Statewide parent-to-parent programs: Partners in early intervention

Parents of infants and young children with disabilities or special health c are needs are thrust, often without warning, into an unfamiliar and complex world that requires support fdr and information about a whole host of medi cal, educational, legal, financial, social, and emotional realities. Statew ide early intervention efforts have a valuable ally in statewide parent-to- parent programs in meeting the needs of families of young children with spe cial needs. This article reports on the descriptive results of a national s urvey of statewide parent-to-parent programs and suggests ways in which par ent-to-parent programs and early intervention efforts can support and enhan ce their respective efforts on behalf of young children and families.