About Us
Mission Statement
Parent Hearts is a group of volunteers who have a goal to encourage and empower families with children who have Neurodevelopmental or Medical Differences by creating kinship connections that bring hope, courage, and strength.
Vision
We believe kinship connections generated through shared experiences not only encourage and empower families but also create a more compassionate, self-confident, and kinder parenting experience that transforms families and communities.
Jennifer West
Founder
Why Parent Hearts? Years ago when we were told our two year old twins had PDD-NOS, I didn’t know what to do. Mostly I was scared. My husband was working, and I was doing my best to parent twins who at the time were non-verbal and spinning out of control. I quickly experienced overwhelm, fear, emotional isolation, rejection and financial strain.
All of these circumstances would have beat me if I had not found strength and encouragement through the connections I made with other families going through similar situations. Making these connections and hearing other parents’ stories changed my experience of parenting. When I was struggling and didn’t know what to do, I knew who to reach out to. Often times there wasn’t an answer but there was a connection from another parent who cared, who listened, who encouraged me and supported me on the journey to be the best parent for my children.
I’ve heard the expression—it takes a village, find your tribe. It’s so true and can sometimes feel impossible. Parent Hearts is here to say, “You are not alone, and our heart goes out to your heart. We’ve got you.” I hope you will find hope, strength, and courage for your parenting journey.