CPAM Parent Connections Program — peer support counselor

Becoming a Parent Connections volunteer means walking alongside families at one of the hardest moments of their lives. Parents facing a congenital lung malformation (CLM) diagnosis often feel overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure where to turn. By listening with compassion and drawing on your own experience, where appropriate, you can make an immediate difference.

Volunteers provide short-term, one-to-one support—helping new parents process the diagnosis, understand what questions to ask, and feel less alone. Every conversation can ease fear, replace confusion with clarity, and show families that hope and community exist even in the midst of uncertainty. Parent Connections is flexible, meaningful, and deeply human work.

What does being a peer support counselor involve?

You’ll be matched with a parent who is currently navigating a CPAM, BPS, or other CLM diagnosis. We do our best to match families based on factors like diagnosis and location. Once matched, you and your parent partner will decide together how often and how you’d like to connect. Some parents want regular check-ins every couple of weeks, while others reach out only when they have a question or need encouragement.

You can choose to talk by video call (Zoom, FaceTime), phone, or text—whatever feels most comfortable. Your role is to be a supportive peer: listening with empathy, understanding, and curiosity; sharing your experience when it’s relevant; and offering reassurance without trying to “fix” things or give unsolicited advice.

What qualifications do I need?

You don’t need medical or counseling qualifications to volunteer with the Parent Connections Program. What matters is your lived experience and your willingness to listen. Every volunteer takes part in our mandatory training, designed to equip you with the tools you need to offer safe, relevant, and compassionate peer support. The training doesn’t take a huge amount of time, but it does ask that you come open, curious, and ready to learn how to support new parents in a way that centers their needs and their experience.

Do I need to have experience with a CLM diagnosis?

Yes. The power of peer support comes from connecting with someone who has walked a similar path. All of our Parent Connections volunteers are parents with lived experience of having a baby or child diagnosed with a congenital lung malformation.

When can I volunteer?

Going through a CLM diagnosis is a significant experience. Before becoming a Parent Connections volunteer, we ask that you first give yourself time and space to heal so you feel able to take on this meaningful—though sometimes emotionally challenging—work. If your baby was diagnosed during pregnancy, we ask that you wait at least six months after birth. If your child has had lung surgery, we ask that you wait at least six months after their operation. This helps ensure you feel steady and ready to support another parent with compassion and care.

I want to apply. How do I get started?

The first step is to fill out the volunteer interest form. Someone will then be in touch shortly.