Dads M.O.V.E. Archives - Family to Family Health Information Center

There are many family supports that exist throughout the state to aid, educate, and create a community for families that have a member that has complex health care needs.

Peer and Support groups

Dads M.O.V.E. seeks to provide every parent/caregiver (especially dads) with the tools, support, and training needed to be fully engaged in the recovery of their children. Hosts a bi-weekly Dad’s Support meeting.

Families of Color Seattle programs include parent groups, community resources and events, and racial equity consulting.

Parent Trust for Washington Children creates lasting change and hope for the future by promoting safe, healthy families and communities.

Family Support Programs

Lifespan Respite WA offers support in the form of a voucher (financial award) for unpaid caregivers who support a family member, friend, or neighbor who has a special need or condition. The voucher is used to pay for services or programs that allow the caregiver to have respite, or “short breaks”. Lifespan Respite vouchers are for short-term respite. Respite care takes many forms, and care services may include:

In-Home Services
Recreation
Day or Overnight Camps
Day Services
Education/Classes
Retreats
24-hour care

Learn more about the voucher program and find out if your family may be eligible.

Online Family Resources

Keep Connected – Ideas, activities, and experiences to help build strong family relationships

Making Friends Where You Live – A Toolkit for Building Friendships Between People With and Without Disabilities

Mommies of Miracles – Support group for mothers of children who have medical complexities, life-limiting conditions, or developmental disabilities

Parent Help 123 – Information about accessing benefits, child development, and special needs

The Association for Successful Parenting (TASP) – Supports families where parents have learning difficulties.

The Arc of Washington – Provides resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, including the statewide Parent 2 Parent program.

Watch Me Grow in Washington State – Get more health and safety information for your child

Articles on Family Support and Self-Care

Climbing the Emotional Caregiving Mountain
A mother’s reflection on raising a child with complex health care needs.

Communities of Grieving

Self-Care is Critical for Caregivers with Unique Challenges
A helpful article from the PAVE website written from a parents’ perspective on how to practice self-care as a caregiver.

Self-Care for Caregivers: How Special Needs Families Recharge
An article on self-care for caregivers written by Angela Nelson, the executive director of Family and Clinical Services, Rethink.

What if My Child is Not Capable of Representing Him or Herself? Guardianship May be Needed
Information on Guardianship, Conservatorship, and the Age of Majority

Lived experience is a qualification that no amount of training or education can replace. Advocacy and leadership from family members of children with complex medical issues is both needed and wanted by many groups at the local, state, and national level.

About Family Leadership

The Importance of the Family Voice
As a family member, it is important that your voice is heard at the table whenever anything having to do with services for children with disabilities is being discussed.

Tips for Emerging Family Leaders
Many families bring leadership skills to the table because of their experiences at work, other service in the
community, or simply the skills and traits that they have developed through life experiences.

How People with Complex Health and Social Needs Can Become Advocates for Change
By Mia Matthews, President/Executive Director, CHANs Promise Foundation; 2019-2020 National Consumer Scholar through the National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs

Learning to Advocate

Learning to Advocate for All Children – As parents and caregivers, learning to effectively advocate for their children can be a difficult learning curve. But once this is achieved, family leaders can reach out beyond their own family and advocate on behalf of many children who have special health care needs. While it may be daunting to step into that larger world, family voices are one of the most powerful forces for change in our society. Here are some tools and organizations that can help you step up your advocacy game.

The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is a program of Washington Family Engagement. The PLTI is a 12- week online course that teaches parents, community members, and professionals working with families to understand systems and develop civic, leadership, and public speaking skills.

Other advocacy training and advocacy opportunities are available on our calendar.

Washington State Family Led Organizations

Dads M.O.V.E. – Seeks to provide every parent/caregiver (especially dads) with the tools, support, and training needed to be fully engaged in the recovery of their children.

Fathers Network – Works by connecting men with each other and with resources and information, by training men to tell their story and advocate for change, and by working to promote inclusion.

Washington Family Engagement – Fosters social transformation by supporting the development of multigenerational leaders from diverse backgrounds to become actively engaged in schools and communities in Washington State.

Washington State Community Connectors – WSCC seeks to continue representing and strengthening their family-led membership by providing opportunities to support and encourage collaboration efforts within the statewide network and with community and system partners.

Washington State Parent to Parent (P2P) – Helping Parent volunteers have completed a training program and are available to provide support and information to other parents. All information is kept confidential. There is no cost for this service.