A Guide to Establishing Effective Hospital Family Advisory Councils

Delivering family-centered care is a hallmark of high-quality health care. When families feel that they are partners with their children’s health care providers, the quality of care improves and parents’ fears and anxieties are reduced. This is especially important when the health of children with chronic, complex conditions depends on hospital care. Establishing Family Advisory Councils (FACs) in children’s hospitals is one means of ensuring that families have a strong voice regarding the care delivered to their children.

To encourage development of FACs that truly have an impact, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health provided grant funding for the formation of the California Patient & Family Centered Care Network, a statewide collaborative composed of parents and providers representing 15 pediatric hospitals and clinics. The Network members shared their experiences with FACs and developed this checklist for establishing effective Councils.

For a full account of the work of the Network, see the full report.