About

Paths for Parents and the Family to Family Health Information Center are parent mentoring programs that provide peer-to-peer support and self-advocacy coaching. The programs offer parent support groups, parent education courses and parent leadership opportunities within the field of healthcare. Paths for Parents serves children and families enrolled in the WV Children with Special Health Care Needs program. Family to Family serves any individual with disabilities and family members.

Parent & Family Network Specialists are themselves parents of children with special health care needs and have had to navigate the medical and educational systems. They work in partnership with Department of Health and Human Resources Children with Special Healthcare Needs (CSHCN) local teams throughout the state in assisting families who have a child with a disability in accessing information and services. These Parent & Family Network Specialists are trained in Strengthening Families Protective Factors and facilitate Circle of Parents support groups. They provide one-on-one assistance in skill building and organization so that parents and caregivers can advocate for their child in powerful, positive ways and be proactive in every aspect of the medical home.

As a result of their own experiences in navigating systems for their own child with special health care needs, Parent & Family Network Specialists have designed a Care Notebook and Individual Education Plan (IEP) Binder to be used as organizational and management tools with the parents they work with.

Through the Parent & Family Network Specialists, the parent voice and message can be heard within the medical and educational community. Suggestions and recommendations to improve the lives of our children with disabilities can be communicated and heard through the Parent & Family Network Specialists.

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