I'm a Professional
Why do professionals refer parents of children with disabilities to Raising Special Kids?
- Parents are served free of charge, with reliable information that is family-friendly, and confidentiality is protected.
- Parents are contacted within 48 hours of your referral.
- Parents are connected to trained and experienced parent mentors.
- Parent to Parent Support is an evidence-based practice to assist families by matching them with a unique source of expertise: other families who have children with similar needs, concerns, and challenges.
- Open access: No eligibility determinations are required, any parent of a child with a disability may be referred, and information and services are provided in Spanish and English
- Parents receive training and information to increase their knowledge about the health and educational implications of their child’s condition.
- Parents learn advocacy skills to assist them in accessing public programs and obtaining appropriate services, and knowing how to partner with professionals in decision-making
- You build a stronger network of key community resources to support your efforts to serve parents of children with special health needs. Referring families can help expand your knowledge about the realities and challenges families face in raising a child with special needs.
- To create opportunities for partnerships in devising innovative strategies that implement family-centered values and practices and better support the families and children we serve.
Please check our list of links for professionals
How Do I Refer Families to Raising Special Kids?
1) Use the referral form, 
Family Referral Form11-2011.pdf
Download and print the waiver/release pdf
2) Be sure to obtain the parent's signature (required).
3) Fax completed form to (602) 242-4306.
After I send the referral, what can a family expect?
- All Services and programs are provided to families at no charge
- Contact is made with the family within 24-48 hours after receiving the referral
- Confidentiality is valued. Information about the family is never released without their prior written permission
- Information and assistance is available in English and Spanish
- 100% Follow-up on Parent-to-Parent Support
Training
- A Physician Residency Training program which includes a visit to the home of a child with a disability through our trained Volunteer Family Faculty network
- A Student Nursing Program offering education and training to pre-service nursing students
- A program designed for pre-service teachers in regular and special education related to special education services, Individual Education Plans (IEP's) and Section 504's.
- In Service Training for educational, medical or social service professionals on issues related to disabilities and special education