Parent Navigation

Help for families caring for children & youth with special needs - from experienced parents & family members

What is a Parent Navigator?  

A Parent Navigator is usually the parent of a child with special health care needs who has learned about the developmental disability and health care service delivery system through their own personal experiences. In some instances, a Parent Navigator may not have a child with special needs, but has experience working at a program that provides services to families of children who have special health care needs. Some Parent Navigators wear both hats! The one thing they all have in common is their commitment to making the evaluation process easier for families.

The Parent Navigator's contact with a family is usually short and intensive rather than a long-term working relationship.They are available to provide support and information to the family during the clinic process including connection to programs and people that are able to offer long term services. The way in which the Parent Navigator interacts with the family depends on the type of clinic the child is attending or on the individual needs of the family.  A Parent Navigator may also specialize in certain settings, such as with special education issues in the school setting. Stone Soup Group's PTI Center has statewide Regional Parent Navigators for this purpose as well. 

There are several ways in which a Parent Navigator can assist families:

What is The Parent Navigator's Role in Clinic Settings?

Providence Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Clinic

This is an assessment and evaluation clinic. Some independent assesments and information may need to be gathered and completed befroe these appointments occur.  During a two hour appointment the neurodevelopmental pediatrician reviews the child's birth, family and developmental history records with the parents and does a thorough physical exam. The following day the parents return for a conference during which the doctor shares his impressions, diagnosis, discusses recommendations for appropriate services and supports, and answers questions the parents may have. The Parent Navigator's role is to guide and support the family throughout the evaluation process, to take notes for the family during the conference, provide resource and referral information and connect them to Family Resource Program staff in their home region for ongoing support. For more information on the Providence Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Clinic, please call 562-9212.

Providence LIFE Clinic 

The Long-term Infant Follow up and Evaluation Clinic, consists of 4 team members(Physical and Occupational Therapists, Parent Navigator and Developmental Pediatrician).  This team participates in the assessment process of infants who are at risk due to specific diagnoses, prematurity or due to a stay in a NICU(Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit).  The Parent Navigator's role in this setting includes, taking notes for the family of the providers' recommendations, assiting with follow up resources and referrals as needed, and being a contact for the parent when they have any future developmental questions and/or concerns.

Providence and Alaska Native Medical Center Sub-specialty Clinics

These clinics are sponsored by the Children's Hospital at Providence Hospital and Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) and are currently staffed by Specialty providers from the host hospitals and the Seattle Children's Hospital. These are screening and follow-up clinics with appointments usually lasting one half to one hour in length. Each clinic's focus is on one particular health care concern such as cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, or growth delay. Clinics are held at various times throughout the year. Depending on what seems most appropriate to the clinic coordinator, the Parent Navigator may provide services to the family during their child's appointment or meet with them at a later date. In some cases, all contact may be by phone and the Parent Navigator may never meet with the family in person. For information on Providence Pediatric Sub-specialty Clinics, please call 261-4824. For information on ANMC Sub-specialty Clinics, please call 729-1010.

State Sub-specialty Clinics

These clinics are similar to the hospital based sub-specialty clinics in that they usually focus on a specific medical or developmental issue. They are held in various communities around the state throughout the year and may address health care issues such as cerebral palsy, cleft palate, and neurodevelopment. The clinics are most frequently held in the community's health clinic. The State Section of Maternal Child Health and local public health nurses provide needed coordination. In each community Parent Navigators work with the public health nurses and village health aides to determine where and how the parent navigator will interact with and support families seen at the clinic. For more information on these clinics, please visit the State Section of Maternal Child Health Specialty Clinics website.

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