Robin Mathea An Important Component of a Comprehensive System of Care

Transcription

1 Robin Mathea An Important Component of a Comprehensive System of Care

2 Parent to Parent offers informational and emotional support through a formal 1:1 intentional connection between a parent seeking support and an experienced, trained volunteer Support Parent who shares the lived experience of having a child with special needs.

3 Four Components of a Comprehensive Parent to Parent Matching Program Training Matching Follow-up Evaluation (following evidence-based practices)

4 What do parents tell us about our Support Parent training? I wanted to say thank you for the training on Monday! It was totally awesome to hear other mothers talk about their struggle and realize that so many of the things I've been working through have been felt and experienced by others. I was also thrilled to hear some of the things Sara had to say as she is someone I already knew and has a similar experience. I look forward to reconnecting with her again! And thanks to our training, I now have her contact information! I know this is exactly WHY you do what you do, and you probably hear it often, but I needed to say it.

5 Why is it important? Research tells us Decreases level of anxiety & stress Increases sense of being effective parent Increase positive attitude about children and family 85% found this type of support helpful Parents tells us Smarter medical services consumers Better able to advocate for services they need Their children learn to advocate for themselves Ainbinder, J., Blanchard, L., Singer, G.H.S., Sullivan, M., Powers, L., & Marquis, J., & Santelli, B. (1998). How parents help one another: A qualitative study of Parent to Parent self-help. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 23, Singer, G.H.S., Marquis, J., Powers, L., Blanchard, L., DiVenere, N., Santelli, B., & Sharp, M. (1999). A multi-site evaluation of Parent to Parent programs for parents of children with disabilities, Journal of Early Intervention, 22(3):

6 California Health Care Foundation Report

7 The American Academy of Pediatrics Endorses the importance of parent to parent support as a Family-Centered Practice to improve health outcomes in children and families. AAP Policy Statement on Family-to-Family Support (2012)

8 What do providers tell us? Public Health Nurse I just wanted to update you on a very exciting visit I had yesterday with the woman who I shared the Parent-to-Parent brochure with. This program has changed her life. She was smiling ear to ear and was absolutely elated that she finally got the help she needed. She attended a pot luck in Milwaukee and met with a room full of families with children with special needs. She saw how fortunate she is to have her daughter and she is already helping people she meets by introducing this program to them. Both I and my translator cried during this visit as we have seen this woman so depressed for 5 months. This visit was incredible and I wanted to THANK YOU SOOOO much for the work you do!!

9 What do parents tell us? The connection between Betsy and I has been great. It has truly been a blessing. Meeting her has had a profound change on my life. I have met other families through her and I have joined a Support Group in [my town]. We have met several times and about a week ago we went to her house for a picnic. Everything has gone very well, and I thank you so much for this match.

10 Brochures are free and can be ordered on the web at: State Office 1020 Kabel Avenue Rhinelander, WI Phone: Fax: Website:

11 Direct Referrals

12 Robin Mathea is a statewide parent matching program funded in part by the WI CYSHCN Program, Division of Public Health, Department of Health Services through funds from the Maternal Child Health Title V Services Block Grant and Children s Hospital of Wisconsin and other smaller grants An Important Component of a Comprehensive System of Care