For Patients & Families | Specialty Family Advisory Councils

In addition to the hospitalwide Family Advisory Council, there are several Specialty Family Advisory Councils (SFACs) providing valuable insights through their work on projects associated with a specific diagnosis, inpatient unit, or patient population. Family Partnership Coordinators bring all of the SFACs together as a group twice a year to share ideas, celebrate accomplishments, identify partnership opportunities, and solve challenges being faced by one or more of the councils.

Below are some of the Specialty Family Advisory Councils at or associated with Boston Children's Hospital. If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out to the contact provided for each group.

Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Patient Family Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Patient and Family Advisory Committee is to gather the perspectives of patients and families on ACO operations across the Boston Children’s enterprise and to advise on matters related to ACO services, provider network issues, quality, safety, state policies, patient engagement, and patient/family concerns, issues, and experiences.

• Contacts: Amberly.Cheng@childrens.harvard.edu or Christine.Geer@childrens.harvard.edu

Autism Spectrum Center Family Advisory Council

The mission of the Autism Spectrum Center Family Advisory Council is to ensure that patients and families are at the center of decisions made at Boston Children's Hospital that affect quality of care, safety, or patient experience for children on the autism spectrum.

• Contact: matthew.snell@childrens.harvard.edu or rachel.schmitt@childrens.harvard.edu

Behavioral Health Family Advisory Council

Our mission is to ensure successful, compassionate, and supportive health care experiences for all behavioral health patients and their families. We are committed to incorporating the voice of the family as a primary vehicle for improving all aspects of care delivery.

• Contact: Jennifer.Cummings@childrens.harvard.edu

Complex Care Service (CCS) Family Advisory Council

The purpose of this FAC is to strengthen the partnership between the CCS staff and the families cared for by this service in order to make the practice more patient and family friendly.

• Contact: ccsfe@childrens.harvard.edu

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CICU) Family Advisory Council

Based on the foundation of the Boston Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council, the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CICU) Family Advisory Council was created in 2016 to welcome families’ input in order to improve care and services for every child and their family. We recognize that families are essential members of every patient’s health care team, and that they can provide unique input on their child’s needs and help optimize outcomes. The CICU Family Advisory Council is committed to supporting family centered care and improving quality by working to support communication, education, and information sharing between families and their health care providers.

• Contact: CICUFamilyAdvisoryCouncil@childrens.harvard.edu

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Advisory Council

This FAC is co-chaired by the medical director, nursing director, and a staff nurse. The unit social worker, a staff nurse "family liaison," and four to five former NICU parents also sit on the council. This group meets quarterly to discuss ongoing quality improvement and research projects and to obtain input from families in order to gain a better comprehension of the family perspective on a variety of unit topics.

• Contact: regina.pezanowaki@chidlrens.harvard.edu

Neuroscience Family Advisory Council

The purpose of this council is to bring the perspective of patients and families to projects, initiatives, and decisions related to the neurosciences. Members will draw from their experience to help identify areas for improvement and execute change. They will also act as consultants to clinical and administrative teams as they design and implement new initiatives, create new and revamp existing educational materials, and review safety and quality measures/procedures.

• View the group's webpage.

Pediatric Oncology

The Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Pediatric Patient and Family Advisory Council (PPFAC) is a group of current and former pediatric patients and caregivers who work alongside Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s staff, providers, and leadership to help shape key decisions that affect patient care and the patient experience.

• Learn more.