About Us
When you as the parent are able to hold onto hope, regardless of diagnosis or prognosis, you are able to relentlessly pursue your child’s optimal quality of life. That’s where we come in.
Our Mission
The Parent Empowerment Network exists to support, encourage and educate parents and caregivers of children with medical complexities.
Our Vision
A world where every parent raising a child with complex medical needs is embraced by a supportive community and well-equipped to be their child’s best advocate.
Our Values
- Jesus is our guide. Hope is our armor. Empathy is our strength.
- Hope empowers.
- Every human being is invaluable, unrepeatable, irreplaceable. Period. Regardless of gestation age, ability or disability, diagnosis or prognosis, race or nationality, gender or gender preference, belief, religion or political view.
- Parents and providers must team up as equal care partners to achieve a child’s optimal outcome.
- Complex medical care must shift from treating “the patient” to treating “a child.”
Our History
It all started in 2021 with two moms committed to, “if not us, then who? If not now, then when?”
These long-distance friends supported one another (and still do today) through harrowing diagnoses and health journeys for their young daughters, and quickly recognized the invaluable resource of strength, encouragement and hope they found in one another.
As Ashlyn often says, “it’s one thing to have someone feel for you. It’s another to have someone feel with you. And that’s what we provide each other.”
There are a lot of medical resources out there. But, who is holding the hand of the parent and encouraging them, teaching them practical tips to navigate the highly specialized medical system, and empowering parents that, yes, they can do this, like Ashlyn and Emily do for each other?
And so the two set out to start a podcast, which quickly blossomed into a full-fledged 501(c)(3). Listen here for the full story.
The Parent Empowerment Network began operating under the name Charlotte’s Hope Foundation officially in April 2022, recognizing the little girl whose medical journey first connected Emily and Ashlyn. By November 2024, it became apparent the organization needed renamed because while it all started with Charlotte, our work goes far beyond one child or one diagnosis.
Our Process:
We Show Up.
We are there in the darkest times of your family’s needs.
We Become Family.
We integrate into your everyday support system.
We Give You Hope.
We provide the emotional sustenance you need.
We Equip You.
With the practical expertise to tirelessly pursue the best possible quality of life for your child.
We Blaze The Trail.
To transform you into your child’s courageous advocate.
