When families are faced with the daily realities of parenting children with special needs it can be helpful to connect with another parent of a child with similar experiences to talk about the joys, challenges and concerns they face in raising their child. We know that parents, through their shared experiences, can give each other the support and practical knowledge, resources and tools to help them along their journey.

The Family Support Network at Mission Children's Hospital is a parent-to parent program serving families of children with special needs. We offer outreach and community activities; emotional support; education and training; guidance navigating systems; and resources on many facets of caregiving to parents, caregivers, community agencies and professionals serving children with special health care and developmental needs. Our team provides many services such as formal peer mentoring or connection program for the parent/caregiver as well as monthly Family Group Nights with educational workshops. We also provide experienced staff support with information, resources and navigating the community services. If you would like to get up to date information on dates of workshops and support programs as well as community events, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter here or check out our NEW FSN Events Calendar.

Our organization also offers in-patient services in which we provide resources and educational materials to families located within all units where children receive care within the Mission Children’s Hospital. We also offer a Stepping Stones Triple P Positive Parenting Program which is an 8 week program that addresses the needs of families who have a child with disabilities. This program helps parents to develop effective management strategies for dealing with a variety of childhood behavioral problems and development issues. If you are interested in signing up for this program or need any additional information please send an email to Kerri Eaker at Kerri.Eaker@hcahealthcare.com.

The Family Support Network is located at Mission Children's Hospital Reuter Outpatient Center at 11 Vanderbilt Park Drive in Asheville. Referrals are accepted from any source and can be faxed to 828-213-0040 or by phone. To learn more about our services or to give a referral please call 828-213-0033. You can also fill out a request for information form to receive more information about our programs and services here.

2020 Family Support Network WNC Team

Forms and Resources

• Alternatives to Guardianship Options
• Why a Care Notebook? - In caring for a child with special health care needs or mental health needs, families get information and paperwork from many sources. The care notebook is designed to help organize the information in a central place to assist both you as a parent and other providers who care for your child.
• Family Group Night Flyer
• Family Support Network Rack Card
• FSN Events and Calendar
• Guardianship Information Packet - Guardianship is a legal process, utilized when a person can no longer make or communicate safe or sound decisions about his/her person and/or property or has become susceptible to fraud or undue influence. Because establishing a guardianship may remove considerable rights from an individual, it should only be considered after alternatives to guardianship have proven ineffective or are unavailable.
• Homeschooling Information Packet  
• Mental Health Care Notebook
• NC 2-1-1 - NC 2-1-1 is an information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina. Accessible via an easy-to-remember, three-digit number, families and individuals can call to obtain free and confidential information on health and human services and resources within their community.
• Social Security Benefits Information Packet
• Summer Camp Guide - Some camp operations may have changed due to COVID-19. Please check with camp directly for confirmation/adjustments to operations.
• Transition to Adult Living Directory
• Transitions Guide
• Western Regional Support Groups 2020