Family TIES of Massachusetts is the statewide information and support network for families of children with special needs. It is a project at the Federation for Children with Special Needs, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division for Perinatal Health, Early Childhood and Special Health Needs. We provide information, referrals, parent-to-parent support and training to families of children with special needs.

P2PUSA is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting access, quality, and leadership among parent-to-parent programs. Their guidance, research, and coordination of our programs ensures that families all across the country can participate in satisfying relationships that offer emotional and informational supports and technical assistance from trained support parents, who have had similar joys and challenges in caring for and raising children with special needs.

Recently, Linea Luck Pearson, our Parent-to-Parent Coordinator, and I attended a two-day conference sponsored by P2PUSA. We met with representatives of 24 member P2P programs. Discussions focused on assuring satisfaction among parents who have called us, wanting to have conversations on important aspects of special needs-childrearing, such as: how do I help my son accept his diagnosis, will I ever resolve my worries about my daughter’s future, how can we face another surgery, when is there time for me? We talked about the changing “face” of finding support through social networking sites and listservs, and about the need for more research that would demonstrate the importance and enlightenment that comes from these powerful parent connections.

Caring for children with special healthcare needs, like my son Matthew, is truly a blessing. Without this impetus, how likely would it have been that any of us would have taken the road less traveled? How much would we have missed by not connecting with the generous, unselfish community of families that provides meaningful support through difficult times and shares in the celebrations of every achievement that we, as parents, enjoy? What’s so special about this type of relationship? To me, it has meant the world!

To learn more about the Family TIES of Massachusetts Parent-to-Parent Program, call your Regional Coordinator at 1-800-905-TIES (8347) or visit our Web site at www.massfamilyties.org where you can download the Match Request form and start the parent-to-parent process. Remember, we are always looking for experienced parents who would like to share their wisdom and lessons learned with parents who are seeking a Match. Speak with Linea at 508-792-7880 for more information about upcoming Listening & Learning workshops to become a trained Support Parent.