Connecting Families

Connecting Families is a network of peer support in the state of Wisconsin for families of children and youth with special health care needs. In short, we help families connect with other families traveling a similar journey.

Wisconsin has a lot of wonderful supports available for families but sometimes navigating these services and systems can be a challenge. The experience of having a child with special health care needs can be lonely, scary, and overwhelming. One of the best resources we can provide is simply to connect families to one another. These connections help families overcome isolation, share common experiences, build resiliency, and learn from one another.

What makes Connecting Families unique?

Connecting Families works alongside our community partners to ensure that no family gets lost or falls through the cracks. While each of these partners plays a vital role in supporting families of children and youth with special health care needs, Connecting Families is unique in these ways:

• We are developing new family peer support opportunities that are specifically designed to address unmet needs in the community. This means really listening to the lived experiences of families and working to address the gaps they identify. Current areas of support include:
  • Children with Hearing Differences
  • Black Families
  • Children with Medical Complexity
  • Rural Communities

• While this may at times involve one-to-one connections, our main focus in on creating innovative group supports based on the current needs and interests of families. Peer support means different things to different people, and this can change from season to season.
• We provide training and encouragement for our team of Support Parents through an ongoing learning community. As part of this learning community, we create space for our Support Parents to learn, grow, share resources, and feel supported as they in turn support others.