Family Voices Colorado

Background Statement

Family Voices Colorado (FVCO) is grassroots, not-for-profit organization with a deep connection to Colorado families who are navigating complex medical systems for their children.

• In 2002, FVCO moved from under CP Colorado (now Ability Connect) for greater autonomy.

• FVCO developed its legs to become a thriving organization, involved in many issues throughout CO related to children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), including successfully working to obtain the largest increase in HCBS (Medicaid) waivers for CYSHCN (630 slots) onto two children' s waivers through the tobacco tax.

• In 2019, FVCO gained the stellar leadership of Christy Blakely.

• In January 2020, applied for 501(c)3. Received in July 2020.

• In 2022 FVCO, with a staff of five people, provided family navigation to over 400 families. And, through social media and other policy meetings, we have touched over 3,500 families. FVCO listens to the challenges from the family perspective, tracking trends, then creates systems change. In 2020-22 FVCO hosted a pilot for children with deaf blindness to experience their community through the use of Interveners, serving 15 families. In 2023 FVCO ran House Bill 23-1067, which passed and will create a permanent intervener program in the State of Colorado.

2023-2024 has seen huge growth for FVCO.

In 2023 under the direction of Megan Bowser as the Executive Director, FVCO increased the number of families served by over 50%.

2024 brought so much growth that the organization doubled the number of staff members. Over 1,600 individuals were helped in direct ways that included navigating changes to the Medicaid waivers post-covid.

With extensive changes scheduled to happen to the Colorado waivers in 2025, FVCO is taking steps to be prepared to meet the demand for need.