Family Support Services
Having a child with special needs is not what most parents expect or plan for. The initial news, that a child has a disability or developmental delay, can be devastating for parents, and caregivers. It can wipe away a parent’s hopes and dreams in a matter of minutes. Despite their best attempts to say “this cannot be so,” reality slowly begins to seep through.
Once the information begins to sink in, parents often experience a range of emotions such as anger, fear and guilt, to name just a few. They might feel isolated from other relatives and friends whose children are following a typical course of development. They are often left to wonder where to turn for guidance, support and information.
Even after children are placed in high-quality, educational programs, many parents still feel isolated and afraid. They wonder what is in store for their youngster in the future and who will protect them. Will their youngster ever be able to take care of him or herself, and if not, who will help them? They worry about the impact on their other children. They worry about how they will meet their youngster’s special needs and those of other family members.
Our new Family Support Services Program is dedicated to strengthening and empowering families to meet the challenges of parenting children with disabilities. By giving parents opportunities to gain support from other parents and professionals, providing information about a complex and often confusing array of public and private resources and how to access them, helping parents understand and manage their children’s special needs and the impact this has on their family, we believe that we will not only equip families with the tools they need to face daily and future challenges, but also reduce the fear and anxiety that these challenges often evoke. We believe that this will have a positive outcome for all family members.
For more information about our Family Support Services, please contact Debra Bardavid at 212-616-1874 or email debra.bardavid@birchfamilyservices.org.
