Minnesota parents of children with disabilities need support and here’s how you can help

Just being able to talk to another parent in their shoes is critical. A study of Parent-to-Parent USA programs shows that parents of children with disabilities experience a 56% decrease in emergency department visits and a decrease in missed school days when they have a network to connect to.

Here in Minnesota, 20% of families have a child with a disability or chronic health condition. Those parents will tell you, it’s a demanding and isolating experience.

“So many parents go on this journey feeling very alone and often they find that because of the needs of their children, friends and family kind of fall by the wayside,” said Carolyn Allshouse, executive director of Family Voices of Minnesota.

The nonprofit is hosting its 13th Annual Connecting Hearts and Raising Voices Benefit on Sunday, Oct. 27. Aside from emotional support and encouragement through its parent-to-parent program, Family Voices of Minnesota (FVMN) provides information and assistance to families in need of financial, healthcare, educational and community resources. Through one-to-one connections, support groups, educational webinars and live chat opportunities, parents have options for connection to break out of the isolation many experience.

FVMN has 200 trained volunteer support parents throughout the state, including rural communities and 33 trained volunteers from the Chinese, Somali, Hmong, Asian, Latinx and Black communities in Minnesota.
“We can offer parents and caregivers a volunteer support parent and make specific connections, like single parents who have the same living conditions or maybe their children have the same disability,” Allshouse added.

FVMN is part of a nationwide network created in the early 1990s when healthcare reform was at the forefront of the Clinton administration. Families of children with disabilities started connecting and created a grassroots network to advocate for health care and policy changes. The organization is called Parent-to-Parent USA, which, today, has 40 member organizations and has trained 7,100 volunteer support parents. FVMN is among those member organizations and was founded in 1994.

“Our goal is to raise $50,000 at our fundraising event,” said Allshouse. “We have an online silent auction that you can bid on even if you aren’t attending.” The event is hosted by Sheletta Brundidge , Emmy award-winning comedian, WCCO Radio host and media personality of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com . Brundidge understands the value of parent-to-parent networks. She is mom to four children, three of whom have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

“When I found out about all the wonderful work that FVMN is doing, I wanted to do more than tell my story; I wanted to donate a silent auction item too.” Brundige is offering to take two people to her monologue recording for TPT’s Almanac. “You’ll get to meet the hosts, Cathy (Wurzer) and Eric (Eskola), and watch a live taping. Then afterwards, we’re going over to The St. Paul Grill for dinner, my treat!”

Family Voices of Minnesota’s 13th Annual Connecting Hearts and Raising Voices Benefit:

Sunday, Oct. 27
4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Keller Golf Center
2168 Maplewood Dr, Maplewood, MN 55109
Learn more, buy tickets and donate here.