The Children’s Heart Network has trained resource parents to help other heart parents and caregivers cope with their child’s diagnosis and care when they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Whether your child is newly diagnosed or has been living with heart disease for a long time, the resource parents are here to offer some emotional support, encouragement, practical guidance, empowerment and connection to resources through their lived experiences.
How a resource parent can support you
- One on one support peer support to help normalize the challenges and emotions that come with parenting a child or youth with CHD
- Help reduce feelings of isolation and stress
- Offer shared experience & encouragement
- Offer hope through lived experience
- Connection to resources
- Share strategies and tips for navigating the health care system
- Encourage parents and caregivers to become advocates
How to get connected with a resource parent
If you’d like to connect one-on-one with another heart parent, we have a province-
wide network of resource parents trained to support other parents and are available to listen and offer support and information through phone calls, emails, or in person.
Please contact our Provincial Coordinator, Samantha Aitken, to get connected to a
resource parent at chn@childrensheartnetwork.org .