Maine’s Center for Disease Control provides Maine Parent Federation funding from the federal Maternal and Child Health block grant. With this grant funding, MPF provides staff for Family Consultants and Regional Coordinators as part of our Family Support Navigator Program. Family Consultants provide direct peer support to families using a family-centered method to assist in navigating all systems of care, increase access to services, and increase positive outcomes for families of children with special healthcare needs. Individuals must be a parent/guardian of child with special health care needs or a relative of a child with a special health care need who also has professional experience in the services delivery system.
Regional Coordinators for the Parent to Parent program employed by MPF provide resources and information to families, healthcare providers, community-based-agencies and others serving children with special healthcare needs. Their knowledge includes but is not limited to insurance, state services, Katie Beckett, MaineCare, medical home, Special Education, transition to adult healthcare services and linking people to services at the state and community level. Individuals must be parents or guardians of a child with special healthcare needs.
The mission of our Family Support Navigation Program is to connect families to a network of support and information and is bound by these 5 guiding principles;
- Experienced parents in your area who are available for one-on-one help and support in a variety of ways
- A confidential ear that will listen to you and your family
- Support for meetings by helping you organize and prepare for the meeting and attending with you if needed
- Help to understand the resources and services available to your family
- Better access to services to increase positive outcomes
