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family partners

helping us go above and beyond 

four families in a rectangle grid smiling for family photos

Children and their families are at the heart of everything we do at Dayton Children’s. We recognize that families are experts in the care and understanding of their children, and that the voice of every family is important. When a family shares about their experiences in health care, we learn new ways to serve our families better.

Our family partner programs provide opportunities for families to join with us to promote family-centered care and improve safety, processes, and the patient and family experience.

who are family partners?

A family partner:

  • Represents the diverse patient and family population we serve at Dayton Children's
  • Is a parent, grandparent, or guardian (18 years old and older) whose child is or has been a patient at any Dayton Children's location in the past 12 months.
  • Is passionate about advocating for their child and others' children
  • Volunteers to share their stories, ideas and experiences to help us keep improving
  • Is essential to helping Dayton Children's continue to go above and beyond!

"While being [a family partner], I have provided insight and shared our family’s experiences with a wonderful group of caregivers and professionals. I have been delighted to see the implementation of the council’s suggestions over the years...I love being part of the Patient Family Advisory Council and having the ability to advocate for families to improve the health care system." - Synthia C

what do family partners do?

The relentless pursuit of optimal health for every child within our reach is the reason for everything we do at Dayton Children's. One of the best ways for us to help our patients and families is by including your voices and input as we make decisions!

Family partners can provide feedback on hospital-wide topics through our e-advisory group, our patient and family advisory council, hospital committees (including safety initiatives and reviewing documents), and the parents encouraging parents mentoring program.

Family partners and patients have impacted all areas of Dayton Children's. Below are some examples:

  • Free parking
  • Increased and improved handicap parking
  • Improved handicap accessible bathrooms
  • Adult lift changing tables in bathrooms
  • Baby changing stations in men's bathrooms
  • G-tube decision pathway
  • Input on "preparing for surgery" video
  • Providing two complimentary meals per day to all inpatient rooms
  • Design input on specialty care center
  • Input on MyKidsChart improvements
  • Improved IBD patient binder
  • Ongoing input on wayfinding improvements

"In the past 9 years, we have spent a lot of time at Dayton Children’s. We have overwhelmingly had great experiences but when we have seen opportunities for improvement, we didn’t know how to effectively share that feedback to bring about change. Being part of the PFAC has allowed for us to use our experiences to improve Dayton Children’s for future patients/families." - Trisha R

E-Advisory

E-advisors share feedback, opinions, and suggestions with minimal time commitment, from the comfort of their own home. As an e-advisor, members:

  • Share insights and feedback through email and/or text surveys
  • Participate at a time that is convenient for you
  • Represent the wide diversity of the patients and families we serve

Who can be an e-advisor?

  • Must be 16 years old or older (under 18 requires guardian permission)
  • Must be a current patient or family and have received care within the last 12 months at any Dayton Children’s location

Time commitment

  • Email/text surveys are usually sent 1 or 2 times per month.
  • Most surveys take between two to ten minutes to complete
  • E-advisors are usually given between 1 to 2 weeks to respond to a survey with feedback.

apply to be an e-advisor today

Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC)

The Dayton Children’s Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) helps us enhance care and improve health outcomes by creating a genuine partnership between patients and families, clinical teams and leadership. PFAC was created in 2012 to bring families in as partners in our efforts to provide exceptional care and experience. Family members are essential members of a child’s health team - When we partner with you, we stay true to the mission, vision and values of Dayton Children’s and are able to go above and beyond.

What does the PFAC do?

The PFAC offers direct input on safety and hospital initiatives, quality improvement projects, process improvements, policies, procedures, new spaces and buildings, and identifies and drives projects that are important to PFAC members. Family partners also provide representation on various hospital committees.

Time commitment

The PFAC meets the third Wednesday of each month, both virtually and in-person, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Meetings are held August through May, with December off for the holidays. In addition, PFAC members are asked to respond to short surveys (2-10 minutes) 1 to 2 times per month by text/email. All PFAC members are asked to complete volunteer services onboarding and family partner training. Further details are provided by the family partnership coordinator.

apply to join PFAC today

Parents Encouraging Parents

Dayton Children’s understands when you have a child with a chronic health condition or have received a new life changing diagnosis you may feel alone and wished you could talk to another parent/caregiver who has been through a similar experience. The parents encouraging parents program is a network of experienced and trained parents/caregivers who have been through similar experiences.

Time commitment

Time can vary. Our parents encouraging parent mentors work with each mentee to determine the frequency and length of contact. Volunteer service onboarding, family partner training, and parents encouraging parents mentor training is required.

apply to join Parents Encouraging Parents today

to learn more about becoming a family partner

If you interested in learning more about the family partner program or would like to become a volunteer family partner, fill out the forms above or contact Teresa Prouty, our family partnership coordinator, at familypartners@childrensdayton.org or 937-641-5904.

PFAC families share what mattered to them in becoming a family partner!

"I became a PFAC member because when I was told about it, I was so excited to use my voice to speak up for my family and other families like my own who may not have the confidence to do so or know how." - Grace C

"In the past 9 years, we have spent a lot of time at Dayton Children’s. We have overwhelmingly had great experiences, but when we have seen opportunities for improvement, we didn’t know how to effectively share that feedback to bring about change. Being part of the PFAC has allowed for us to use our experiences to improve Dayton Children’s for future patients/families." - Trisha R

"Joining the PFAC seemed like an opportunity to learn more about the services offered at the hospital and how to navigate some of my families more complex needs, as well as help the families I work with on a day to day basis in my job." - Lindsey R

"While being a part of the PFAC, I have the opportunity to provide insight and share our family’s experiences with a wonderful group of caregivers and professionals. I have been delighted to see the implementation of the council’s suggestions over the years, and love watching the growth of staff and facilities to better serve the needs of the Dayton community. I love being part of the PFAC and the ability to advocate for families to improve the health care system." - Synthia C

contact our family partnership coordinator

for more information about our family partner programs send an email to
familypartners@
childrensdayton.org