Parent to Parent

The Parent to Parent Support Programs provide emotional support and information to families of children with special needs and/or disabilities.

A Program For Parents

Learning that your child has a disability or chronic health need can be a traumatic experience. Parents have many questions and concerns in coping with their child's need and their own feelings. You are not alone. We have been there.

Parents Helping Parents

Personal support from another parent, who has a child with similar needs, can be helpful in coping with many challenging experiences and feelings. Helping Parent volunteers have completed a training program and are available to provide support and information to other parents. All information will be kept confidential. There is no cost for this service.

Services Offered

• Emotional support for parents of children with special needs.
• Information and referrals to community resources.
• Trained Helping Parents whose parenting experiences match yours as closely as possible.
• Social and recreational events.
• Current information on disabilities, medical conditions and community resources.
• Training for parents who would like to become Volunteer Helping Parents.
• Public awareness and outreach to the community regarding people with special needs and/or disabilities.

Support, Information, & Fun

"Collaborating with the statewide Parent to Parent network has really expanded our pool of resources. One day we received a referral from a Group Health Social Worker in the morning and with the help of P2P in Pierce County the mother was connected with a Helping Parent by the afternoon. The ability to collaborate with different organizations to connect families across the state is wonderful."

   -Parent Support Project; Children's Hospital

"Through the years the parent connection and Parent to Parent has been important to our family. When our son was diagnosed with a disability, one of the first thoughts we had was to talk to other parents who had a child with the same disability. The value of knowing a parent whose child is one step ahead of ours is useful in preparing for that next step with our son."

   -Cam Lanier, Parent

"When I think about Parent to Parent, I think it's like getting a helping hand when I most need it - to lift me up when I am falling down. For someone to walk by my side and let me know that it's okay to have a child with special needs, and that it's okay to feel what I feel - good and bad. For me, Parent to Parent fills a hole in my life - I do not feel so alone."

   -Teresa, Volunteer Helping Parent from Yakima P2P Program

"The parent advocacy role has been a great contribution to our community. I have received appropriate referrals and find working with them very easy. The networking skills are excellent and I have received positive feedback from parents/clients who have been served. A job well done!"

   -Bonnie Peterson, R.N., Thurston County Children with Special Health Care Needs

Statewide Information

Washington State Parent to Parent is a network of 30 community programs serving all 39 counties in the state. Programs have a local Sponsoring Agency and Advisory Board.

Benton/Franklin Counties, Chelan/Douglas Counties, Clallam County, Clark/Skamania Counties, Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Counties, Ferry County, Garfield/Asotin Counties, Grant/Adams Counties, Gray's Harbor County, Island/San Juan Counties, Jefferson County, King County, Kitsap County, Kittitas County, Klickitat County, Lewis County, Mason County, Okanogan County, Pacific County, Pend Oreille County, Pierce County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, Spokane/Lincoln Counties, Stevens County, Thurston County, Walla Walla/Columbia, Counties, Whatcom County, Whitman County, Yakima County

Funding partners:

• The Arc of Washington State
• Department of Health /Children with Special Health Care Needs
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Also thanks to: Division of Developmental Disabilities; Elizabeth A. Lynn Foundation; Microsoft Corporation;