Sharing the Journey: Voices from the Field

Illustrated bridge with peopleWhat is Sharing the Journey: Voices from the Field?

Sharing the Journey: Voices from the Field is a collection of stories that include audio, video, and animated stories created and shared by parent leaders and practitioners nationwide. The series is divided into three categories: Voices of Parent Leaders, Parent Stories on Preventing Child Neglect, and Voice of Parents and Practitioners.

Each selection is told in the authentic voice of the author. Click on the tabs below to view the full list of stories within each category or visit the media library and use the search engine to identify stories by topic, protective factor, or keyword.

Voices of Parent Leaders was created by the parent leaders of the FRIENDS National Center Parent Advisory Council (PAC) who work in their communities and nationally to help family support and child abuse prevention practitioners and organizations.

The resources include the 2022 collection of fourteen audio stories, including one in Spanish, and the 2017 collection of twenty audio stories including two in Spanish, and three animated/illustrated videos.  Spoken with his/her authentic voice, each parent shares a unique story of how their lived experiences or parent leadership journey has positively impacted their personal growth and the well-being of their children, families, and community. These vignettes may be used to increase public awareness or as tools to support training for staff, network members, partners, parents, and other key prevention stakeholders about the value of meaningful parent engagement and involvement.

Cupeles Father As PF Spanish 2022.2

La importancia de un padre como factor de protección

Una historia sobre la importancia de un padre como factor de protección. Para descargar la versión en audio de esta...
Henao Self Love 2022

Self Love Heights is Possible

A story about loving yourself through trauma by Marcela Henao. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/self-love-heights-is-possible
Reddick Showing Up 2022

Showing Up as a Noncustodial Parent

A story of advocating for yourself as a non-custodial parent by Elizabeth Reddick To download the audio version of this...
Stenston BrighterFuture 2022

A Brighter Future for ALL Children

A story about a parent's journey with a child with special healthcare needs by Heather Stenson. To download the audio...
Queen Force Mulitplier 2022

Force Multiplier

A story about fatherhood and building bridges between programs and minority communities by Anthony Queen. To download the audio version...
Bibbs Samuels Only Fight 2022

No Flight, Only Fight

A story about advocating and being the voice for children by Paula Bibbs-Samuels. To download the audio version of this...
Lebanion Asking Help 2022

Asking for Help

A story about kinship caregiving and not being afraid to ask for help by Valerie Lebanion. To download the audio...
Graham Unstoppable 2022

Unstoppable

A story about resilience and empowering other parents by Eileen Graham. To download the audio version of this story, visit:...
Hodgeman Healing Lead 2022

Healing to Lead

A story about the acknowledgement of the importance of healing by Joanne Hodgeman. To download the audio version of this...
Zimmerman Coparenting Hope 2022

Co-parenting Gave Me Hope

A story about co-parenting by Melissa Zimmerman. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/co-parenting-gave-me-hope
Armstrong Invisible Visible 2022

Making the Invisible, Visible!

A story about fatherhood and accessing services by David Armstrong. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/making-the-invisible-visible
Williams Just Ask 2022

Just Ask: Utilizing Resources Can Make a Difference

A story about asking for help by Vadonna Williams. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/just-ask-utilizing-resources-can-make-a-difference
Johnson God Has Sense Of Humor 2022

God Has a Sense of Humor

A story about adoption and working with the foster care system by Anntoinette Johnson. To download he audio version of...
Cupeles Father As PF 2022

The Importance of a Father as a Protective Factor

A story about the importance of fathers by Michael Cupeles. To download the audio version of this story, visit:  https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/the-importance-of-a-father-as-a-protective-factor
Sam Blue Practitioners 2017

Working with Practitioners

A story about working with practitioners as a support and partnership by Sam. To download the audio version of this...
Coparent Illus

The Grandparent/Co-parent Story Illustrated Version

An illustrated story about parents and grandparents working together to parent children by Dawn. To download the audio version of...
Patzer Grandparent 2017

The Grandparent/Co-parent Story

A story about parents and grandparents working together to parent children by Dawn. To download the audio version of this...
Patzer Neglect 2017

Story of Neglect

A story about neglect and its impact by Dawn. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/story-of-neglect
Gentry CycleofAbuse 2017

Stopping the Cycle of Abuse

A story about the cycle of abuse and prevention by Jill. To download the audio version of this story, visit...
Cooper Prevention 2017

Primary Prevention

A story about primary prevention by Eliza. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/primary-prevention
Gentry ParentVoices 2017

Parent Voices Make a Difference

A story about how parents can advocate for themselves and others by Jill. To download the audio version of this...
Stodghill PL Journey 2017

Parent Leadership Journey

A story about the journey of a parent leader by Beth. To download the audio version of this story, visit...
Cooper PLeadership 2017

Parent Leadership

A story about mentoring Parent Leaders by Eliza. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/parent-leadership-by-eliza
Galindo MySon Spanish 2017

Mi Hijo

Una historia sobre los hijos en español de Fátima. Para descargar la versión en audio de esta historia, visite https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/my-son-spanish
Galindo MySon English 2017

My Son (English)

A story about sons by Fatima. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/my-son-english
Cooper Mentoring 2017

Mentoring Parent Leaders

A story about parent leader mentorship by Eliza. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/mentoring-parent-leaders
Sam Fuhrmann Grandmothers 2017

Let’s Go Get Those Grandmothers

A story about the role grandmother's can play by Sam. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/grandmothers
Cooper Journey 2017

Leadership Journey

A story about the journey to parent leadership by Eliza. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/leadership-journey
Bynum Kinship 2017

Kinship

A story about taking care of family by Bruce. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/kinship
Diel JessicasStory 2017

Jessica’s Story

A story about her personal journey by Jessica. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/friends-jessicadial-story

Parent Stories on Preventing Child Neglect was created by the FRIENDS National Center in collaboration with the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance to gather parents’ perspectives and expertise from across the country on child neglect and the impact preventing it can have on families and communities.

This series is a selection of twelve video recordings presented by parents from the FRIENDS Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and the Birth Parent National Network (BPNN) discussing topics such as the protective factors, fatherhood, and parenting. These stories are an effective tool for increasing public awareness or as tools to support training, introducing CBCAP resources, and engaging parents, service providers, lawmakers, and other community members in a dialogue on child neglect prevention.

Father Neglect

Unexpected Fatherhood and Breaking the Cycle of Neglect

A story about becoming a father and its impact on neglect in a family by Edwin.
Connect Parents

The Importance of Connecting Parents to Neglect Prevention Resources

A story about utilizing resources to prevent Neglect by Karen.
Parent Support

Preventing Neglect through Participation in a Parent Support Group

A story about parent support groups by Eliza.
Help Families

One Father’s Recommendation for a Community-Based Approach to Prevent Neglect

A story about services to help families by Corey.
Intergenerational Neglect

Intergenerational Neglect and Prevention

A story about neglect through generations by China.
Homeless Neglect

Homelessness and Neglect

A story of how homelessness can impact neglect by Shana.
Community Resources

Father’s Search for Resources in his Community

Community resources by Corey.
Emotional Father

Emotional Neglect and Learning to be an Engaged Father

Working with neglect by Jeremiah.
Safe Home

Creating Safe and Caring Home for your Children

Creating a home by Eliza.
Support And Neglect

A Parent talks about the Value of Support Groups and Preventing Neglect

Using support groups to prevent neglect by Heather.

Voices of Parents and Practitioners was created by the FRIENDS National Center Parent Advisory Council members and  CBCAP State Lead Agency staff and partners to share their perspectives and expertise on building parent/practitioner collaboration and the impact that these partnerships have on prevention services. The discussions represent authentic reflections and experiences impacting Community Based Child Abuse Prevention efforts and are told in the words and voices of the parent leaders and practitioners.

These conversations are an effective tool to support training for staff, network members, partners, parents, and other key prevention stakeholders about the value of meaningful parent engagement and collaboration.

What We've Learned Together

What We’ve Learned Together About Building Partnerships

Part of the Sharing the Journey Voices of Parents and Practitioners series. A roundtable conversation between parents and practitioners who...
Reflections From Parent Leaders

Reflections from Parent Leaders

Part of the Sharing the Journey Voices of Parents and Practitioners series. A conversation between two parent leaders who share...
Perspectives From Practitioners

Perspectives from Practitioners

Part of the Sharing the Journey Voices of Parents and Practitioners series.  A conversation between two practitioners who discuss how...