Family Advisory Council

Language toggle English

Advisory council meeting

Cook Children's Family Advisory Council (FAC) is an important example of our family-centered care philosophy. The Family Advisory Council is a partnership between families and staff who volunteer their time to make Cook Children's the best it can be. They do this by sharing ideas and perspectives and working together to ensure that our patients and families experience the highest quality health care possible.

Our belief

Parents know their child best.
Parents and family are very important members of the health care team.
When family and staff work together, sharing information and knowledge, it improves the decision-making process and care of your child.

What we do

The Family Advisory Council meets monthly/quarterly to review hospital policies, procedures, initiate suggested changes and provide general feedback. Members are referred and nominated by staff. Council members must be willing to:

Listen to and share different opinions.
Speak with candor in a group.
Use his/her family's experience constructively.
Attend meetings regularly.
Work with families whose backgrounds, experience and style may be different than their own.

Our councils include:

Cook Children's Medical Center
Heart Center
Cystic Fibrosis
Gastroenterology
Hematology and Oncology Center
Hispanic Advisory Council
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Rehabilitation Services
Surgical Services
Transitional Care Unit/Rehab Care Unit
Emergency Department
LGBTQI+
STRONG - Spina Bifida

Achievements

Our goal is to continually improve the medical center experience for all patients and families, and also for the health care providers. Some of our more recent accomplishments include:

Elevating the patient experience
Health Care Notebook
Parents as Partners program
Training and orientation of parent mentors and parent liaisons
Planning and organization of parent and staff events and support groups
Work with Cook Children's staff to develop:
- Educational information and resources for patient families.
- Parent workshops and family support groups.
- Welcome Folder for patient families.
FAC parent retreat
FCC t-shirt to increase awareness and partnership
Bedside Shift Report video that is being used as part of the nursing BSR "tool-kit"
Attendance at national workshops and presentation at national conferences
Annual family-centered care month activities, educational events for staff and families along with a recognition award ceremony.
Open-house for GI Specialty Clinic Staff
Parent and staff newsletters
Quarterly educational parent workshops
Support for parents in the NICU through "Hope Cards"
Support for parents in the Hematology/Oncology Unit through serving as parent liaisons
Consultation/advisory services to Cook Children's Medical Center staff

For more information

Please contact parents@cookchildrens.org or call 682-885-7123.