About Us

The Vision of Family Connection

 

Every child with special needs will reach their full potential.

 

The Mission of Family Connection 

 
The mission of Family Connection of South Carolina is to strengthen families of children with special needs through parent support.
 
In 1989 a group of South Carolina parents who have children with disabilities and special needs founded the community based, family-focused organization, Family Connection of South Carolina, Inc (FCSC). Those families realized the source of their families' hope and strength for the future of their children came from other parents who had already successfully navigated life's similar challenges. Therefore, all of our programs and services are centered on the concept of parent-to-parent support or the fact that families with shared experiences are uniquely qualified to help each other.
 
FCSC has a statewide infrastructure in place that includes a network of families and area offices across the state.  Parents' personal insights, knowledge of their children, resources, and solutions gained through experience offer valuable perspectives.  Parents work together with professionals as equal partners in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs and services for their children.
 
FCSC has significant practical experience in working with public and private organizations in developing and improving systems that support children with special health care needs and their families in the community through providing access to information, education, and training opportunities.  This grassroots network has come about through the development of many collaborative projects and partnerships with a broad array of organizations.
 
Staff and volunteer parents of FCSC who are located in all counties of the state, are enthusiastically involved in activities supporting families and children with special needs. There are currently 562 active volunteer support parents who have completed training through a curriculum designed with professionals to provide skills and information required in this role. As support parents, they then are carefully matched with another parent requesting support. Follow up by program staff to ensure best practice and parent satisfaction continues for six months. In addition to the Support Parent program, some of the programs Family Connection offers include:
 
  • Family Social Events:  Each of our area offices hosts at least four local events annually to give parents a chance to enjoy activities that are not often available for parents of children with disabilities and special needs.
  • Family Partner Program:  A statewide parent-to-parent program provided for the parents of children ages birth to three years who are eligible for BabyNet, South Carolina's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with delays and disabilities.
  • Project Breathe Easy:  PBE was initiated in 1997 with the purpose/goal of providing parent-to-parent support around a child's asthma to empower and educate the family to be the child's best advocate.
  • Awareness:  The Key to Friendships:  An educational program for elementary and middle school students that teaches understanding and sensitivity towards people with disabilities.
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Support:  One-on-one support for parents who have a newborn in the NICU.
  • Kid Connection:  Workshops for siblings of children with special needs.
  • Couples Communication Workshops:  Using the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (P.R.E.P.), couples are provided skills and information in weekend retreats helping to strengthen families who have children with special health care needs.
  • Grandparents Workshop:  Informational sessions designed specifically for grandparents.
  • Support Groups (Parent Connections):  Organized around specific disabilities or interests offered across the state.
  • Family Respite Cooperatives:  Volunteers give co-op member parents a break from in-home care in collaboration with local faith communities.
  • Medical Education Programs:  Medical students and pediatric and family practice residents engage with families in home visits and connections outside the role of physician/patient to better understand family-centered care and the medical home.
  • The Link:  Family Connection's organizational newsletter distributed quarterly to our donors, grantors, partners and friends.
  • The Link2U:  A newsletter focusing entirely on parent-related news.  Distributed quarterly, the Link2U provides educational information and resources dedicated to parents in the special needs community.
  • 'Of Hopes and Dreams' Annual Conference:  A conference designed specifically for parents and professionals who have children with disabilities and those that care for them.
  • Statewide Advocacy:  FCSC is the home to Family Voices-South Carolina.  Family Voices is a national grassroots organization that advocates for children and youth with special health care needs and has partnerships with the American Academy of Pediatrics, MCH, and other coalitions.  FCSC spends a significant amount of time advocating in support of appropriate legislation for families.
  • South Carolina's Resource and Information Center:  See our list of state resources.