
Next Training Class: TBA
Become a Trusted Mentor Parent
Family Support NetworkTM of Trusted Parents offers an annual training class for parents who would like to offer support to other families. Parents are trained by attending an group training session. Training includes communication and listening skills, understanding the adjustment process, confidentiality and information about community resources. Parents who complete this training will be certified as an Trained Support Parent with Family Support Network of North Carolina.
Through our parent-to-parent matching program, we offer parents and other caregivers the opportunity to connect one-to-one with a parent or caregiver of an individual with the same or similar disability or special health care need, someone who has "been there". Generally, parent to parent support is via email or telephone conversations between parents.
Mentor Parents' are the key support to families of individuals with special healthcare needs. Mentor Parents are the foundation of our Parent Matching Program.
If you would like to become a Mentor Parent, please fill out the registration form
- You must be a parent or primary caregiver of an individual with special needs
- Reside in the state of North Carolina
- You want to provide emotional support and information to other families facing challenges similar to what you have experienced.
- You must complete the certified training program
- Mentor Parents provide emotional support and information to families of individuals with disabilities or other special needs.
- Mentor Parents provides a safe listening environment and can be a wealth of information to other families (listening is the priority).
- Mentor Parents connect with other families, either by telephone or by e-mail, and provide a kind of understanding that no one else can provide.
- Mentor Parents participate in "active listening" and provide an opportunity for openness in a non-judgmental relationship.
- Mentor Parents DO NOT provide any form of medical advice, professional counseling, or legal advice (you are not doctors, therapist, or lawyers).
- Recognize similarities in parenting experiences even though the children have different disabilities, illnesses, or syndromes.
- Learn about the different emotional states commonly experienced by parents of children with special needs.
- Gain insight into what a family may be experiences even though you may have gone through a similar emotional state.
3. Develop communication and listening skills to help Support Parents use and share their personal experiences in effective way.
- Learn techniques to use when talking to a referral parent including guidelines for telephone contact.
- Gain information on what may happen when you speak with a referral parent.
4. Share a solid foundation of information about available community resources
5. Address the issue of Care for the Caregiver.