Circle of Parents Montana is a statewide network of parent peer-support groups for parents and caregivers of children with special healthcare needs. Each group is supported by a local anchor organization that connects families with concrete resources and services that reflect their community's unique needs.
Circle groups meet monthly and are free, providing a welcoming space for parents and caregivers to share experiences, ideas, information, encouragement, and resources. Parent leaders, peers of the families they serve, lead groups and create an environment where support and knowledge come from lived experience.
At the heart of Circle of Parents is the belief that parents know best. Rather than relying on outside facilitators or presenters to provide answers, Circle groups create space for parents to learn from and support one another. The wisdom shared in these groups comes directly from parents who understand the joys and challenges of raising children and navigating family life.
Circle groups support families of children of all ages and serve a wide range of family structures and community needs. While groups may differ in their focus and the populations they serve from one community to another, they share a common purpose: helping parents build connections and find support from peers who understand their experiences.
Mission Statement: Prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families through mutual self-help parent support groups.
Core Trends
This mission is supported by the core tenets of our collaboration.
- Children are valuable.
- Children have the right to grow up free from abuse and neglect.
- Children have the right to a safe environment.
- Children have the right to a nurturing home, family and community.
- Parents and families have the right to non-judgmental support.
- Parents and families have the right to respect.
- Parents and families have the right to compassion.
- Strong communities value children and engage families.
- Communities have the right to parent support groups that are culturally responsive.
- Communities grow through support from their own members.
- Communities benefit from equal treatment of all members.
Trust. Parents who come to support groups count on each other to listen openly, respond honestly, and always act with compassion. Parents know that all information shared in the support group is confidential and never discussed outside the group setting, within the limits of the law. All parents may choose anonymity in the support group.
Reciprocity. Parents provide non-judgmental support to one another. Parents are experts on their own families and children. Together, parents learn from one another about ways to strengthen their families.
Leadership & Personal Accountability. The support group belongs to the parents who attend. Parents determine the content of meetings and agenda; they define their own goals in the group, model healthy interactions, ensure meetings take place consistently, set individual goals, and act on their decisions.
Respect. Parents in support groups can expect to have their feelings heard, one at a time. They can also count on enough time for everyone to speak, rather than one or two people taking over the group. Parents, facilitators, and parent leaders honor cultural traditions, boundaries, and needs of group members.
Parenting in the Present. Support groups focus on what is happening today, rather than spending precious time on things in the past that cannot be changed. Sometimes, people need to talk about the past because it affects what is happening now.
Shared Leadership. Parents and professionals build successful partnerships. They share responsibility, expertise, and leadership roles.
Responsibility. Group members hold each other accountable to these values, ask for clarification when they don't understand something, and reach out if someone seems to be struggling.
Non-Violence. Participants help one another develop positive problem-solving methods and recognize that violence at any level is not an acceptable way to deal with problems and issues.
Interested in participating in Circle of Parents? Contact Melissa Winger at Zero to Five Montana.
- Email: MelissaW@zerotofive.org
- Phone: 406-513-1115 ext. 119
