Share Your Story...
If you have had an experience in which you’ve received support from ParentsCAN, we would be honored to help you tell your story. You can let others know how ParentsCAN helped to change the life of your child and family by telling your story in our newsletter and/or website. We will either include your name or keep your identity anonymous, as you wish.
Sharing your life experiences as a family who loves a child with special needs is so important -- to other families in similar situations, to our donors, and for your own family’s journey.
Please contact us at 253.7444 or parents@parentscan.org to get started in sharing your story.
Parents Helping Parents...
Parents helping parents is a core strength of Parent-Child Advocacy Network. We like to stress the word “network” in our name ... and our network often comes from other parents who have been there and can relate to both the joys and sorrows of parenting a child with a disability.
Sometimes a parent comes along who stands out because they use their life experiences to make a big difference in the lives of others. Here’s a story ...
On February 27, 2008 in the Community Room at the Napa City County Library, nine Napa County residents were quietly honored for their commitment to our community as parent leaders. The ceremony, which was sponsored by Parent-Child Advocacy Network (ParentsCAN), was small but the commitment that these parents have made is great.

Ines DeLuna, Claudia Gallegos, Sheri Green, Keri & Robert Horon, Irais Lopez, Jennifer Siegfried, Catalina Velasquez and Kim Wedlake were nominated by five local agencies as honorees of the 2008 Napa County Parent Leadership Awards. At the event Brad Wagenknecht, chair of the Napa County Board of Supervisors, presented a Proclamation declaring February as Parent Leadership Month. Through her humor and insight, Dr. Barbara Nemko, Superintendent of the Napa County Office of Education, conversed with the attendees regarding what it takes to be leader, encouraging them to imagine change and explaining the steps to make their vision a reality.
National Parent Leadership Month was created by Parents Anonymous to educate the public about this vital family strengthening and community building strategy, and encourage professionals, policymakers and other community members to create opportunities to partner with parents to address issues that affect children and families.
Calistoga Family Center, Child Start Inc., Child Abuse Prevention Council/Cope Family Center, ParentsCAN, and St. Helena Family Resource Center each nominated parents who support the work of their agencies. Between the nine parents honored, their leadership includes school board president, bicultural and bilingual English/Spanish voices, resource center volunteers and fundraising support, members of policy councils at the local, state and national level, co-founders of support groups, as well as providers of compassion and support to parents one-on-one.
The parent leaders honored at the awards ceremony each began in their own homes accomplishing things that may have at first seemed impossible. They used the knowledge they received to reach out a hand to other parents creating a circle of support, which in turn is developing the next parent leaders in Napa County.
If you are interested in reaching out to another family in a similar life situation, please let us know. Maybe you’ll be the next parent leader in our community!
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