PARENT/YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Below are parent leadership resources to assist you, as a parent or family member of a child with special health care needs, to get more involved in your community and to become empowered as an advocate for your child and all children and youth with special health care needs.

Information on youth leadership is also listed below. If you are aware of opportunities not included, please contact Family Voices of Wisconsin (barb@fvofwi.org or lynn@fvofwi.org) and we will be happy to add them!

Parent Leadership Opportunities

• Advocating for Systems Change: A 2009 presentation by Family Voices of Wisconsin
• A Guide to Serving on a County Family Support Advisory Committee
• Advisory Roles Parents Can Play
• Benefits of Families as Advisors
• Wanted! Parents on Advisory Support Boards: Keys to Recruiting and Supporting Parent Participation
• State Level Wisconsin Councils, Boards, Committees or Organizations with Responsibility or Interest In Issues Relating To Children And Families, Disability, and/or Long Term Support
  
  

Links:

• Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative (WSPEI)
  Information on parent involvement in education for children with disabilities.
• The Parent Leadership Hub
  A weekly electronic newsletter providing information on parent leadership and family involvement opportunities in Wisconsin.
  
• Parents as Leaders (PALS)
  A parent leadership opportunity for parents of children ages birth to 6.
• Parents In Partnership
  A leadership opportunity for parents of children ages 6 - 21.
• Leadership Resources: Parents as Collaborative Leaders
  A resource for leadership curriculum developed by the Pacer Center and the University of Vermont.
  
  

Youth Leadership Opportunities:

• Peer Power
  A unique peer-based program designed to support high school students with all types of disabilities to plan for their lives after high school.
• Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YiPPE)
  A program run through WSPEI for youth with disabilities.
• Kids As Self Advocates (KASA)
  A national grassroots project created by youth with disabilities for youth.
• Wisconsin Youth, Information, Training and Resource Center (YITRC)
  YITRC assists young adults (13-30) with developmental disabilities, in a 4-county area (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington) with transition, empowerment, and advocacy related to education, employment and health.
• Wisconsin Youth First
  A website developed by youth for youth.