- Medical Education Program Assists Children With Chronic Illness; Disabilities - ST. LOUIS, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare announced today that it has awarded a $30,000 grant to Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P) to support its Medical Education Program (MEP). Texas Parent to Parent is a statewide non-profit organization based in Austin, TX, that is dedicated to empowering families of children with disabilities, chronic illness or other health care needs to be strong advocates through parent to parent support, resource referral and education, and by educating professionals about the unique needs of these children. Advances in medicine and technology mean that a growing population of children with disabilities, chronic illness, or other special health care needs are living at home and actively participating in their communities. The MEP works with pediatric and family practice residents, as well as other medical professionals, to widen their perspective of the needs of these children from hospital and office to the home and community. Family visits, conducted in the home of a family, enhance the physician's understanding of the impact of a child with a chronic illness or developmental disability on family dynamics, thereby building mutual respect and enhancing parent-professional collaboration. "Many parents with children that have chronic illness or developmental disabilities can become overwhelmed with the medical decisions they are asked to make," said Kathy Bradley-Wells, president, Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare. "The Medical Education Program offered by Texas Parent to Parent strengthens the level of understanding so needed between parents and physicians. An enhanced relationship built on mutual trust increases the opportunities for parents to make well-informed decisions and to seek help if they have issue with their child's care." "Our Medical Education Program provides pediatric and family practice residents and other medical professionals a comprehensive understanding of life with a child with chronic illness or disabilities," said Laura J. Warren, executive director, Texas Parent to Parent. "The residents spend time with our families and gain first-hand experience with issues parents face in caring for their child. The family visit enhances the residents' understanding of the global impact of a child with special health care needs on the family and their community. Through the one-on-one time spent together, the residents and parent volunteers learn the benefits of a partnership between the physician and the family in caring for our children." About Texas Parent to Parent A committed group of parents and professionals, drawing on their experiences in child and family service organizations and their knowledge of parent-to-parent support, formed Texas Parent to Parent in 2001. Texas Parent to Parent empowers families of children with disabilities, chronic illness or other health care needs to be strong advocates through parent to parent support, resource referral and education, and by educating professionals about the unique needs of these children. The talents and expertise of families are used in virtually every aspect of Texas Parent to Parent, from staff and board members to parent peer support and speakers at trainings and conferences. For additional information, please visit http://www.txp2p.org/. About The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare is a non-profit private foundation dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare in the United States. The Foundation serves as a resource to identify and support innovative approaches to improving and increasing the quality of and access to healthcare for low-income individuals and families. This is accomplished through an inspired philanthropic giving plan that seeks to promote efforts and activities that identify and address core causes of unequal access and treatment in healthcare. For additional information, please visit http://www.centenefoundation.org/. DATASOURCE: Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare CONTACT: Sandy McBride, Director, Corporate Communications, or Mary Deverman, Manager, Community Relations, both of Centene Foundation for Quality, +1-314-725-4477 Web site: http://www.txp2p.org/ http://www.centenefoundation.org/

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