Family Advisory Council

Individuals at least 16 years of age who have had experience at Mass General for Children are invited to apply for membership on the council. Terms are three years and require various time and commitment levels, depending on the committee’s needs and the candidates’ interests. Read about the council's recent efforts.

For more information about our services, how to get involved, or to apply to become a member, including eligibility and the formal application and selection process, please send an email to FAC@partners.org.

If you would like to submit a membership application, please use either the PDF or Word document below. The PDF might be more suitable if you want to print and fill out the application by hand and the Word document can be completed on your computer and emailed:

• Membership application (PDF)

Additional Opportunities

In addition to the Family Advisory Council, the hospital offers a number of standing committee opportunities of varying time commitments for patients and families with specific interests.

Committees On Which Family Members Serve

Mass General for Children is committed to hearing the patient and parent voice and therefore some family members of FAC choose to serve on additional hospital committees. While this is not a requirement of FAC membership, below is a list of hospital committees on which our families serve.

• MGH Quality Oversight Committee
• MGH Gun Violence Prevention Committee
• MGfC Ambulatory Patient Experience Committee
• MGfC In-Patient Experience Committee
• MGfC Ethics Committee
• MGfC Advisory Board
• MGfC PICU Parent Life Committee
• MGfC Pediatric Wheelchair Committee

Hospital Members

The Family Advisory Council is a partnership of family members, hospital leadership, and staff dedicated to working together to improve the care and experience of patients and their families who receive care at the MGfC. We are a diverse group of fifteen (15) family members whose children have received care at MGfC. The FAC is co-Chaired by family member and a staff member. MGfC leadership who serve on the FAC include:

• Medical Director
• Associate Chief Nurse
• Executive Director
• Director of Quality &Safety
• Clinical Director for Social Work
• Representation from Nursing, Child Life, and other healthcare disciplines

Patient Resources

View the full collection of patient resources from the FAC at MGfC

News

Pediatric Grand Rounds: Reimagining How We Partner with Families Through the Ether Dome Challenge

On April 23, 2024, a group of MGfC parents and providers presented a Pediatric Grand Rounds titled “Reimagining How We Partner with Families Through the Ether Dome Challenge” process. The group has worked together for over a year to develop two important projects. The first is a discharge template, to be completed by providers and parents together, while the second is a resource app that will enable families to access MGfC information all in one location. The session, sponsored by the MGfC Family Advsiory Council, was a wonderful example of partnership between providers, hospital leaders and family members.

FAC Grand Rounds: Taking care of one another through trauma-informed care
On May 3, 2022, Miri Bar-Halpern, PsyD, a Boston-based child psychologist, shared her family’s experiences in the PICU at MGfC and the importance of trauma-informed care at this year’s Grand Rounds, sponsored by the FAC at MGfC. Every spring, the FAC sponsors a Grand Rounds session to highlight the importance of family-centered care and communication to the MGfC community. Bar-Halpern was accompanied by Kimberly Whalen, RN, MSN, CCRN, Sarah Taddei, MSW, LICSW, both from the PICU, and Roxan Del Valle, MDiv, of Spiritual Care at MGfC and Massachusetts General Hospital. Read about the Grand Rounds session.

Gifts From the Heart bring holiday joy to MGfC
The spirit and joy of the holidays filled the halls of Mass General for Children (MGfC) when the Sakash family delivered more than 400 toys, puzzles, games and stuffed animals to pediatric patients. The Sakash family – whose daughter, Indiana, age 2 and a half, has a congenital heart condition – organized a toy drive to bring smiles to the faces of children and their families who receive medical care over the holidays. Read about the Sakash family's donation here.

A Mother Turns Personal Loss into Journals of Hope
Volunteer Faith Wilcox spends time each week helping young patients and their families seek relief through the “Journals of Hope” program. Read more.

Patients Educate New Doctors on the Importance of Family-Centered Rounds Wednesday, June 27, 2018
For children and teens recovering from illness or injury, knowledge is key. Understanding their treatment plan gives patients a voice and allows them to take a more active role in managing their care. That message was made clear when two longtime patients spoke with pediatric residents beginning their hospital training. Read more.

FAC Spotlight: Sharing Parent Perspectives to Improve Patient Care November 21, 2017
At the heart of every positive interaction is clear communication. In a clinic setting, communication can sometimes become muddled with concerns like long wait times, unclear explanations or late arrivals to appointments. This year, staff across Mass General for Children (MGfC) heard from staff and parents of MGfC patients on how to provide the best experience possible and diffuse challenging situations. Read more.

Pediatric Wheelchairs Make for Improved Hospital Experience September 15, 2017
When coming to MGfC for treatments, Mike Doiron transported his daughter, Ava, 8, in an adult-sized wheelchair that was too big for her small frame, making the trips uncomfortable. When Ava passed on last summer, Doiron brought his idea for child-sized wheelchairs to two MGfC Family Advisory Councils. In July 2017, MGfC debuted its new fleet of wheelchairs throughout the Yawkey building. Read more.

Not Taking a Breath for Granted: Mikey's Story at FAC Grand Rounds May 17, 2017
At 3 months old, Mikey was diagnosed with laryngomalacia. This made it hard for him to breathe. It also meant that he might need surgery and a tracheotomy. On April 11, his parents, Katie and Michael, shared their family’s experience at this year’s Grand Rounds, sponsored by the Family Advisory Council at MGfC. Read more.

Wrapping Gifts on Ellison 18 with Care January 4, 2017
Members of the Family Advisory Council give back by participating in a holiday Toy Shop event. Read more.

You Are Here: Wendy’s Welcome to the ED (video) October 14, 2016
Darcy Daniels, a member and current Co-Chair of the MGfC Family Advisory Council, is no stranger to the Emergency Department at the hospital. She has accompanied her daughter Wendy Wooden to it many, many times. A couple of years ago, Darcy and Wendy decided they would put their experiences to work to help others and develop a guide to the Emergency Department that could be given to parents and children when they were waiting to be seen. With the help of the Family Advisory Council, they met on a regular basis with a multidisciplinary group of ED providers that included the physicians, nurses, social workers and child life specialists to create a written document that would accurately portray what a family could expect and be appropriate for children. Through a wonderful set of circumstances, an architecture firm with computer animation expertise transformed the document into Wendy’s Welcome. This award-winning video is now available to all families and children who come to the Emergency Department. Read more and see the video.

Your Voice – Family Advisory Council July 18, 2016
Article about the value of family advisory councils written by member Darcy Daniels. Read more on the Courageous Parents Network.