Now Accepting Applications | Deadline: May 22
A family’s story about their journey with their child is central to everything Courageous Parents Network (CPN) does.
These stories help other parents feel they are not alone and find guidance. They help clinicians better understand the lived family experience—beyond the hospital setting—and the psychosocial and emotional needs of the whole family. They are also the vehicle by which CPN promotes pediatric palliative care as an extra layer of support for families affected by serious illness.
To strengthen CPN’s capacity to bring palliative-informed family perspectives to more clinicians and patient organizations nationwide, we are seeking four parents to join the 3rd Class of our Parent Champion Program.
Parent Champions bring their lived experience to this work—sharing their stories in ways that support families and deepen clinician understanding. Over the course of the program, Champions further develop their stories for different audiences, learn how to incorporate CPN’s resources into conversations with families and providers, and gain experience engaging with a range of audiences across the country.
This 16-month advocacy training and education program (August 2026-December 2027) includes a required 4-day training retreat, monthly virtual meetings, ongoing virtual programming, travel for select speaking engagements, and a minimum of six presentations over the course of the training program. Candidates will receive a certificate of achievement and a modest stipend upon completion of the program.
Ideal candidates will have a child who received palliative care and a willingness to advocate for it, have experienced a strong relationship with their child’s medical providers, and have a connection to a patient organization related to their child’s illness. They are comfortable with—or interested in developing—public speaking skills, are strong communicators, have utilized CPN resources in their journey, and are willing to expand CPN’s network and seek speaking opportunities within their region.
Parent Champions play a vital role in helping families feel less alone and in ensuring clinicians better understand the lived experience of serious illness. Through sharing their stories and engaging with others, they help bring compassionate, family-centered perspectives to care.
If you are interested in participating in this training program and becoming a Parent Champion, we invite you to apply.
Applications are due by May 22. Applicants will be asked to share their interest in the program, their experience with palliative care, any public speaking experience, their connection to CPN, and their personal story of loving and caring for a child with serious illness. Candidates will be selected by August 2026. The in-person training will take place from October 4-7 in Boston, MA.
Our current Parent Champion community already includes representation from Washington, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Georgia. Therefore, as we build this next class, we are focusing on expanding geographic diversity and will likely prioritize applicants from other regions. We are especially interested in connecting with parents whose children received care in Florida, Texas, California, or the Baltimore/DC area. We welcome candidates from Canada. Parents who have previously applied are welcome to apply again.
