WV F2F and P4P Programs

03/03/2026

Annual Adaptive Egg Hunt-March 31st-Huntington WV 🐣

🐰🌷 Save the Date!🌷🐰

DTC’s annual Eggciting Egg Hunt is hopping back into action! Join us for our adaptive egg hunt designed especially for children with disabilities and their siblings, in partnership with the Greater Huntington Park & Recreation District.

📅 Tuesday, March 31
⏰ 5:00 – 7:30 PM
📍 St. Cloud Commons Lodge & All-Inclusive Playground

With four different hunt options designed to support a variety of needs, each child can participate in a way that feels comfortable and fun. Families can also enjoy festive activities, refreshments, photos with Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cottontail, and more.🐣📸

Do not miss this egg-cellent evening of inclusive fun and community connection.

Registration opens soon. Stay tuned for more details!

03/02/2026

Today is Teen Mental Health Awareness Day

Today is Teen Mental Health Awareness Day. The West Virginia chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is leading the first-ever Teen Mental Health Awareness Week March 2-6 in the Mountain State.

This week is focused on prevention, conversation, and creating safe spaces for teens to talk.

Regional Transition Navigator Services (RTNS) at the WVU CED helps develop a network of support for West Virginia youth ages 14-25 who are facing or at-risk for mental health diagnosis, substance use, and/or homelessness.

Learn more about free RTNS services and make a referral: https://rtn.cedwvu.org/

The WVU CED also offers mental health services to West Virginia youth and adults with disabilities and their families.

Learn more: https://cedwvu.org/mental-health-services/

Check out some local WV resources from NAMI WV: https://namiwheeling.org/resources/local-resources/

Regional Transition Navigator Services
NAMI Greater Wheeling/NAMI in West Virginia

03/02/2026

📚💛 March 2 is Dr. Seuss Day! 💛📚

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
— Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who!

Today we celebrate this powerful reminder that everyone has inherent worth, unique strengths, and limitless potential.

At Parent to Parent, we support families of children with disabilities and special health care needs — because everyone matters, and every family deserves connection, understanding, and hope. 💛

03/02/2026

March Virtual Speaker Series Session:
Dental Care for Children and Youth
with Special Healthcare Needs

Register to Attend:
https://wvumdtv.zoom.us/meeting/register/MvJoMFi7QTO-YEm85TkjDw

March 12, 2026 Speaker Series Info:
Date: March 12, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Gina Graziani
Chair, WVU School of Dentistry Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs; Associate Professor

Topic:
Dental Care for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs
Good oral health is essential for all children, but it can be a challenge for children and youth with special healthcare needs. This session will focus on the unique dental needs of children and young adults with special healthcare needs, including tips for managing sensory sensitivities, coordinating care with specialists, and addressing common oral health issues. Experts in pediatric dentistry will share strategies for preventing dental anxiety, keeping up with regular checkups, and ensuring your child gets the care they need throughout their development.

What you’ll learn:
• Common dental challenges faced by children with special healthcare needs.
• Tips for preventing dental anxiety and sensory sensitivities during visits.
• How to manage oral health care at home and when to seek professional help.
• Strategies for making dental appointments easier and more effective.
• Resources for finding specialized dental care for children and youth with special healthcare needs.

03/01/2026

🐰Bunny Bash at the Kanawha County Public Library- Saturday 3/14!

Join us for our BUNNY BASH 🐰 🌼 We look foward every Spring to our collaboration with the Kanawha County Public Library!

We’re excited to offer a Sensory Sensitive Hour from 1–2 PM, creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for individuals who benefit from a calmer experience. From 2–3 PM, the event is open for all to hop in on the fun!

We can’t wait to celebrate together! 💛

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time: Sensory Hour 1-2pm, Open to All 2-3pm
Location: 4th Floor (children’s’ floor) of the Kanawha County Public Library - Downtown Charleston 123 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25312

02/27/2026

🛻🚜Save the Date🚒🚑
April 11th, 2026
Sensory Friendly Touch a Truck

02/27/2026

Family Swim 3/14 at the Tri-County YMCA pool 💦

Save the date for our Indoor Swim Party! 🤿
Join us on March 14th for an exciting evening at the Tri-County YMCA pool! 🩵
Registration information will be coming soon. Don't forget to fill out the new 2026 demographic survey to be the first to receive it! Link below! ⬇️
🚨If you have filled out the demographic survey already this year, you do not need to do it again🚨
Unsure if you've filled it out this year? Send us a message and we'll check for you! 💬

02/27/2026

Saturday 2/28, registration required :)

✨Let's Glow Crazy: Sensory Friendly Glow Party is almost here! ✨
We are counting down the days until our kids light up the room at this weekend’s Let’s Glow Party — an afternoon designed for fun, connection, and a space where kids can truly be themselves.
Get ready for:
🎨 Face paint
💡 Neon lights & glowing fun
🎶 Soft Music and dancing
🎉 Interactive activity stations
🛍️ Fun take-homes and surprises
…and so much more!
At UnPuzzled Parents Connect, events like this are about more than just fun — they’re about creating safe, inclusive spaces where children feel welcomed, supported, and celebrated exactly as they are.
⚠️ Registration is required as we keep our sensory-friendly events limited to maintain a comfortable and supportive environment for every child.

02/25/2026

Virtual Speaker Series:
Dental Care for Children and Youth
with Special Healthcare Needs

Join us for a laid-back, virtual speaker series designed specifically for families and caregivers of children with special healthcare needs. We know that life is busy, so we’ve made this series perfect for your lunch break—short, practical, and packed with info you can actually use. Every session will cover a topic that’s top-of-mind for families, featuring expert speakers and real-life tips from other caregivers. Whether you need advice, resources, or just a little support, these sessions are here to help make your life a little easier.

Register to Attend
https://wvumdtv.zoom.us/meeting/register/MvJoMFi7QTO-YEm85TkjDw

March 12, 2026 Speaker Series Info:
Date: March 12, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Gina Graziani
Chair, WVU School of Dentistry Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs; Associate Professor

Topic: Dental Care for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs
Good oral health is essential for all children, but it can be a challenge for children and youth with special healthcare needs. This session will focus on the unique dental needs of children and young adults with special healthcare needs, including tips for managing sensory sensitivities, coordinating care with specialists, and addressing common oral health issues. Experts in pediatric dentistry will share strategies for preventing dental anxiety, keeping up with regular checkups, and ensuring your child gets the care they need throughout their development.

What you’ll learn:
• Common dental challenges faced by children with special healthcare needs.
• Tips for preventing dental anxiety and sensory sensitivities during visits.
• How to manage oral health care at home and when to seek professional help.
• Strategies for making dental appointments easier and more effective.
• Resources for finding specialized dental care for children and youth with special healthcare needs.

At the end of the discussion, we’ll have an open Q&A session where you can ask follow-up questions or just chat with the experts. You’ll leave feeling more connected, empowered, and ready to take on whatever comes your way.

02/24/2026

Please join the Positive Behavior Support program for this exciting training opportunity on Tuesday, March 3rd, from 10am-12pm!

Register here: https://cedwvu.wufoo.com/forms/wte9pah0gkcy9c/

The Parental Buy-In training helps professionals build trust, strengthen collaboration, and engage caregivers as active partners in the behavior support process. Participants learn strategies to address resistance with empathy, coach parents in emotional literacy and co-regulation, and co-create sustainable family-centered plans.

After attending the three sessions, you will be able to:

Understand how trust, empathy, and collaboration influence caregiver engagement and long-term behavior change.

Learn strategies to address resistance and build psychological safety through reflective, nonjudgmental communication.

Practice coaching techniques that strengthen parents’ emotional literacy, co-regulation, and confidence.

Apply family-centered approaches to co-create practical, sustainable behavior support plans.

02/23/2026

Looking for connection, encouragement, and a little laughter with other parents who truly understand? No need to head out into the cold - just grab a blanket, get cozy, and join our Circle of Parents group. This warm, welcoming virtual space is specifically for parents and caregivers of children with special health care needs or disabilities.

Circle of Parents meets online every Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. EST, and each week brings opportunities to share stories, exchange helpful resources, and offer support to one another, because no one should have to navigate the parenting journey alone.

It’s free to join, but registration is required to ensure your safety and privacy.

Whether you're celebrating a parenting win or just need someone to listen, this group is here for you. Come as you are, leave feeling heard, supported, and uplifted.

Register: https://wvumdtv.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5QrceioqjMsqSHpdsYg-JnXeof1i7Y9-g #/registration

WV F2F and P4P Programs

02/23/2026

Support Parent Spotlight📣

Parent to Parent of WV is shining a light on Support Parents!

This month we have a Support Parent who is trained, certified and eager to offer peer support!
She is out of Kanawha County, has caregiving/parenting experience with autism and epilepsy and professional experience as a nurse and in the education system. She can be a valuable resource for peer support when navigating the school system, 504s and IEPs.

Looking for support or know someone who could benefit, reach out to Parent to Parent of WV!
Contact:
Ali Shipman- Parent to Parent Program Coordinator
alicia.shipman@hsc.wvu.edu
or
complete the interest form below
https://cedwvu.wufoo.com/forms/s6yritw17rhcev/