Family Networking and Support
When parents receive a diagnosis for their child, usually one of their first reactions is to want more information and support from others facing the same issues and challenges. Parents and siblings of children with special needs often gain strength by networking with others and realizing they are not alone.
Networking with others can help you:
- Learn more about your child's diagnosis
- Identify services
- Find support for you and your child
- Stay informed
I am the Child is a poem that captures the some of the feelings and emotions that families share when they have a child with special needs.
The Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center recommends resources where parents and caregivers can turn for networking and support.
Advocacy | Networking | Siblings
Having a child with special health care needs means becoming his / her voice. Advocates can play a critical role in individual patient / family focused issues including insurance, school and access to resources. They can also organize to work on behalf of promoting global issues such as state and federal health care programs that impact families who have children with special needs.
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Networking
- Support Groups are available to help families connect, share and problem solve.
- Cincinnati Children's sponsors support groups for children and families who face similar health care challenges.
- Disability-Specific Web Resources has information on local and national organizations which often offer their own support groups and chat rooms.
- The Family Resource Center at Cincinnati Children's maintains a listing of local groups for medical conditions by diagnosis, bereavement support groups, and others.
- Caregiver Resources offers additional information and resources for families of children with special health care needs.
- CarePages allows you to create and update a free, private and personalized web page to share health care news with friends and family, and receive messages of support.
- CaringBridge lets families of children with special needs create a free, personalized web site to keep others informed and updated during challenging times.
- Fathers Network provides current information and resources to assist all families and care providers involved in the lives of children with special needs.
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Siblings
- Sibshops, sponsored by the Aaron W. Perlman Center, in partnership with the Family Resource Center and the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's, is an interactive workshop for the brothers and sisters of children with special health and developmental needs. Sibshops provides siblings, ages 8-12, with opportunities for peer information and discussion. For more information, contact the Aaron W. Perlman Center at 513-636-4601.
- Sibling Support Project provides information, resources and online connections to others who have siblings with special needs.
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If your questions are not fully answered by our Special Needs Resource Directory and its links, please contact us via email.
Rev. 9/09
