A. There are multiple reasons we chose to come together as one organization. The primary focus is on what is best for families in Indiana. A goal is to broaden our reach, our overall exposure, and make it a bit simpler for families to find us. We know some families do not know about us. We can expand our marketing to reach more families and professionals and positively affect more children and youth with special healthcare needs with a larger organization.

Q. When did the consolidation go into effect? A. FVI and ASK officially became Indiana Family to Family (INF2F) on January 1, 2022.

Q. Does INF2F answer the same kind of questions they have had in the past? A. Yes. The mission of INF2F is to provide resources and one-to-one support to families and professionals involved in the upbringing of children with complex medical conditions, mental health diagnoses, and physical/intellectual disabilities. Now that the organization is larger, we can offer even more robust information and resources.

Q. Has the primary contact information changed? A. There are slight changes to the ways families and professionals can contact us. Our phone number is 844-F2F-INFO or 844-323-4636, or you can email us at info@inf2f.org. Additional ways to connect include the “contact us” page on our website, www.inf2f.org and our multiple social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Q. Are any services no longer available to families? A. We plan to expand services, not decrease them. Currently, we offer all of the services ASK and FVI have in the past, just with more robust resources and expanded staff.

Q. Does INF2F support the professionals who serve these children and families? A. The professionals serving our children are vital to the child’s long-term success. We continue to provide technical assistance to professionals from the family perspective.

Q. Are fact sheets and other resource materials still available?

A. We are in the process of combining our resources and have no intention of eliminating any fact sheets or information. They have a new look, but the information will remain timely and accurate.

Q. Is there a charge for services? A. INF2F’s services are free of charge. There may be costs associated with training, but we work hard to keep those costs minimal.

Q. Can I still speak to my favorite staff person? A. Yes. No staff was eliminated as a result of this partnership, so it is quite likely that your favorite staff person is going to be available for you to talk to. Or you may find a new favorite!

Q. I’m only familiar with one of the organizations mentioned. What changes should I expect? A. There haven’t been many changes, so you should expect the same service you’ve always received. The goal was to maintain the best of both organizations. Therefore, you’ll likely see only enhancements to the great service you’ve already come to expect.

Q. I have an established relationship with both organizations. How might my interactions change? Stay the same? A. You should not see any change other than the addition of some services.

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