II.  Mentoring Level

F2F will create opportunities for one family to mentor another family so that this family can increase its knowledge and capacity to access supports and participate in decision-making that will bring about positive health outcomes for their children throughout their lives.

F2F’s Mentoring Level of Capacity relies on volunteer families who are willing to assist other families in building their capacity to improve health options and outcomes for their children.  Families can request to be matched with a Supporting Parent or a Health Resource Parent, both trained volunteers.  Families can participate in the F2F E-Group discussions held online at their convenience.  This group is comprised of volunteer families and professionals willing to lend advice via the internet.  Finally, families can be connected to a county Navigator Team.  Navigator Teams, a project of the Parent Leadership Coalition, are made up of local parents and professionals knowledgeable of and interested in developing more community-based services.  These teams have a wealth of information at their disposal, and share a wealth of information with families in their local communities.

• Supporting Parent:  Parents volunteers trained to offer one-to-one support to families
• Health Resource Parent:  Parent volunteers specifically trained/experienced to support families on specific medical resources, i.e. Deeming Waiver, HBOT, Medicaid, etc.
• F2F E-Group:  Information sharing resource for health care topics ( Message Board)
• Navigator Team:  Local community-based group working to strengthen communities for children and youth with special health care needs