Peer Support for Parents

In many systems, expertise is measured by degrees or job titles. At the Family Resource Center, we also recognize expertise that comes from lived experience – especially in peer support for parents. We see every day what it means when parents are supported by someone who truly understands what they are going through. In the North Country of New Hampshire, this kind of support can make a meaningful difference for families navigating complex systems.

Peer support for parents connects families with someone who has lived through similar challenges and can offer guidance, encouragement, and understanding. That belief sits at the heart of the Parent Partner role in our Strength to Succeed Program. 

What is Peer Support for Parents?

Parent Partners are parents who have experienced recovery, mental health challenges, and involvement with the child welfare system themselves. They bring leadership shaped by real life, honesty, and empathy. They know what it feels like to be overwhelmed, unsure, or afraid of what comes next. And they know what it takes to keep going. 

Why Lived Experience Matters

“They’re the experts in this role,” shared Kim Mulligan, Strength to Succeed Program Manager. “They know what it takes to go from rock bottom to getting back on your feet.” 

How Peer Support Builds Trust

Families often tell us there is something different about peer support for parents. When someone has lived through similar experiences, it becomes easier to open up, ask questions, and take the next step forward. When parents feel understood instead of being judged, they are more likely to stay engaged and believe that change is possible. 

One parent shared, “I’d be lost without the FRC. They taught me to fish so I could feed my family.” That sense of learning, growing, and finding your own footing is central to how Parent Partners support families. The goal is not to give answers, but to support parents as they build skills, confidence, and stability for themselves and their children. 

What Parent Partner Support Looks Like

Parent Partners are not here to fix families. They spend time with parents as they rebuild trust with their children, make sense of complicated systems, and begin to see their own strengths more clearly. Support is steady and respectful, with space for parents to move at their own pace. 

Progress does not happen all at once. It happens step by step, through patience, care, and consistent support from people who believe in families and their ability to grow. 

Why This Work Matters for Families

As a Recovery Friendly Workplace, we are proud to support parents in leadership roles across our organization. Parent Partners remind us that recovery is possible, families can heal, and lived experience matters. When parents lead with their own stories, they help create a community where others can see what might be possible for themselves, too. This is the impact peer support for parents can have over time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Peer Support for Parents

What is peer support for parents?
Peer support for parents connects families with someone who has lived experience and can offer guidance, encouragement, and understanding.

How do Parent Partners help families?
Parent Partners provide support based on their own experiences, helping families navigate recovery, parenting challenges, and child welfare systems.

Why is lived experience important in family support?
Lived experience helps build trust and connection, making it easier for parents to feel understood and stay engaged in support services.