Once again, we're celebrating that time of year when new life erupts from moistened earth warmed by longer, sun-filled days....

To be of the Earth is to know       the restlessness of being a seed   the darkness of being planted       the struggle toward the light       the pain of growth into the light    the joy of bursting and bearing fruit the love of being food for someone the scattering of your seeds        the decay of the seasons            the mystery of death                and the miracle of birth*

This cycle of seasons is an appropriate analogy for Parent to Parent. We are in a season of growth and renewal. Seeds of hope and possibility, planted and nurtured by many have emerged into programs and opportunities for children and families. We've weathered many seasons together and are grateful to all those who have toiled with us - our partners in care. Families and all those who believe in the mission and vision of Parent to Parent have replenished and enriched the soil in which our programs for families have taken root. Spring is now the perfect time to look at our field for planting, to make sure our harvest meets the needs of those whom we are privileged to serve.

In December, Parent to Parent and Children with Special Health Needs embarked on a joint effort to learn from as many families as possible about the services and supports that are most and least helpful to families. In December, over 50 families attended our first Dinner & Conversation Meeting. Since that time we have hosted two other forums with two more planned. The numbers of families attending these meetings are indicative of the desire for families to determine for themselves the kinds of supports that must be available to them if we are truly supporting families. Though not a new concept, these meetings have been a welcome opportunity for families to directly express their concerns and priorities as well as their appreciation for the services and supports presently in place for children and families in Vermont.

Over 8,000 invitations with surveys were mailed to families. 90 of these families have attended a focus discussion, 86 are planning to attend our Brattleboro and Burlington meetings. We've been unable to accommodate all those wishing to join us - many families have been on waiting lists. Parent to Parent and CSHN will incorporate results from our discussions and surveys into program planning and share our findings with the Agency of Human Services, Department of Education and statewide family support programs. And, we will share our findings with you through The Heart of It. Parent to Parent has already learned from families the need for "scattering our seeds" including sibling support, ArtsAbility, and opportunities to expand our Medical Education Project and the teaching of health care providers to educators and others - statewide.

The "love of being food for someone" sustains us. In this edition of our newsletter we introduce you to the newest members of our Family Support Team - a Team committed to responding to present and emerging needs. Information about programs and health care financing issues has been a constant theme of our Forums. I hope the information in the next few pages answers some of those questions. Please be sure to visit our WEB site regularly for updates about these and other programs. (http://www.partoparvt.org)

And finally, it's time for Parent to Parent's annual raffle and we hope our "new approach", our appeal to you, our subscribers - families and friends of Parent to Parent will help us reach our goal. ALL proceeds support Parent to Parent programs. Y

*John Soos (Earth Prayers from Around the World, Edited by Elizabeth Roberts & Elias Amidon pg 288)

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