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The parent mentor program at St. Luke's Children's is a family-centered care service. It matches parents of children being cared for at St. Luke’s Children’s with parents mentors who have been through similar experiences. These mentors are effective managers of their own child’s health care. They are trained to provide support, modeling, suggestions, and validation to parents who are building their own partnerships with their child’s health care team.
Mentors may talk with families about:- Partnering with their child’s medical care team, personal styles of communication, obtaining information, asking questions, and navigating the hospital system
- Coordinating family life during hospitalization
- Normalizing family life after hospital discharge
- Managing medical requirements and personal coping strategies
- Helping their child with medical appointments and procedures
- Parenting tips
Parent mentors are available to offer support in person, by telephone, or through email. If you're interested in talking with a parent mentor, call (208) 706-6487 or send us an email.
Meet Our Parent Mentors
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Sarah
Sarah's older son has two immune disorders: celiac disease and eosinophilic esophagitis.Read More -
Amy C.
Amy is a mentor for parents whose child or children have been born prematurely.Read More -
Amy H.
Amy's daughter Bethany began having seizures as an infant and was diagnosed with epilepsy.Read More -
Andrea
Two of Andrea's children have Usher Syndrome Type IIc, which causes hearing and visual impairments.Read More -
Ashlie
Cochlear implants have helped Ashlie's son Krew thrive after his profound hearing loss diagnosis.Read More -
Bekah
Bekah's daughter Keira has cerebral palsy, hearing loss, and a G-tube, just to scratch the surface.Read More -
Bree
Bree has found strength in community as she manages her daughter Kyra's extremely complex medical needs.Read More -
Carrie
Behavioral intervention and psychotherapy have helped Carrie's son Henry thrive as they navigate his autism and ADHD together.
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Corey and Shaina
Corey and Shaina's son was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia.Read More -
Emily B.
Emily's son Oliver has experienced a variety of medical complications since his premature birth at just 25 weeks and 5 days gestation.Read More -
Emily P.
Emily's daughter Ellie has spina bifida and hydrocephalus.Read More -
Erica M.
Erica's son Gavin has CHARGE syndrome, a rare genetic condition involving many medical complexities.Read More -
Erica W.
Erica W. and her husband are parents to five children, two that they hold with their hands and three that they hold in their hearts.
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Gretchen
Two of Gretchen's children have a rare connective tissue disorder that caused cleft palates, hearing loss and joint issues.Read More -
Janet
Janet's son struggled with mental health issues and suicidality, and her daughter has Angelman Syndrome.Read More -
Kari
Kari's daughter Hattie had meningitis, which led to profound bilateral hearing loss.Read More -
Kyla
Kyla and her husband have experience with bleeding disorders, gained by caring for their son, who has hemophilia.Read More -
Lesa
Now thriving adults, Lesa's daughters, Corinne and Emily, were both born with moderate-severe-profound hearing loss.
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Megan
After her son Corwyn passed away, Megan was inspired to support the families of medically complex children.Read More -
Rebekka
A colostomy has helped Rebekka's daughter Tenille thrive!Read More -
Samantha
Samantha's son was diagnosed with autism at age two.Read More -
Sheri
Sheri's son Aden was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma at age two.Read More -
Spring
Spring's son Kyle has faced multiple major surgeries and over 35 separate diagnoses, including Down syndrome and feeding/bowel issues.Read More -
Tara
Tara's son Killian has cerebral palsy, ADHD, anxiety, and specific learning disorder.Read More -
Vashti
Vashti's daughter struggled with major depression, anxiety, and severe self-harm.Read More
You are not alone.
Caring for a child with complex medical needs can be complicated and overwhelming. Support from someone navigating similar challenges can make all the difference.