The Parent Mentor is the parent of a child with a disability who is available to help families and school districts by providing information, support and training.
The Goal of the Parent Mentor:
· Guide families through the special education process and explain parents’ rights and responsibilities.
· Listen and provide support to families and educators on an individual basis.
· Provide information and support to families including education laws, district programs and services and community resources.
· Attend Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings and other meetings at the request of parent or staff.
· Build collaborative partnerships between families, schools and agencies to benefit students with disabilities.
Some Common Reasons Why Parents Call the Parent Mentor:
· “I’m worried about my child moving from one school to the next.”
· “I feel alone and wish I could talk to another parent who understands my concerns.”
· “I have many questions about my child’s education, but I forgot to ask them at the school meetings.”
· “I would like to be more involved in planning my child’s education.”
· “I am worried about my child’s progress and don’t know what to do.”
· “I feel like nobody is listening to my concerns about my child.”
· “I would like to have someone attend and support me at an IEP and/or other meetings at school.”
The Allen County Parent Mentor Program is funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Education. Parent Mentor Services are provided free of charge to families in Allen County and Lima City Schools.