Parent to Parent Support (continued)

My Child Has a Rare Disability. Can Parent to Parent Still Help Me?

Parent to Parent programs reach into their network to find matches for parents contacting the program. This network begins within the local community. As was said above, parent matches are made based on similarities in disability and family issues. If your child has a rare disability or your family issues are unusual, or if you live in a rural area, it may be hard to find a match for you in your community. In this case, the program will reach beyond your community, looking within the state. If necessary, the program may consult with other programs in other areas or even other states in order to match you with parents in similar circumstances. But they will do the best they can to match you with parents who share your unique experience.

Is There a Parent to Parent Program in Every State?

Yes. Parent to Parent programs exist in every region of the country. They range in size from very small ones serving just a few parents to very large ones serving several hundred families. Some are brand new programs, and some have been around for 25 years.

Today, close to 700 Parent to Parent programs offer services to families through the one-to-one Parent to Parent match. In 32 states, there are local Parent to Parent programs and statewide Parent to Parent programs. The statewide programs often provide training and technical assistance to the local programs. They also match parents statewide when a local match isn't available. Over 100,000 parents are participating in Parent to Parent programs in the U.S. today.

How Do I Find a Parent to Parent Program in My Area?

Parent to Parent programs are listed on the NICHCY State Resource Sheets. For a copy of the resource sheet for your state, you can either:

• contact NICHCY at 1.800.695.0285 and ask for one; or

• visit our Web site (www.nichcy.org), go to "State Resources," and select your state. The Parent to Parent program will be listed under the heading "Organizations Especially for Parents."

You can also go to the Web site of the Beach Center on Disability to identify programs in your state. Visit the Beach Center at: www.beachcenter.org.

Will I Be Charged a Fee for the Match?

No. Parent to Parent programs do not charge parents for matching them with other parents. Experienced parents volunteer their time to be matched with parents who are looking for support and information from another parent. Because Parent to Parent programs are gifts from parents who believe in the benefit of offering one-to-one support to parents new to the program, many programs provide their services with minimal funding for the program as a whole. It's no exaggeration to say that programs operate on the dedication and commitment of a core group of experienced parents who offer their support for free.

There's No Parent to Parent in My Area. Could I Start A Program?

Yes, you certainly could. A Parent to Parent program can be established by any number of people'a parent of a child with a disability, a core group of parents, a staff member of a service provider agency, and/or parents and professionals working together. At its core is a belief in the value of parents helping other parents.