Families working together with the Clinical Operations Committee in the development, ongoing operation, and evaluation of the WCCHN.

The families have an essential role in the planning and delivery of the Network's initiatives.  They also provide evaluative feedback and propose changes to all Network activities.  The WCCHN works with a Family Advisory Committee to ensure parents needs are being met within the Network.


The Family Advisory Committee of the Western Canadian Children's Heart Network (WCCHN)

Mission
Families working together with the Clinical Operations Committee in the development, ongoing operation, and evaluation of the WCCHN.

Goals
The goals of the Western Canadian Children's Heart Network Family Advisory Committee are to:
• Develop and maintain a high performing, cohesive, and collaborative family committee
• Foster an environment of teamwork, professional growth and mutual family respect interprovincially
• Advocate for children with heart disease and their families
• Promote and support the involvement of families in all Network initiatives
• Provide evaluative feedback and propose changes to current Network activities.
• Provide advice on the development of new programs and services.

Values
• Mutual trust and respect
• Family centered care
• Culture sensitivity
• Teamwork and partnership
• Leadership
• Accountability
• Communication
• Support
• Compassion

Strive for full family participation in Network activities.  The families have an essential role in the planning and delivery of Network initiatives.  The Network's six goals are as follows:

1. Share clinical results
2. Collaborate on complex cases
3. Collaborate on research
4. Share educational resources
5. Share family/patient resources
6. Discuss/share plans

Terms of Reference

Name
The Family Advisory Committee

Meeting Times
The Committee will meet a minimum of four (4) times per annum via telehealth or telephone conference call at a duration determined by the Chair. No meeting will take place over the summer months of July and August.

Meeting Administration
The Chair of the Family Advisory Committee will lead each meeting.
The Coordinator of the WCCHN will prepare the minutes and agenda for each meeting
Family representatives from the following five centres will be involved:
- Stollery Children's Hospital - Edmonton
- B.C. Children's Hospital – Vancouver
- Royal University Hospital – Saskatoon
- Winnipeg Children's Hospital – Winnipeg
- Alberta Children's Hospital – Calgary

Meeting Purpose
To collaborate together to advise the WCCHN on how to achieve a high functioning, cohesive, and collaborative Western Network for Pediatric Cardiology.
- To provide evaluative feedback and propose changes to Network activities
- To provide advice on the development and operations of the Network
- To provide input on ways to improve the experience of cardiac care for patients and families

Membership/Representation
The Family Advisory Committee and its Chair determine the Committee representation.  Individuals are chosen as representatives for each centre's family support group, family network, and/or local healthcare centre.

Roles and Responsibilities
The Committee members will fulfill their roles and responsibilities as designated by the Family Advisory team.
-    The Committee will be essential in bringing a family perspective to the planning and delivery of the Network's goals and objectives.
- Collaborative teamwork to provide advice to the Network in providing the best possible quality patient care, education and research
- Consultation with each center and the WCCHN Clinical Operations Committee on Pediatric Cardiac care services, initiatives and practices
-   Ongoing support, collaboration, respect and trust.
-   Ongoing communication with families of all aspects of the interprovincial Pediatric Cardiology Network
-    Ongoing input on all Network initiatives
-    Provision of family advice to achieve excellent family-centered care across Western Canada
- Act as a liaison to their local family/parent support groups (providing regular updates to their families and bringing forth any family concerns to the Clinical Team).
 
Reporting and Linkages
The Coordinator of the WCCHN will report directly to the Chair of the Clinical Operations and Steering Committees and each Chair a minimum of every three (3) months.