The second annual Support Parent Summit, held on October 9, 2024, was an outstanding success. This virtual event brought together the dedicated Parent to Parent staff and volunteers who provide invaluable peer support to families of children with disabilities or special health care needs across the U.S.
Event Highlights
- Diverse Participation: We welcomed 94 live participants, with an even split between Parent to Parent staff and volunteers.
- Engaging Content: The 3-hour program featured expert speakers on crucial topics such as building relationships and managing compassion fatigue.
- Inclusive Approach: Live Spanish interpretation ensured broader accessibility.
- Recognition: We honored two exceptional volunteers with Support Parent Awards, celebrating their commitment to supporting families. Awardees received a beautiful linocut print created by artist and mother Leslie Nan Moon.
Impact and Feedback
The Summit’s success is reflected in our participants’ enthusiastic responses:
“The Support Parent Summit was AMAZING! Thank you for all that you do to support us!”
“I was extremely pleased to see the amount of people that showed up for the Zoom meeting and who stayed. It was a pleasure to get small insight into so many other mentors around the country. Hope to be able to do that again.”
“I thought the self-care content, specifically the brain re-wiring info, was very relevant and useful.”
Source: 2024 Support Parent Summit Post-Event Survey
In addition, 88% of attendees found the content very or extremely relevant to their needs.
Looking Forward
The enthusiasm from participants has highlighted areas for future growth:
- More frequent networking opportunities
- Disability-specific support topics
- Exploration of support methods across states
One attendee expressed: “I would love to do more of these and learn more about Support Parents in other states.”
We look forward to building on this success in future events.
Thank You, Sponsors!
We are immensely grateful to the generous sponsors who helped us create this vital platform for refreshing skills, expanding networks, and recognizing the outstanding contributions of those who tirelessly support families in need across the country.
We invite you to learn more about our sponsors by visiting their websites linked below.
