At Children’s Minnesota, we are looking for input from our patient families to help make the Children’s care experience better. If your child is currently a patient at a Children’s Minnesota clinic or hospital, or has previously been a patient, we encourage you to get involved in the Families as Partners program. Families as Partners pathways offer diverse opportunities for involvement, including sharing your story, educating staff, providing peer-support and advocating for pediatric policy issues.
Learn more about how you can get involved in Families as Partners pathways by contacting us at [email protected].
Families as Partners pathways
The Families as Partners program promotes, coordinates and supports family involvement throughout Children’s Minnesota through the following pathways:
Family Experience Teams
Family Experience Teams are department-specific groups made up of patients, families and health care team members who work together to enhance the pediatric patient and family experience. They provide feedback, share insights, and help shape policies, programs and services to ensure care is family-centered, compassionate, and responsive to the unique needs of children and their families.
“Our twins were born extremely premature. Our daughter, Nellie, was born at 21 weeks and passed shortly after birth. Her twin brother, Clifford, was born at 24 weeks, weighing just over a pound, and spent 10 months in the NICU. Those months were filled with uncertainty, grief and hope all at once. There were many nights we weren’t sure Clifford would make it, but our incredible care team at Children’s Minnesota never gave up on him. We leaned heavily on their compassion, expertise, and constant presence as we navigated the most difficult season of our lives.
Today, Clifford is a happy two-year-old and a proud big brother who continues to make progress every day. Our family carries Nellie’s memory with us in everything we do. Giving back through the Families as Partners Program and being a part of the Neonatal Experience Team allows me to support parents who are walking similar paths—to remind them they are not alone. Community matters deeply to me, and I’m grateful to be part of a place that supports families not just medically, but emotionally too.”
– Sadie, Family Advisor
Family Speakers Bureau
Families have the opportunity to share their personal stories at special events and meetings, creating meaningful connections and inspiring others. By speaking to staff, leadership and community partners, families help illustrate the profound impact of compassionate care and remind everyone why their work matters.
“Sharing our family’s story with the Directors and Board Members was a meaningful way to express our gratitude for everything Children’s Minnesota has given us. The incredible care our son received after his ruptured brain AVM helped carry us through the hardest moments of our lives—and ultimately allowed us to bring him home safely. It was an honor to remind the staff and leadership just how profoundly their work touches patients and families like ours.”
– Josie, Family Advisor
Family Advocates
Family Advocates play a role in advocating on behalf of Children’s Minnesota patients and on the behalf of the health of children. Families receive specific training and are informed of advocacy opportunities about public policy issues affecting the health of children. Shelby and Joe had the opportunity to share their son Charlie’s story with senators and representatives in Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of the importance of Medicaid funding for kids.
“That is a level of advocating, for my child and others, I never imagined getting to. What an amazing feeling it is to have someone truly listening to what you are saying, asking what they can do to help, and knowing that your story could make a difference for others.”
– Shelby, Family Advisor
The Youth Advisory Council
The Youth Advisory Council is a dedicated group of patients, ages 10 to 18, offering practical ideas on how to help Children’s Minnesota focus even more closely on the special needs of children and teens. They eagerly voice their ideas and perspectives — from choices of food on the hospital menu to how they want adults at Children’s Minnesota to relate to them. Learn more about the Youth Advisory Council.
Family Representatives
Family Representatives contribute their lived expertise across a variety of committees, advisory councils, focus groups and improvement initiatives.
“Participating in the Ethics Committee allows me to partner with a team that take a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to enhancing the equity in patient experience for all patients, families and staff in the Children’s MN system, and the Bereavement Committee has been a fulfilling experience for me as a bereaved parent which allows me to continue to play a role in the organization that offers a structured wraparound service for grieving families in the Twin Cities.”
– Amanda, Family Advisor
Families as Faculty
Families as Faculty participate in sessions that provide patient- and family-centered care education for physicians, nurses and staff.
“Participating in the Interdisciplinary Learner Rounds panel was a wonderful opportunity to educate provider trainees on the challenges and intricacies of parenting a child with complex medical needs. It allowed me the opportunity to share our family’s experiences and the providers the chance to ask questions in an environment that was reflective and removed from active medical care. The learners seemed to appreciate the discussion, and I was grateful to participate and hopefully play a small part in informing their development as clinicians.”
– Beth, Family Advisor
The Family Advisory Council
The Family Advisory Council (FAC) is a diverse group of families who collaborate with Children’s Minnesota staff to enhance the patient and family experience. FAC represents all Children’s Minnesota families. Learn more about the Family Advisory Council.
