Project Description:
Connecting Families provides peer support to parents/families of children and youth with special health care needs in southern Wisconsin and serves as the lead agency providing guidance to all other regional family peer support grantees in Wisconsin. Having a child with special health care needs can feel overwhelming. One of the best resources we can provide is to simply connect families to one another in order to overcome isolation, share common experiences, build resiliency, and learn from one another. The goal of Connecting Families is to build a network of peer support in the state of Wisconsin for families of children and youth with special health care needs. Our objectives include facilitating family peer support groups in southern Wisconsin; design and implement a 9-month, state-wide training program for individuals who want to start a new peer support initiative; sustain a state-wide learning community for anyone providing peer support for families of CYSHCN; build a comprehensive toolkit of evidence-informed models of peer support utilized across the state; and collaborate with others to expand peer support for parents/families of CYSHCN in Wisconsin. The expected outcome is that all families have the social support they need. Also, that all children and youth with special health care needs and their families experience timely, nearby, uncomplicated, coordinated supports to live and thrive.
Keyword(s):
Mental/Behavioral Health – Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Health Care Transition, Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs, parent peer support, support for deaf children, community collaboration
Core Function(s):
Continuing Education/Community Training, Other Direct/Model Services, Demonstration Services
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
