Parent to Parent of Wisconsin

Parent to Parent of Wisconsin

Parents helping parents through shared experiences.

Parent to Parent of Wisconsin connects parents of kids with special health care needs to volunteers who have walked a similar path. Our support parent volunteers are parents or caregivers of kids with special health care or mental health needs. They support, encourage and offer a listening ear to other parents and caregivers facing similar challenges.

Support parents remember what it’s like to be at the start of this journey. They are caring advocates who listen without judgment. And they are open to learning as they support families from diverse backgrounds.

These connections are rewarding for everyone involved. Many lead to lasting friendships and a stronger sense of community for all.

Get Involved or Find Support

Want to become a support parent volunteer or be matched with a parent who understands your journey? Explore the volunteer details below. Email our program coordinator at P2PWI@childrenswi.org with questions or to get started.

Volunteer Information

Becoming a support parent at Children’s Wisconsin is a rewarding experience. We offer all the support you need, and our program coordinator will do regular check-ins with you.

To ensure the best outcomes for the parents we serve, we ask support parents to:

  • Be at least one year out from their child’s diagnosis.
  • Commit to a minimum one-year term.
  • Support one family at a time for eight weeks.
  • Reach out at least four times with more outreach as needed to provide support.

We base matches on factors such as diagnosis, the child’s age, language, location and upcoming procedures. You may accept or decline the matches you’d like to support. Support parents may also pause providing support as needed for self-care, family or personal needs.

We ask all support parents to:

  • Sign a confidentiality agreement.
  • Complete a two-hour virtual training.

During this training, we:

  • Explain what’s expected.
  • Encourage parents to share their feelings and talk about their personal experience.
  • Discuss setting boundaries.
  • Provide tools to support the parents they’re matched with.