SEPAC Support Parents

The parents who offer to speak to other families are referred to as Support Parents. SEPAC offers parents and other caregivers the opportunity to connect one-to-one with a parent or other caregiver of an individual with the same or similar disability or special health care need -- someone who has "been there". Generally, parent to parent support is via telephone conversations between parents. Support Parents are a key support to families of individuals with disabilities or special health care needs.

Who is a Support Parent?

A Support Parent is a parent or primary caregiver of an individual with a disability or special health care needs who resides in Rochester and attends the Rochester City School District. They volunteer to help other families in situations similar to those they have faced, usually by telephone. A Support Parent is a person who wants to reduce feelings of isolation for other families of individuals with disabilities and special health care needs and allow others to benefit from their experiences.

What is the role of a Support Parent? What do Support Parents do?

As a representative of SEPAC, a Support Parent provides emotional support and information to families of individuals with disabilities or other special needs. A Support Parent provides a safe listening environment and can be a wealth of information to other families. Listening is a priority. Support Parents connect with other families, either by telephone or by e-mail, and provide a kind of understanding that no one else can provide. Support Parents participate in "active listening" and provide an opportunity for openness in a non-judgmental relationship. Support Parents DO NOT provide any form of medical advice or professional counseling.

Who can be a Support Parent?

If you are the parent or primary caregiver of an individual with developmental or intellectual disability or special health care needs and reside in Rochester, you can become a Support Parent. Before supporting another parent, Support Parents must complete our training program either by attending a group training in the community, participating in a training webinar, completing our online training course, reading/viewing material distributed by mail or, when necessary, by special arrangements made with your regional coordinator.

How long do parents serve as Support Parents?

When we contact a Support Parent about providing support for another family, we first ask them if they are able to provide support at this time. A Support Parent can simply answer "No" and we will not ask any further questions. We can temporarily remove a Support Parent from our active list until they let us know they are again ready to support other parents. Likewise, we will permanently remove any Support Parent from our active files as soon as the parent requests us to do so. We do not require volunteers to serve any particular length of time. We are a network of families of individuals with disabilities or other special needs and because of this each of us have to attend to our family's needs first and foremost.

If you would like to become a SEPAC Support Parent, please complete the SEPAC Support Parent Family Information Form below.