Other resources you can call to see if there is a parent support group in your area!

Family Resource Center in Region 2

Serving the areas around Moscow, Lewiston & Grangeville.

Call Lynn at:

1 (208)885-3743

Family Resource Center in Region 7

Serving the areas around Idaho Falls, Rexburg & Salmon.

Call Shelly at:

1 (208) 528-5905

Idaho Parents

Unlimited, Inc. (IPUL)

 1 (800) 242-IPUL (4785)

www.idahoipul.org

Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s

Mental Health

1 (800) 905-3436

www.idffcmh.org

Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho

 1 (208) 334-4340

www.epilepsyidaho.org

Autism Society of

America 

1 (800) 3AU-TISM

www.autism-society.org

Family Groups Across Idaho

Many families in Idaho participate with different kinds of support groups. There are disability specific groups on Autism or Epilepsy for example, as well as parent groups organized to provide support across the wide range of ages, disabilities, family types and needs. Sometimes it feels like these types of groups come and go, but what are some of the things that make a group strong?

We talked to Lorena Freund from Coeur d’Alene about this because she has been part of the effort in Region 1 to support parents in partnership with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare with the parent group: Parents Reaching out to Parents (PROP).

Q: Lorena, what does it take to get parents to turn out?

A: Some parents don’t get a break or a chance to talk to other non-judgmental adults, so being able to access 2 hours of daycare or respite while we meet is really helpful.  

Q: Do you think the daycare really makes that big of difference?

A: Yes, I’ve had moms come in and just sit quietly for an hour and tell me this one time per week is all they have to catch their breath.

Q: What kind of schedule is PROP on to get together?

A: PROP now meets in Coeur d’Alene once a week on Wednesdays from 12:30-2:30. We’ve added meetings in St. Maries and Kellogg!  St. Maries parents meet the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 10:30 -12:30 and Kellogg parents meet every Monday from 2-3:30.

Q: What do you do at these meetings?

A: Well, the Coeur d’Alene meeting is a good example to use. I bring sandwich fixings and many of the parents also bring something to contribute. We grab something to eat, introduce ourselves and share what has been happening in their week.

Q: That’s it? I thought parent groups were often more formal than that, lobbying law makers, fund raising and so on.

A: A group can do whatever they want to do. PROP is also a non-profit organization so we have board meetings and fund raising events too. But that doesn’t take the place of the scheduled weekly or every other week meetings when we are there for each other. Some weeks we have 8-10 parents, we’re not just for moms but dads too! My biggest attendance in Coeur d’Alene was 35.

Q: Wow! That seems like a lot.

A: It was! I try to facilitate the meetings to make sure all parents participate to the level they want to and that we are focused on supporting each other. When we get bigger than 35 or so, it can be hard for parents to connect with each other, but we’ll never turn anyone away! If your readers are in Region 1, please join us!

Twin Falls: ‘ASAP’ Parent Group meets 1st Wednesday of each month, 6pm. Call Jenny for location (208)308-8480—some child care available.

Coeur d’Alene, Kellogg, & St. Maries: Questions? Call Lorena at (208) 769-1409. See above for details on meeting times.

Terreton: Eastern Idaho Autism Awareness group. Call Cindy at (208) 339-4827 for more details.

Idaho Falls: Parent to Parent meets every Friday from 12-2 over lunch and child care is available. Call Amy at (208) 542-0875 for more information!

Boise: ‘IFAD’ is a group for family of adults with disabilities.

They share information via email and at meetings. For details, call Debbie at (208) 229-0555.

If you know of more groups, please call us today so we can share this with other families! Families tell us the most helpful thing to them is information shared by other families!

Keys to Effective Parent Groups

If you are interested in getting a group together in your area, here are some tips we’ve heard from other groups around the state.

PARTNERSHIPS

In looking for a place to meet, is there a church or child care location (for example, Head Start) that might be interested in helping  provide an hour or two of day care? Talk to the team at your local Health and Welfare developmental disability or infant toddler program to see if there might be a way to access some funds to help pay for respite care during meetings. You’ll never know what is you possible until you try building partners!

 THE 3 B’S

Be consistent: meet on the same day at the same time. This helps families remember and plan.

Be welcoming: parents of children with disabilities at any age often feel judged and on the spot; there needs to be a place where they are accepted.

Be creative: parents across Idaho have found ways to create groups that provide so much to the parents who attend. If you want to get a group together in your area, you can do it!

 KEEP IT SIMPLE

If you are focused on providing support to parents, they will help you expand your efforts to match the vision of the group. For example, your group might want to work with policymakers on state or federal funding. Or, they might want to create a resource in your town, like an accessible playground. Maybe, your group will be focused on getting some social events going. All have value!

Call us at (800) 393-7290 or contact the organizations listed to the left if you’d like some ideas about creating a group near you!