In response to the needs expressed by parents of Mifflin and Juniata Counties the Mifflin-Juniata Interagency Coordination Council (MJICC) submitted a proposal to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Special Needs, to obtain funding to establish a  Parent to Parent network, called Parent to Parent Magic.

 

In our needs assessment for the grant proposal, parents stated such things as, "We were so confused about the news of having a child with special needs." "I would have liked to be in touch with another parent to share ideas, and ask questions." "Seems like there are a lot of services for my child, but not much for parents." "Talking with other parents whose children had similar problems enabled me to ask the right questions and open the door for me to really see there was a light at the end of this dark tunnel."

 

It was quite apparent that a Parent to Parent mentor program was needed. We received the funding to begin our project in April of 1995

 

Parent to Parent Magic provides emotional support and practical information to parents of children who have special needs. To provide this support, trained, experienced parents are carefully matched in one-on-one relationships with parents who are newly referred to the program. Because the experienced parent has met the joys and challenges of having a child with a disability in their family, the experienced parent is often able to provide a unique form of support that only another parent who has "been there" can. Many services are available for children who have special needs. Parent to Parent Magic is a service for parents and other family members.

 

In addition to mentor matches, we have established a Resource Library for parents and professionals to use. We keep information current ad constantly expand our library materials. Often times parents request general information concerning their child's particular disability. Funding for part of this project came from a PA Parents' Resource Network Grant.

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