Speak Now For Kids Family Advocacy Week

Elevating patient stories and educating lawmakers about the unique role of children's hospitals.

Join the Hartrick family and the Coiras family as they share their stories and educate lawmakers about the ongoing and essential care provided by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Two Nicklaus Children’s Hospital patient families, the Hartrick family and the Coiras family, are participating in this year’s virtual Speak Now For Kids 2020 Family Advocacy Week campaign, organized by the Children’s Hospital Association.

Throughout the week, both families will join virtual meetings with elected officials to share their stories, educate lawmakers about the ongoing and essential care provided by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, and discuss necessary short and long-term investments in children’s health that need to be made for children’s hospitals across the nation. Like Tad and Mark, many children in the state and in the nation rely on access to pediatric care and Medicaid funding in order to provide the best possible chance at the highest quality of life.

Share Our Stories!

Follow Nicklaus Children’s Hospital on social media to keep up with the Hartrick family and the Corias family as they post throughout the week, advocating for access to high quality pediatric care. Make sure to like their posts and share their stories to show your support. Facebook: @Nicklaus Children’s Hospital 
Instagram: @nicklaus4kids Twitter: @nicklaus4kids

Mark's story

For the last nine years, Mark Coiras and his family have called Nicklaus Children’s Hospital their second home. Today, the Coiras family shares a piece of Mark’s journey as they advocate for access to pediatric care and Medicaid funding in support of this year’s Speak Now For Kids Family Advocacy Week.

Tad's story

Over the last two years, Theodore “Tad” Hartrick has spent months at a time at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Like Tad, there are many children in the state and in the nation who rely on access to pediatric care and Medicaid funding. Here is a message from the Hatrick family in support of this year’s Speak Now For Kids Family Advocacy Week campaign.

Kids Rely on Medicaid

Medicaid is a lifeline- it covers kids in every state, from every background. It provides affordable coverage to children in lower-income families and to kids with special health care needs. This federal-state partnership is the largest source of children's health coverage in the U.S.