1. Parent-to-ParentMentorship Program
Bridgesfor Families-Birth toThree
What is Parent to Parent Mentorship?
Parent to Parent Mentorship began in 1971 and has expanded to several hundred
programs across the country. These programs match and connect parents of children with
disabilities to other parents experiencing similar challenges, joys, and questions. Mentor
partnerships include the new parent (mentee) and a trained veteran parent (mentor).
These mentorships are purely voluntary and participation and interest is at the discretion
of both parties. Over 80% of parents find Parent to Parent support to be helpful.
How does it work?
o Volunteer veteran parents complete training (this packet) and an intake form
o After an indication of interest, new parents complete an intake form and are
matched with a veteran parent based on factors such as family dynamics, child’s
needs, and the needs of the family.
o Veteran parents receive their match and are instructed to contact their mentee
within 24-48 hours
o Parent partners will then decide their preferred time, amount, and method of
contacting each other (best practice advises at least four contacts over eight weeks)
Why is it needed?
The ambiguity and novelty of a new diagnosis or the start of a new therapy can be
intimidating and stressful for families. There are four stages to this adaptation process:
 Surviving-how you “keep going” when you feel helpless or out of control
 Searching-seeking understanding about your child and your family, a time of action
 Settling in-more control than surviving and less urgency than searching, a time of
acceptance and peace with a situation
 Separating-the process of step-by-step increasing your child’s independence and
allowing a healthy separation to occur
These stages do not occur linearly, and are all normal emotional reactions to this novelty.
Social and information support from people who have been through the process and
remember or are still experiencing these feelings can often provide a different and more
personal kind of support than can providers and professionals in this time of adaptation.
When asked who is best able to support them emotionally, families often say their first
choice is other parents who can share their experiences (Boukydis, 1984; Singer et al.,
1999; Summers et al., 1990)

2. How can I help?
As a parent mentor, you will be a source of information, experience, and understanding.
You can provide insight, resources, or simply a listening ear to a new and struggling parent.
This may include:
 Listening without judgment
 Providing personal stories and experiences
 Offering information about community resources or referring the parent to other
supports if you are uncomfortable or feel unable to address a parent’s concern (ex.
Parents’ mental health, child and family’s safety and needs, etc.)
 Helping parents solve problems and giving advice while allowing and respecting the
parents’ autonomy in decisions
Skills of a supportive parent include:
 Empathetic and open listening
 Effective, consistent communication
 Understanding, appreciating, and respecting the family’s needs, expectations,
and concerns, and how those do or do not align with your own
 Acknowledging and respecting a parent’s opinion and choice of action for their
child; giving advice without telling a parent what to do
 Trustworthy and confidential
Peer support is crucial for the well-being and positive outcomes of new parents, and can be
a source of confidence and inspiration for mentor parents. A study on focus groups with
parents in early intervention found that emotional support , especially parent-to-parent
contact, was the greatest unmet family need for families (Gilkerson & Ritzler, 2005).
The chart below outlines some benefits of peer support:

3. Quick Tips for Parent Mentors:
 Call or contact at a time that is convenient for you, and ensure it is convenient for
your mentee so as neither party is distracted
 Be honest about your own experiences, but do not feel the need to share more than
you are comfortable
 Help the parents to focus on the positive aspects of their child, but validate their
feelings and opinions, however avoid phrases such as “I know how you feel”
 Listen more than you talk
 Take your mentee’s lead on the frequency and method of contact
 Keep self-care in mind: be open with your mentee if you are too sick, busy, or
overwhelmed to contact or meet at that time, but be sure to follow up later. You
cannot be an effective helper if you are stressed yourself.
 Know your limits: if you feel uneasy or unable to support a parent or address their
serious concerns, contact outside professional resources. Do not provide unsolicited
medical or personal advice. Contact your Bridges support person with any concerns
on this.
 Have fun! This could be a great opportunity to build a life-long supportive friendship
with a person or family who shares a similar story and experience.
Information obtained from SEEC’s “Parent to Parent Mentor Training”
http://www.seeconline.org/node/121#Certification
Tear here:
Indication of Interest
Please complete the following page(s) and return to Bridges for Families at your
earliest convenience
I have read the above information and training materials, and understand the expectations
and role of a parent mentor.
Signature(s):_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Date:___________
o I am interested in serving a role as a parent mentor (**if checked, please complete
intake form below**)
o I am not interested in becoming a parent mentor.

4. Parent mentor partnerships will be based on a number of factors related to family
dynamics, child diagnoses, and needs of the family. Please share any information you are
willing to provide to help with the matching process.
Parent Mentor Intake Form
Name(s): ________________________________________________________________________________________
Child(ren)’s age(s): _________________________
Language spoken at home: ______________________
Brief description of your child (activities you do together, special needs/diagnoses,
siblings, etc.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bridges’ providers on your service: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Preferred method(s) of contact:
Email:_________________________________ Phone _______________________________
Best time to contact (ex. Evenings, weekends, etc.): ________________________________________
What can you offer as a parent mentor?________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Anything else that you would like us to know in order to make a potential match?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Would you be interested in parent-to-parent mentorship activities (ex. Play groups,
coffee/dinner meetings, family outings, etc.?)
o Yes; most availability during (evenings, weekends, etc.):
_________________________________________________________________________________
o No
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns:
Megan Hofschulte (Family Resource Intern) mhofschulte@wisc.edu
**Please email completed form to Megan or return your Bridges provider as soon as
possible**