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Parent
Matching:
Parents or guardians of children with special needs can be matched
with a trained volunteer parent mentor who can provide one-one-one
peer support and information. When a family expresses an interest
in having a Parent Mentor, the Support for Families Parent Mentor
Coordinator will contact the family, explain the program, and find
out what the family is looking for in a mentor. After obtaining
a thorough understanding of the family’s needs and preferences,
the Coordinator will try to match the parent with an appropriate
volunteer from Support for Family’s pool of trained mentors.
Matches
are based on the needs expressed by the family and may be based
on the child’s diagnosis, shared language or culture, or a
particular concern. Regardless of preference, each family determines
the kind of mentor they need. Because families often have multiple
needs, more than one mentor may be assigned.
Once
a match has been made, the Coordinator will check in with each periodically
with both the family and the mentor(s).
Parent
Mentor Training:
Twice a year, the Parent Mentor Coordinator facilitates a 2-1/2
day intensive training for adult family members of children with
special needs who are interested in mentoring others. Once a month,
a Parent Mentor Support and Continuing Education Group provides
opportunity for mentors to learn about resources and share their
mentoring experiences with others.
For
more information about obtaining a mentor, or becoming a mentor
volunteer, please call Open Gate at (415) 920-5040 or email
us.
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