Pediatric Family Advisory Council

The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Pediatric Family Advisory Council is a group of dedicated parents and families who have firsthand experience with hospital stays and illness. We have come together to make that experience as comfortable and worry-free as possible for other children and families.

We are families helping families. Addressing outstanding family needs is at the heart of everything we do.

What Is Family-Centered Care?

Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is family-friendly and family-centered. Because parents and families know their children best, we believe they are central to the caregiving process. Family-centered care is a partnership between health care providers and patients and families to collectively provide a child with the best care possible.

Core Concepts for Family-Centered Care

There are eight core concepts for family-centered care at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital:

• Family strength. We value families as partners and decision makers.
• Respect. We value families' knowledge of their children.
• Choice. We provide the information families need to make educated choices about treatments.
• Information sharing. Our team provides medical information to families and values the personal information families provide about their children.
• Support. We support families by respecting their decisions.
• Flexibility. Families bring their own unique identities and life experiences to the hospital setting. We are flexible in meeting the needs and preferences of each family.
• Collaboration. Staff and family members are partners in providing care for children.
• Empowerment. Families have the right and authority to care for their children.