Guidelines for Establishing Family Advisory Boards

2008

Increasingly, families of individuals with special health care needs and developmental disabilities roles as advisors to the organizations and agencies from whom they receive supports and services are being recognized and promoted. Advisory boards or committees of these organizations may have varying compositions, based on the type and structure of training programs. Memberships can be composed exclusively of family members or individual constituents, or the individuals and family members may serve as part of a broader community advisory committee or board reflecting and representing the diversity of its constituencies. The process of recruiting, training, and supporting all advisory board members should reflect individual needs, strengths, and preferences in order to maximize each members ability to participate and contribute in a full and meaningful way. Values, guidelines, recommendations for advisory board member recruitment, and logistics and practicalities were developed by the Family-Centered and Family-Directed Practice Workgroup to help training programs establish family advisory boards. This publication will be posted on the MCHB Training Website.

Reports and monographs

Consumers/Families, Professionals, Students

N/A