| Summary: | 博士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 特殊教育學系 === 103 === The “Parent to Parent” program provides emotional and informational support to parents of children with special needs by matching a trained veteran parent in a one-to-one relationship with a parent newly referred the program. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of the “Parent to Parent” services for three families with special needs and examine the results of the services. As the service of "family centered early intervention" was limited and "self-helped parent group" also had its dilemma, this study found that the “Parent to Parent” program was a strategy after understanding the limitation of the other two services.
As a result of the collaborative action, it was necessary to consider multiple factors for matching experienced parents and needed parents in the beginning. Next, the first contact would affect the following relationships between experienced parents and needed parents. Understanding the actual needs of needed parents was the key for experienced parents to give a support. Then, a peer support relationship was built. Experienced parents and needed parents trusted each other and engaged in activities. The “Parent to Parent” program could be classified as an informal support which could be more efficient in the reduction of stress than professional or formal one as the informal support offered support that was more practical in natural. Also, both of experienced and needed parents were empowered. They made their own decisions and controlled their daily lives. At last, experienced parents need supports, too.
During this action process, my role was multiple and the relationship with other participants changed over time. In order to serve more families, it is critical to involve more participants in this practice and dilute my influence in the future.
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