What is Family of Choice and Who are choice family members?
Or who is considered a family member of choice? Choice family members are the people who are who are directly involved with the person or people who are receiving or seeking public health services. Family may be immediate or extended family, through marriage, biology, adoption or by choice. Choice family members are there because they have been chosen and choose to be a major part of an individual’s life, rather than by chance or legal obligation. Often, they may be providing financial support, sharing a home, scheduling appointments, driving, listening, explaining, organizing, supervising, advocating, understanding and more.
What is Advocacy
We have been through what you are going through. We advocate by offering our professional and personal experience, our knowledge of the systems and our support.
The dictionary definition is to plead on behalf of another. We can do that and we will do that but that is not all we do. We return phone calls, respond to emails and answer questions. We explain policies, procedures and practices. We describe your options. We listen to you. We give you information, resources and referrals. We make sure you have what you need to make an informed decision.
WHAT WE DO NOT DO
What we don’t offer is any type of professional counseling, therapy or coaching. We won’t offer any legal or medical advice. We will not judge, shame, coerce or otherwise act in a way that is dishonest or harmful.