The Parent Support Network

The Parent Support Network model is based on the following foundation:

• Meetings are in-person, confidential, and free for parents and caregivers.
• Meetings are open to any parent or caregiver who is concerned about their kids (ages 1–25) who struggle with anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, or other emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.
• A child does not need to have a diagnosis for a parent to benefit from meetings.
• Meetings are organized and led by a trained facilitator, who is a parent or caregiver with lived experience raising a child with a mental health condition.
• While facilitators guide the dialogue, the content is driven by the needs of the parents in attendance.
• Parents work together to share experiences and gather reliable and vetted lists of community and regional resources to help each other and other families to find the assistance they need.
• Vetted for parents and by parents, there is no better resource than a referral from someone who shares your experience.

The Parent Support Network meetings are open and inclusive to all parents, regardless of a diagnosis or the current state of their child's mental health. The Parent Support Network meetings are meant to be flexible and work with a wide range of parent concerns about a child's mental health and well-being.

Parents often begin searching for answers and support well before they realize their children may be struggling with their mental health or receive a diagnosis of any kind. Because we believe that early intervention can make a difference for a child and family, The Parent Support Network meetings are intended to be relatable and supportive to all parents at any stage of concern.

Each chapter of The Parent Support Network is run by volunteer facilitators who have personal experience raising a child, teen, or young adult who has struggled with their mental health. The facilitators are vetted, trained, and supported, and are dedicated to helping parents navigate difficulties that they have experienced themselves.

The Parent Support Network in-person meetings are intended to be flexible and open, allowing the discussion to be influenced by the needs of attendees.

While each meeting is guided by one or more facilitators using a defined structure and format, the topics of discussion are driven by the parent attendees and the particular concerns or feelings they bring to the meeting.

Typical topics include but are not limited to:

• Concerns about behaviors
• Therapy
• Treatment
• Medication
• Education
• Diagnosis
• Relationships with friends and family
• Impact on siblings

The facilitators are trained to use any topic of discussion as an opportunity to help parents feel connected and work through difficult feelings, such as blame, shame, guilt, anger, disappointment, and frustration, enabling them to find hope, gratitude, acceptance, and strength.

Meetings happen at least once a month. All meetings are open to new members, and parents are not obligated to attend any specific meeting or number of meetings. Since there is no set curriculum, parents can decide when to attend based upon their own schedule and may choose to attend regularly or sporadically.

Meetings are expected to last about 90 minutes, but the precise length will vary depending on the location, size of the group, and needs of the facilitators. As parents may have children at home who need care and whose needs are often unpredictable, flexibility is built in to allow parents to arrive late or leave early. Facilitators are trained to create a comfortable and safe environment for all attendees. 

At this time, The Parent Support Network is not structured to provide child care. We suggest attendees make arrangements with a trusted caregiver for children. If there are two parents involved, have one parent attend the meeting while the other parent is with the child/children. 

Anonymity is a foundation of safety, particularly during times of stress, anxiety, and worry. We support and protect each individual's need to maintain privacy and anonymity and insist that all parents and caregivers agree to maintain confidentiality and privacy. We respect the right of each individual and their family to determine if, when, and where they are willing to share their identities or personal stories or experiences.

Parents who share similar experiences can be each other's greatest allies, offering invaluable resources and understanding. Parents of children facing mental health challenges are uniquely positioned to understand the isolation, blame, and shame associated with invisible and misunderstood struggles. We have found that parents coming together in these situations are enthusiastic about creating a supportive, safe, and protective environment for everyone.

No. Attendees may simply observe and listen as long as they like. Facilitators are trained to encourage parents to find their own levels of comfort and give everyone the opportunity to speak or share if and when they become ready.