Northeast Family Partner
Pat.Fox@health.mo.gov
314-409-7915

I am a mom of three who has walked in your shoes. My youngest son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Trisomy 8 8 Mosaicism. At the time, he was one of only 250 known cases and he faced the most severe challenges of all known cases. Having struggled to find resources and support as a parent/caregiver of a child with complex medical needs, I knew that I did not want to see another family struggle. I joined SHCN Family Partnership in 2014. Before being a Family Partner, I worked 10 years with Sharing Our Strengths (S.O.S.), at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) - Institute for Human Development. I advocate for families to create a Medical Home and use a Care Notebook to keep medical information in one place to make sure everyone involved understands the child’s needs.

In my free time, I volunteer as a Mental Health First Responder for local police and fire departments. As a member of the local Emergency Operations team, I am known as the expert in individuals with special needs during a disaster. I do homeless outreach and volunteer for several non-profits in the St. Louis area.

I enjoy my work as a SHCN Family Partner. It is a true blessing to be able to honor and support families of children and youth with special health care needs. As a caregiver for my granddaughter, who is now 21, I have learned much and continue to grow as an advocate. There are many daily challenges presented in the lives of caregivers, but together, with help from the extended medical home, each obstacle is overcome.

The journey through each phase of our kiddos’ lives is full of successes and setbacks; however, no challenge is permanent. Given time, advancements in understanding and resource allocations, the future of care becomes brighter and brighter. 

I have spent a lifetime in service to others, which is another reason why I am passionate about this position. Passing on life lessons within our community helps support and unify information and programs. As a resident of Southeast Missouri, I have had the pleasure of working with many agencies and their dedicated staff. I look forward to assisting you in building your medical home.

Northwest Family Partner
Kristan.Gutierrez@health.mo.gov
573-301-7429

I am a passionate mom and advocate, raising a child with complex medical needs and a neurodivergent child with autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), with a wealth of experience in the human services field. My journey as a parent to children with special health care needs is my driving force to advocate for and support individuals with unique abilities. With years of hands-on experience, I have developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with special health care needs and their families.

My commitment to making a difference led me to pursue a career in the field of special health care needs. I have worked tirelessly with families in both the school and home setting in my roles as a teacher and parent educator to provide guidance, resources, and support to those in need. Through my work, I have witnessed the life-changing impact of supporting and empowering families with compassion and empathy.

As a mom, I bring a unique perspective and unwavering dedication to my work. My husband and I are lifelong Missouri residents and parents to four children ages toddler-teen. I have parented children through birth, foster care, and adoption, with a multitude of needs and diagnoses. I am driven by a desire to create a more inclusive society where every individual is valued and given the opportunity to thrive.

My name is Angie Shuster. I have been the SHCN Family Partner for the Southwest Region for the Bureau of Special Health Care Needs since November 2022.  I’ve been married to Mike for 24 years. We have two daughters, Kaylyn (23) and Allie (17). Kaylyn was born 11 weeks prematurely and spent the first three months of her life in the NICU and PICU. At three months old, she had surgery to put in a tracheostomy tube and a feeding tube. In the years following, she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, scoliosis, ulcerative colitis, sensory processing disorder, blood clots and dysautonomia. She has unspecified behavioral disorders and has always gotten frequent pneumonia. By the time she had her second birthday, she had already been admitted to the hospital 16 times. It has always been important to us for her to have the best quality of life possible. She was able to graduate from high school in 2023 and now attends a day program two days a week, where she is thriving. We juggle caring for her while keeping up with a busy teenager.

Statewide Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Megan.Shadrick@health.mo.gov
573-508-2873

My name is Megan Shadrick and I joined the SHCN Family Partnership in September 2022. My husband, Ian, and I have two sons. Brennan is 12 years old and loves baseball, singing, Legos, and anything that involves history. He is hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid. He has Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct (EVA), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). Colin is 10 and also loves baseball, playing the piano, and reading. He is deaf and uses a cochlear implant and hearing aid. He has EVA, ADHD, and Mondini (Malformation of the cochlea).

After Colin was born, I was fortunate to be able to stay home full-time with our sons so I could focus on them, their therapies, and all their medical appointments. Prior to staying home with our sons, I was the Associate Director of the Disability Resource Center and Access Technology Center at Missouri State University, where I oversaw all the Assistive Technology and alternative formatting of textbooks. In addition to being a SHCN Family Partner, I also continue to do contract work as an Assistive Technology Instructor and Accessibility Consultant. I enjoy sharing all I have learned professionally and as a parent with other families on similar journeys.                                                                       

For more information, please visit the SHCN Family Partnership webpage. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your Family Partner. Click the thumbnail to view the map and contact information.