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What is Parent to Parent? |
Organizationally,
Parent to Parent programs offer parent to parent support as a core
resource for families with children who have a special health care
need, disability, or mental health issue. Through a one to one
"match" experienced support parents provide emotional support to
families and assist them in finding information and resources.
Parent to Parent programs are committed to listening and learning
from families and developing an array of services and supports in
response to family identified
needs.
The Parent to Parent network is
a growing national resource for families. Statewide, regional and local community-based programs continue to emerge out of
grassroots efforts; new statewide Parent to Parent programs are being
developed to support the efforts of local programs; national needs are
being addressed as they arise; and international interest in Parent to
Parent is growing every year. The strength of Parent to Parent comes
directly from the parents who dedicate themselves to its continuing
success.
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<| What is parent to parent
support? |
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Parent to Parent USA defines parent to parent support as the
connection between a trained Support Parent and a parent seeking
information, resources and support from an experienced parent.
Parent to Parent programs facilitate parent "matches" and provide
follow-up support to each match. Because the quality of the matched
experience depends on a number of different factors, Parent to
Parent programs make parent matches with great care.
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Parent to Parent USA Endorsed Practices |
The practices
endorsed and promoted by Parent to Parent USA are based on research and
the knowledge of experienced P2P Program Directors.
View the following files in
PDF format:
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How do I find a
parent to parent match? |
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Click on
our map icon "State Info" to find a statewide Parent to Parent program. If you don't
presently have a program in your state, click on a neighboring
state; they will happily help you find a match.
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| How are P2P Matches Made and Supported? |
  Parents
who are interested in being matched with a Support Parent often
self-refer to a Parent to Parent program or they can request that
someone else make the referral on their behalf. Referrals and
matches are never made, however, without the expressed interest and
permission of the parent seeking the support, and anonymous
referrals are never accepted.
Usually the person who handles referrals to the Parent to Parent
program is a parent and parents find it comforting to talk to
another parent right away. The referral coordinator, in order to
ensure the most successful match, will gather information from the
referred parent about (a) the child; (b) parent's own situation,
needs, and specific challenges; (c) reasons for seeking support; (d)
the qualities they hope for in a support parent; and (e) any unique
preferences or issues related to the match. When coordinators take
time to establish a relationship with a newly referred parent, this
time will lead to a greater understanding of the referred parent's
personality and preferences, and may help the coordinator to make a
more meaningful match.
The referral coordinator will then check the roster of trained and
available Support Parents to identify a Support Parent who seems to
be the right fit. If the support parent agrees to the match, then
contact information for each parent is shared with the other and the
match is made.
After the match is made, follow-up activities help to ensure the
success of the match. The referral coordinator will check in with
each parent a few days after the match has been made, just to be
sure that the initial contact has indeed occurred. Over time,
regular and on-going check-in calls with the referred parent and the
Support Parent give the coordinator an opportunity to resolve any
logistical problems that may arise in the match (e.g. replacing lost
phone numbers) and to learn about any other supports that might
benefit the match or either parent.
Support Parents are encouraged to make regular and consistent
contacts with the referred parent, even if these contacts are brief.
Many programs encourage Support Parents to contact the referred
parent at least once a week during the first few weeks of the match
so that the two parents get to know each other more quickly. These
early and frequent contacts will help the referred parent to feel
sure that the Supporting Parent is indeed a reliable ally who will
be there for them day in and day out. Because each parent will have
personal preferences for the timing, number, and nature of contacts
from the Support Parent, each match will evolve in its own
personalized way.
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| Characteristics
of Parent to Parent |
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Most Parent to Parent
programs are parent-directed, and indeed it is this parent ownership and
energy that seem to give the program their real strength.
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Most Parent to Parent
programs are all inclusive and serve families of children/adults of all
ages.
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Most Parent to Parent
programs are cross-disability, with many different physical and
developmental disabilities being represented - including prematurity,
children whose parents are challenged by alcoholism or drug addiction or
who have AIDS, children with mental illness or severe behavioral and
emotional disorders, children who have special health care needs and/or
children with acquired disabilities.
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Each match evolves based upon
the needs and preferences of the referred parents -- some matches are
just a few contacts over a course of several days or weeks; while others
evolve into lifelong friendships.
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80% of Parent to Parent
programs offer formal training for Support Parents. (2007 Organization
Survey)
| History
of Parent to Parent |
 The
first formally
organized Parent to Parent program, the Pilot
Parents Program, was started in Omaha, NE by a young mother of a child
with Down syndrome. She worked closely with a social worker at the
Greater Omaha Arc who shared her vision of a program to foster 1-1
connections between parents. The program grew rapidly and within a few
years the founders received a federal grant to train others to
replicate the Pilot Parent model. Parent to Parent programs began to
spring up nationwide, fueled by the energies and commitments of parents
who believed fervently in their importance.
See history of the Parent to Parent Movement and the history of Parent to Parent - USA
| P2P Support as
Part of a Comprehensive System of Family Support |
 There
are many different parent support and information opportunities
available to parents - some are directed by professionals and others are
directed by parents; sometimes the support is provided in a group
setting and sometimes the support is provided individually. Ideally
communities will offer parents a broad spectrum of parent support
options so that parents can choose the one that is most comfortable and
meaningful for them.
Sometimes
parents
want to talk individually with a professional about a particular issue
or need. Support that is provided by professionals in a one-to-one
setting can be either informational or emotional support. The
one-to-one nature of this support means that it can be easily tailored
to the specific needs or concerns of the parent.
When parents
are given a choice as to whom they would want to speak with about
their child, they most often mention as a first choice other parents
who are sharing their experiences. Sharing family experiences with
others in similar circumstances is an important source of social
support. Literally hundreds, if not thousands, of parent support groups
have been started by parents wishing to talk with other parents about
similar issues.
Parent
to Parent
support rounds out this continuum of support - providing parents with
one-to-one emotional and informational support from another parent who
has been there.
| State and International
Parent to Parent Conference |
 Many
statewide Parent to Parent programs have annual conferences bringing
together parents and a host of community partners to listen an learn
from one another. Visit statewide program websites to see if they
have scheduled a conference for this year.
International Parent to Parent Conferences hosted by a volunteer statewide
Parent to Parent program provided an exceptional opportunity for Parent
to Parent programs, parents, professionals, researchers, and many others
from across the world to come together. Attendance at International
conferences grew significantly over the years reaching 1100 at the last
International Parent to Parent Conference hosted by Pennsylvania Parent
to Parent in 2002. Funding for these conferences has been through a combination of local, state,
foundation and more recently some federal sources. We are hopeful
that a statewide Parent to Parent program will volunteer to host an
International Conference in the very near future.
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