Family Forum Blog – Montana's Peer Network

Introducing Family Peers for Hope

FPH was founded to meet a growing need in Montana: an independent, family-run organization focused exclusively on developing a statewide family support network and advancing the Certified Family Peer Support Specialist workforce. The organization is led by Executive Director Beth Ayers joined by Community Outreach Coordinator Kayla Myers and guided by an experienced Board of Directors, each of whom are parents or caregivers of children with behavioral health challenges and/or special healthcare needs.

No Shame in the Struggle

September is a month filled with awareness and reflection, particularly for those of us who have witnessed the power of recovery, resilience, and healing. As we celebrate Recovery Month, it’s a time to acknowledge the often difficult yet transformative journey individuals and families face as they overcome mental health challenges.

For me, this month holds deep meaning. As a mother of two boys and a former Family Peer Supporter, I’ve had the privilege and the heavy responsibility of helping others navigate the complexities of mental health recovery. I’ve worked with families in distress, and I’ve watched individuals confront their deepest struggles. But I’ve also seen the incredible strength, courage, and growth that recovery can bring.

Bullying Among Children with Special Needs

Bullying remains one of the most persistent issues affecting children and adolescents, often leading to devastating consequences. Among the most vulnerable populations are children with special healthcare needs and mental health conditions. These children are disproportionately targeted due to their perceived differences, and they frequently lack the resources or support systems to defend themselves or seek help.

Honoring the Heart of Parenting

Parenting is early mornings with tired eyes and late nights filled with worry. It’s asking myself, Did I say the right thing? Was I too soft? Too strict? Too distracted? Too emotional? Am I giving them enough? Am I enough? It’s making a thousand decisions a day and second-guessing at least half of them. It’s pouring from a cup that sometimes feels empty, and still showing up the next day with whatever strength I can find. Because their love keeps me going.

Chronic Disease Awareness Day

Managing the physical, mental, and emotional toll of chronic diseases can be isolating for both the individual and their family. As people in recovery and parents/caregivers of children with special healthcare needs including behavioral health, we know firsthand the feelings of frustration, isolation, despair, and hopelessness. We know the challenges of finding treatment and advocating to be heard. We know the hope in finding joy and meaning living with chronic health conditions.

Raising Boys, Growing Men: A Mom’s Reflection on Mental Health

I’m a mom of boys, loud, messy, hilarious, curious, deep-feeling boys.

And if I’m honest, one of my greatest hopes, besides them eventually learning to do their laundry and clean up after themselves, is that they grow into men who feel safe being whole. Not just strong or stoic or successful. But soft when they need to be. Honest. Vulnerable. Supported.

Because here’s the truth, one I’ve heard from every mom of boys and quietly carried myself: the world still struggles to let our sons be fully human.

We tell our kids, “It’s okay to cry,” but somewhere between kindergarten and manhood, that message gets lost. Replaced by phrases like “man up,” “don’t be soft,” and “real men don’t talk about their feelings.” And those words don’t just bounce off; they sink in. They settle deep.

Awareness into Action

Reposted from Mental Health America’s Mental Health Month 2025 Planning Guide While one in five people experience a mental health condition each year, every single one of us has a mind to take care of. Furthermore, mental health is not just a personal issue—it’s a societal one. And the need for action has never been greater.This…
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Supporting Young Minds

Written by ChatGPT. Edited and enhanced by Beth Ayers, Peer Support Training CoordinatorMay 6, 2025Children’s Mental Health Week: Supporting Young Minds for a Healthier FutureEach year, Children’s Mental Health Week serves as a vital reminder of the importance of nurturing the emotional well-being of children and young people. Children’s Mental Health Week shines a spotlight…
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My Personal Hero, My Son

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time that holds deep meaning for my family and countless others around the world. My son is almost 9 years old, and he is non-speaking. While he may not use words in the way most people do, he communicates in a hundred other beautiful, meaningful ways. I am always seeking the words for my personal hero, my son.

My Journey with ARFID

As a parent, you often hear from others about how picky toddlers can be. When my daughter turned four, we attended her annual well-child appointment. The doctor, slightly condescendingly, showed me on her hand what a healthy plate of food should look like, emphasizing the protein and vegetable ratio. She felt the need to give me this information due to my daughter’s slightly higher BMI. At almost 45 years old, I would have had to live under a rock not to know what a healthy plate should consist of. This doctor was one of three who shamed me for my daughter’s BMI rather than asking about her food intake.

Taking the Reins

As a peer supporter, I’ve seen how empowering it can be when someone takes control of their own story and their own journey toward healing. The national “I Am in Control Day” is a reminder for all of us. Whether we are supporting others or working on our own personal growth, we have the ability to take charge of our lives, make choices, and advocate for what we need. It’s a day to celebrate our strength and remind ourselves that, no matter the circumstances, we have the power to harness and create positive change.

Daylight Savings Time, More Than Changing Our Clocks

March is daylight savings time when we turn our clocks ahead and gain an extra hour of daylight in the evenings. People look forward to this day all winter. But for some this change can be hard. Turning our clocks ahead means getting up in the dark. It takes our bodies time to adjust to losing an hour of sleep and getting up an hour earlier. Daylight savings time has caused me to think about change in general and how there are always upsides and downsides to change.

Navigating Chronic Stress for Parents and Caregivers

As parents or caregivers of children with special healthcare needs, including behavioral health, we deal with stress on a daily basis. Studies consistently show that stress is higher for parents of children with disabilities (Gerstein, 2009). The demands of caregiving can be overwhelming, leading to chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and feelings of isolation. Parents of children with special needs often experience higher levels of anxiety and depression, as they navigate medical, educational, and social challenges on a daily basis (Scherer, Verhey, & Kuper, 2019).

The Power of Our Voices

One of the most powerful ways we can make an impact as families in our state is through advocacy, especially when we have the chance to speak directly to the lawmakers who shape policies that affect OUR lives. Legislative sessions offer a unique opportunity for our stories, experiences, and voices to be heard in a way that can create real, lasting change. And trust me, when our voices are heard in those rooms, the ripple effects can be life-changing.

Let’s Make Everyday International Day of Acceptance

International Day of Acceptance is a reminder that every person, regardless of their abilities, deserves to be embraced for who they are. It’s a day for the world to look beyond diagnoses, move past assumptions, and to focus on the value of each individual. It’s a day to affirm that differences do not diminish worth.

HB76 passes the House

On Friday, January 17, the House of Representatives voted to pass HB76 creating Family Peer Support certification. Now on to the Senate! House Bills will get passed to the Senate on March 4. As we wait, this is a great time to email or meet with Senators to share what Family Peer Support is, how valuable it is/was for you and/or the families you work with, and why certification is important to the development of the workforce. You can find a list of Senators and their contact information on legmt.gov. HB76 will most likely be heard by the Senate Public Health, Welfare & Safety committee.

Reading and the Impact on Wellness

January 3rd was JRR Tolkien’s birthday. He wrote many books but the ones that I am the most familiar with are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Although Tolkien died before I was born, I knew his name by Kindergarten. My father began reading The Hobbit to me at night before bed when I was 5. He went on to read me The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The main character in the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, went on a great adventure with a group of dwarves and a wizard to fight a dragon and came across a magic ring that made him disappear. Tolkien’s characters were always finding themselves in trouble, whether it was with trolls or spiders or other enemies. My favorite part is when they escape in wine barrels and tossed into the river to float downstream to a nearby town. My dad actually read all the books twice to me over many years. He loved the books and knew every character and even sang the songs that were written throughout. Since it took us so long to read through each book and then begin again, I couldn’t tell if he knew the tune of the songs or made them up, creating different versions each time he sang them. I loved the stories too, but mostly I loved spending time with my dad.

HB76: Family Peer Support Certification

Family Peer Support is a trained parent or caregiver with lived experience raising a child with special healthcare needs and/or behavioral health challenges providing support to another parent or caregiver who is currently raising a child with similar healthcare needs. Family Peer Supporters provide emotional support, resources, and connection to community, helping the parent or caregiver feel less isolated, less stressed, and more hopeful. A Family Peer Supporter, because of their lived experience, can connect to another parent or caregiver in a way that few others can. The Family Peer Supporter knows what it feels like to raise a child with special healthcare needs and/or behavioral health challenges. The Family Peer Supporter knows the challenges that parents and caregivers face. They can relate to the often-overwhelming feelings of shame, blame, fear, and loss parents and caregivers experience. The Family Peer Supporter has navigated the confusing health system and has juggled multiple therapies, school meetings, doctor appointments, and other family commitments along with the needs of themselves, their child, and their family. Lived experience is the foundation of Family Peer Support. Lived experience is what makes Family Peer Support a unique service.

A Reminder

I know exactly what you’re going through right now. It might not always seem like it, but you are doing an incredible job. Sometimes, in the whirlwind of daily life, you are managing school pickups, making sure the meals are ready, keeping track of doctor’s appointments, handling tantrums (both big and small), and let’s not forget the never-ending laundry. You may forget that what you’re doing is nothing short of amazing.
I’ve been there, too. I know what it feels like when you’re so wrapped up in your kids’ needs and schedules that your own gets lost in the shuffle. You might have the constant feeling of being “on,” that there’s always something to do for someone else. And I get it, parenting, with all its beautiful chaos, can consume every bit of your time and energy.

Celebrating National Child’s Day: A Tribute to My Boys

To celebrate National Child’s Day, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey of motherhood and the two beautiful boys who have forever changed my life. It’s a day to honor children, yes, but for me, it’s also a moment to pause and truly appreciate the little hands that grip mine so tightly, the laughter that echoes through our home, and the endless moments of joy and challenges that come with raising two unique and wonderful souls.

Category: Family Forum Blog