Family Support (Arkansas)
Best Buddies Family Support Program
Eunie's Buddies
Best Buddies Family Support offers families the support and resources needed to navigate the journey of raising a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Eunie’s Buddies serves as the pioneering program within the Family Support initiative. It is named affectionately in honor of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics and a true hero who advocated tirelessly for positive change in the lives of individuals with IDD.
Eunie's Buddies pairs experienced parents of a child with an IDD with new parents who are expecting, have just welcomed a baby, or are raising a child up to the age of five years old who has been recently diagnosed with an IDD. This pairing creates a mentor–mentee connection and friendship. Eunie’s Buddies provides a framework offering parents and caregivers encouragement, emotional support, and valuable resources. Participation in Eunie’s Buddies helps families pave the way for a child with IDD to have an education, gainful employment, and a fulfilled life.
Mentors and mentees are paired based on similar diagnoses, interests, native language, and other factors to help ensure a meaningful connection.
Mentors and mentees communicate throughout the month by phone, virtually, texting, via email, social media, or written correspondence.
When proximity allows for local mentorship connections, in-person meetings are encouraged every other month to foster deeper relationships through quality time spent together.
In-Person Mentorship Locations
The cities shown on the map are locations where individuals can be paired with mentors or mentees who live nearby, providing the chance to interact face-to-face. Click the program locations below to get involved.
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A Parent's Story
Michelle Aventajado
Best Buddies Staff Member
No one wants to feel alone. Even if I understood what Down syndrome was because I was a teacher and taught in inclusive classrooms, when the neonatologist gave me a birth diagnosis of Trisomy 21, I felt the full gamut of emotions that comes along with the understanding that my parenthood journey was forever going to be different. My husband Nino and I looked to each other for comfort, but…
Richard Carolan
Executive Director,The Carolan Foundation
I wish this program had existed when Victoria was born. I understand the emotions parents face when their child is diagnosed with an IDD, and I believe it can make a significant impact on the success of families.”
Camille Costa
Mentor
A program like Eunie’s Buddies can be a lifeline for parents of children with IDD, offering a space to be vulnerable and connect with another parent who truly understands and welcomes you with open arms. A diagnosis is not a prognosis and having someone by your side who has navigated a similar journey can positively impact the destiny of a family and their child.”
Willa Thorson
Geneticist & Mother
I was a medical geneticist, a physician specializing in taking care of children with special needs, when my son was diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome. Despite all my knowledge about Down syndrome, I realized that I didn’t know anything about what it was like to actually parent a child with this condition. Connecting with other families is really what provided me with the tools and resources to support my son and allow him to realize his full potential. I am excited for this program to be able to connect families so they can share their stories and form lasting bonds for themselves and their children.”
Eunie's Buddies in the Media
Anthony K. Shriver appeared on NBC's Today Show with Savannah Guthrie to discuss the profound impact of Best Buddies’ mission to foster inclusion and create opportunities for the IDD community, as well as the organization’s new initiative, Eunie’s Buddies, which offers support to families raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Watch the interview here.
Best Buddies Launches Eunie’s Buddies: A Lifeline for Families with Children with Special Needs
An experience that was supposed to be filled with joy and anticipation pivots sharply to confusion and grief. But what if amid that swirling chaos, a fellow parent who had walked this path showed up simply to listen and say, “Me too - you are not alone”?
Read the full article here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our mentors are parents or caregivers of a child with IDD who undergo thorough screening and training to provide you with guidance, support, and understanding. We take great care in matching you with a mentor who not only understands your needs, but also shares similar interests, cultural backgrounds, and diagnoses.
- Mentor – a unique, and rewarding opportunity to share your experience, insight and transform someone’s life.
- Community Parent Volunteer - assist with outreach, social media, coordinating local or virtual events, and other tasks! Your valuable time and skills can have a positive impact on many.
- Donate – your contribution will make a difference
If you have additional questions, please contact us at EB@bestbuddies.org.