These materials, designed to be printed and compiled in a notebook binder, consist of the following tools to help parents and caregivers of children with epilepsy organize and maintain their child’s health information in a central location: binder cover, binder spine, and formatted divider tabs; care plan template; medical history template; home medication list with names of anti-seizure medications; seizure log; equipment log; provider list form; a template to record notes from a doctor’s visit; and a resource section specific to services available in Orange County (this is meant to serve as an example of the information that could be included in a resources section). It is hoped that the notebook will also assist parents and caregivers in sharing their child’s health information with members of the care team. (Available in English & Spanish).

Home Medication Sheet

This tool was designed to help parents keep a history of their child’s medications and to reconcile medications with their child’s health care provider during an appointment. The second side includes a small reference table of anti-epilepsy medications. (Available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese).

Seizure Description Tool

This tool was designed to assist parents and caregivers in describing their child’s seizures and in reporting current anti-epilepsy medications taken by their child to the primary care physician or neurologist. The use of simple graphics was incorporated in an effort to facilitate communication between providers and parents/caregivers who may be monolingual in Spanish or Vietnamese, or who may have low literacy skills. (Available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese).

Su Nino y la Epilepsia: Preguntas y Respuestas 
by Dr. David King-Stephens

A video - teleconference training was presented by David King-Stephens, MD, Epileptologist, CA Pacific Medical Center, on March 29, 2007. The purpose of the workshop was to provide Spanish - speaking families throughout the state an opportunity to:

• Increase their understanding of epilepsy
• To learn more about the signs of seizure activity / episodes
• To learn about special diets and surgery
• To ask the speaker questions about epilepsy / seizure disorder

The event was sponsored by the USC UCEDD at CHLA and co-sponsored by the Northern California Epilepsy Foundation Affiliate, Rowell Family Empowerment Center of Northern California and the Northern Sierra Rural Health Network. In attendance were close to 50 parents of children with epilepsy who participated in the workshop at 15 rural, community-based sites statewide.

Resource Guide for Parents

The Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders: A Resource Guide for Parents was developed by parents and professionals to help parents of children with epilepsy and/or a seizure disorder to better understand their child’s condition. This 48-page guide is divided into four sections: (1) Understanding Epilepsy and/or Seizure Disorders, (2) Health Care for my Child: Access to Care/Access to Services, (3) Advocacy and Support, and (4) Forms and Tools. The Spanish translation of this guide will be available in Spring 2008.

To obtain copies of this Guide you can either download the PDF Guide (by clicking here) or visit the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California's website for more information, http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/local/norcal/Parents-Resource-Guide.cfm.