In 1988, Family Support Network created a value statement through a collaborative process including parents of children with special needs, professionals, and Family Support Network program coordinators and staff. Value Statement Families are unique, cohesive, interconnected systems of strengths and weaknesses. As the fundamental base of our society and as a source of strength of the individual, families should be supported when challenged by a child with special needs. An effective source of help and health is the caring and compassion of another family with a similar child. All families of children with special needs should have access to timely, unbiased and complete information about the needs of the child and resources for helping the child and family.
Information is a powerful and necessary tool for persons moving from crisis to self-care.
Information should give families options. Collaboration and communication among families and health and human service professionals enhances the quality of services delivered and the satisfaction of providers and consumers. Support Network began through a grant from the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities to develop two parent to parent programs and an outreach training program to involve medical students with families of children with special needs. Carolina legislative appropriation to the University of North Carolina Medical School Division of Community Pediatrics provided for ongoing parent to parent program development. Support Network of North Carolina - North Carolina Assistive Technology Project collaboration began.