What do families need? A question we ask on a regular basis to determine if we are providing the services and supports you find helpful. It is a question whose answer may change as your child, family, and community grows. The needs of families are as diverse as families themselves, but there seems to be a common thread that links families together - how can we support our children and families in a way that they will thrive and grow?

Parent to Parent's Family Support Team has been created to assist families on a daily basis. Our staff of 10+, hear from over 50 families on any given day. Each request is unique - broadening our ability to support the next family. We respond to a variety of requests: the need for respite to a family wanting to be matched with another family, funding requests to attend a conference, requests for information and families wanting to participate as community faculty. Parent to Parent strives to provide the support and services that will assist you and your family as you live and grow in this ever-changing world.

The goals of our team are to:

• respond to families in a timely manner
• increase network of Supporting Parents around the state
• assist families in learning about and accessing services
• connect families with individuals, organizations, and/or community resources
• provide families with information on health care financing including SSI, Medicaid and waivers
• increase accessibility of information

We are all on this journey together - each one of us travel a similar path - at times we prefer to travel alone and other times we may want the company of those who have navigated this terrain before. Sometimes we know the services we need and sometimes it is not quite that simple.

The Family Support Team is prepared to travel along with you, as companion or guide - whatever you need.
 

Goodbye!  Julianne Nickerson has accepted a position through the Family, Infant and Toddler Project and resigned from her Parent to Parent role as Family Support Coordinator. We miss Julianne, but support her changing needs. Deb Brady, Social Work intern, has put much appreciated energy into our SibShop, Childcare, and Artsability programs. We will miss her when she graduates in May; congratulations and best wishes on her new job.

Hello!  Libby Ingalls has been hired as our new Administrative Assistant - we are thrilled to have her! Libby had been the secretary at Summit Street School in Essex Jct. for the past 7 years and brings with her strong organizational and communication skills as well as a joyful spirit!

Mary Blow & Joyce Brabazon have been hired as Family Support Coordinators.  Mary brings with her management and teaching experience and the warmth we were looking for - we are happy to have her as part of our team.  Joyce is our newest member; we hope to include her in our next photo!!

We are excited to have Cathy Cook join us and share her expertise as a Regional Health Care Financing Consultant. Cathy will be working with Maureen Mitchell to help families access and understand their health care financing needs and concerns.
The 4 staff members above join Jo Yoder, Maureen Mitchell, Margo Goodrow, Liz Jordan-Shook & Carol Lowe-Clay as welcome additions to our Family Support Team. As a team, we offer information, support, referrals, introduction to community resources, and consultation on health care financing concerns and questions. We are always grateful to those of you who share information for us to file and pass along to others. We are also appreciative of the time many of you give to support the programs and educational outreach of Parent to Parent of VT. Call us or email with questions, concerns or updates on you and your children at any time.

We have grown! Our office space could no longer accommodate our expanding staff so we knocked down a few walls. All of us have been enjoying the extra elbow room! Drop in and see us sometime!

More Info on Staff
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