Parent to Parent Program

Our program emphasizes child and family strengths for children and families that face multiple challenges with emotional and behavioral problems.

Connect with Other Parents

Are you:
Getting mental health services for the first time?
Having trouble finding or obtaining the services your child needs?
Confused by the labels that are applied to your child?
Trying to deal with multiple agencies or providers who don’t communicate?

Do you sometimes feel:
Judged by others because your child has emotional or behavioral problems?
Without a voice in your child’s planning?
Down on yourself as a parent?
Tired or burned out from the job of raising a child who has special needs?

• Decode the technical language and labels the experts are using to describe your child.
• Understand services, find out how to get them.
• Help you to navigate the maze of children’s services and work effectively with service providers.
• Identify and build upon important strengths in your child and family.

• Listen to you and your family.
• Help you make plans that will support your child’s success.
• Coach you on working with providers and on advocating for your child.
• Connect you with informational resources of all kinds.
• Help you find a parent support group or parent network if you wish.
• Share insights and practical advice from their experiences as a parent and give you encouragement when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I have to pay for this service?
No, this service is FREE for all of our families thanks to the generous support of the Linden Foundation and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation.

Is this a kind of counseling?
No. A Parent Coordinator is not a counselor, but a trained guide to help you identify and obtain the supports that you and your family need. Contact with a coordinator can be as short as a single phone call or may involve a series of face-to-face meetings. You decide how much contact you will have.

My child needs expert help. Why would I want to talk to another parent?
The parent to parent service doesn’t replace mental health services that your child or family may need. It provides a different kind of support for parents: someone to talk with who has been in the same situation and knows the stumbling blocks of parenting a child with challenges. Our program is modeled after successful programs in other areas which parents have described as extremely helpful.

How can I find out more?
For information call (978) 744-7905 x 263 or Email: ParentToParent@childrensfriend.net