Family & Kids Advisory Board

Family Advisory Board

Our partnership with families is pivotal in the care we provide. We rely on families' unique experiences and perspective to help us make decisions about the hospital's programming and policies.

The Family Advisory Board was founded in 1992 to formalize the partnership between parents and hospital leadership, and to seek parents' consultation on an ongoing basis.

Made up of parents of children who have had extensive inpatient and outpatient experiences at the hospital, the Family Advisory Board advises administration and medical leadership on patient needs and hospital priorities from a family perspective.

Family Advisory Board members contribute to our hospital in many important ways:

  • Participating in hospital planning, operating and policy committees
  • Orienting new nursing staff about family-centered care
  • Collaborating on letter writing campaigns and lobbying efforts on behalf of the hospital 
  • Speaking and giving testimonials at press conferences, educational sessions and other hospital events

Kids Advisory Board

The Kids Advisory Board (KAB) gives a voice to children treated at the hospital. Members also share with the hospital what is important to children, teens and siblings during healthcare experiences. It is similar to a student council, but for the hospital. Currently, 10 KAB members between the ages of 11 and 17 have had significant experiences with us.

The mission of the Kids Advisory Board is to recommend change that positively affects patient care here. This is accomplished by:

  • Providing kids an opportunity to voice their opinions, and help make the hospital more "kid-friendly"
  • Providing the hospital with feedback, suggestions and ideas about topics that are relevant to the hospital and patient care
  • Contributing to making the hospital an even better place for kids
  • KAB members feel extremely empowered because their suggestions and ideas have a real impact on the care and services that we provide

Read about the community partner spaces in the hospital our Kids Advisory Board helped to create.