By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – Work is ongoing to create a family support group in Havre to help parents of children with conditions such as neurodivergencies.
Amanda Christofferson is a Family Support Specialist and says this will be beneficial in providing a much needed service to the Hi-Line.
“I’ve seen that there’s a lack in our community for the needed support and resources for parents of children with neurodivergencies similar to autism, ADHD, kiddos who have exposure in-utero, as well as kiddos through the foster system as well as children of abuse and neglect.”
Christofferson says that this will provide a safe outlet for parents to share their experiences.
“We don’t want to feel alone. We want to be able to talk to people about what we’re going through in our home as well as learn from other parents on something as simple as how to cook on a busy night when you have three sports going on. Or something as hard as it can be as when you have a child going through major mental health crisis, as the last couple years have really hit our kiddos really hard – how the parents deal with it with self-care, how the parents navigate through the system – and in our community with our lack of resources. So we want it to be an inclusive groups to the parents that are really needing that support dealing with their kiddos or families dealing with individuals with those sorts of challenges.”
Christofferson is currently the facilitator of the program locally, but hopes to step to a lower role such as parent leader or community member once it gets going.
The program is funded through DPHHS.
The Circle of Parents Program from the state will be providing training for free at the end of March in Havre for the facilitators, parent leaders, and caregivers. Childcare and dinner will be provided at all meetings.
In the years to come, Christofferson hopes the program can serve the many needs of families.
“I’m hoping this will be more for families as opposed to just parents. So if somebody is caring for a sister or a nephew or a grandchild, I want everybody to be included in this. It can be a Hi-Line group, so people can come from the Hi-Line to our group. And it will hopefully in the future, be the same day and time moving forward.”
Christofferson wants to give a thanks to the Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Line for providing a space for the meetings as well a caregiver.
“That is huge that we’re able to get a free facility and a caregiver right off the bat. Because that is one of the hardest things.”
Those looking to join the support group can contact Christofferson by email at achristofferson@benchmarkhs.com or by phone at 399-3309.
