Dayton Parent Mentor Leads with Heart, Experience, and Foresight

Families in Dayton are feeling the impact of Parent Mentor Carrie Farley’s thoughtful and proactive leadership.

Carrie, Parent Mentor for Dayton City Schools, understands firsthand some of the unique challenges families of children with disabilities face. As a parent of a fourteen-year-old with epilepsy, and a twelve-year-old with Level 1 Autism and moderate ADHD, this former caseworker for Montgomery County Children’s Services knows the stresses and strains in how difficult extended school breaks can be for parents and caregivers, especially during the winter months when cold temperatures limit outdoor activities and routines are disrupted. Without regular schedules and built-in supports, families often find themselves without much-needed respite.

Anticipating this seasonal strain, Farley led a Virtual Holiday Parent and Caregiver Coffee Chat exploring self-care and respite, designed to help families proactively plan for the extended winter break. The session created space for parents and caregivers to reflect, share strategies, and intentionally build in moments of rest and renewal while meeting the needs of their children.

She shared the 4 Fs of Stress During the Holidays and Setting Boundaries. 

It’s clear that families and caregivers center the needs of their children first and foremost, but as the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” This workshop reinforced the importance of caregiver well-being and offered practical resources such as:

• Family Resource Network Presents: Resilient Journeys, CareSource’s case management program services
• Charlie Health mental health services
• Dayton Metro Public Library events and activities for children and youth
• Montgomery County local respite care supports
• A Carrie Farley curated Winter Library containing links to winter book read aloud videos

A total of 17 participants attended the workshop and expressed appreciation for the dedicated time to think ahead, problem-solve, and connect with others who understand their journey.

Thank you to Carrie Farley for her dedication in her role as a Parent Mentor, not only to helping students and educators shine, but to ensuring families remain supported each step of the way.