Children and adolescents experiencing emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges often present with complex needs that extend beyond traditional clinical care. They are often misunderstood and may have difficulties building relationships, act out at home, misuse substances and have difficulty meeting educational requirements at school. Their parents and caregivers can also struggle with isolation and feeling overwhelmed.
The G.E.A.R. Parent Network (Gaining Empowerment Allows Results) provides an essential complement to medical and behavioral health services by offering authentic parent-to-parent peer support, education, and advocacy grounded with “been there, experienced that!” lived experience. G.E.A.R. Parent Network is a leader in developing the parent/family voice within Maine and helping ensure parents and families are involved in the planning and delivery of behavioral health services for their children.
Founded in 1987 by a parent seeking meaningful assistance during her child’s mental health journey, G.E.A.R. Parent Network has grown into a statewide program serving parents and caregivers of children and youth ages 0-21 experiencing emotional, behavioral, developmental or mental health challenges. Operating within Kennebec Behavioral Health since late 2024, the program reflects a family-driven philosophy recognizing parents as critical partners in care.
Support is provided at no cost to families and includes individual parent-peer support from trained nationally credentialed Family Support Specialists, phone support, educational workshops, advocacy assistance and resource navigation. Family Support Specialists use lived experience to help parents and caregivers build confidence, understand treatment options, assist in navigating child-serving systems of care, as well as to advocate and actively participate in decisions affecting their children.
Across Maine’s rural and urban communities, families often face fragmented systems, stigma and limited access to coordinated behavioral health resources. G.E.A.R.’s Family Peer model addresses these challenges by combining emotional support with practical advocacy.
Photos courtesy of Kennebec Behavioral Health
One Family Support Specialist worked with a single mother whose 14-year-old daughter had not attended school or left her bedroom for nearly two years due to severe bullying, anxiety and depression. Through repeated home visits, trust-building conversations and shared lived experience, the Family Peer Specialist gradually engaged the youth. Small steps followed – leaving her room, stepping outside and eventually participating in community outings. With continued coaching and collaboration between the parent, school and youth, she accessed mental health care and successfully transitioned back to school, first through tutoring and later full classroom participation.
Another Family Peer Specialist supported a pregnant mother and her three children living in a homeless shelter after escaping domestic violence and becoming involved with child welfare services. Initial meetings centered on emotional validation and rebuilding the parent’s sense of self-worth after significant trauma. Together they secured safe long-term housing, strengthened parenting skills and connected the family with community supports. Over time, the mother gained confidence to advocate for herself and her children within the child welfare system – an outcome reflecting the core goal of Family Peer Support: empowerment leading to sustainable stability.
Stories such as these illustrate how family peer engagement can reduce caregiver stress, improve system navigation and promote resilience. For clinicians, collaboration with Family Peer programs enhances treatment engagement by ensuring caregivers feel heard, informed, and supported.
Each May, communities nationwide recognize children’s mental wellness during Mental Health Month, highlighted by Children’s Mental Health Action Week, observed during the first full week of May. Led nationally by the National Federation of Families, Action Week emphasizes moving beyond awareness toward acceptance, advocacy, and meaningful action.
The 2026 campaign theme, “Behind the Screen: Education, Prevention, Connection,” explores how technology influences youth mental health and family relationships while encouraging communities to strengthen connection, reduce stigma, and expand equitable access to care. Programs like the G.E.A.R. Parent Network translate these national priorities into local action by empowering parents as partners in children’s mental health systems.
During the month of May, G.E.A.R. Parent Network will be hosting trainings and events to help educate, advocate and bring acceptance to issues faced by parents and caregivers. Topics include: Building Healthy Digital Habits for Families, Reactive Attachment Disorder, ADHD 101, How to be a Trauma informed Parent, and Managing Caregiver Stress. These events can be found at gearparentnetwork.org/events.
Accessing G.E.A.R. Parent Network supports is an intentionally simple and family-centered process. Maine families, healthcare providers, educators and community partners can start the referral process by calling 1-800- 9224 or visiting gearparentnetwork.org. G.E.A.R. Parent Network is currently accepting referrals.
The G.E.A.R. Parent Network demonstrates the growing importance of family peer-delivered supports within child and family behavioral health systems. By combining lived experience with education and advocacy, the program strengthens family resilience while complementing other services found at KBH and other healthcare providers. As G.E.A.R. Parent Network’s tagline says, “If we truly value our children, we uplift their parents.”
G.E.A.R. Parent Network, a program of Kennebec Behavioral Health, can be found online at gearparentnetwork.org or on Facebook and Instagram. Serving over 18,000 people, Kennebec Behavioral Health operates community-based clinics in Augusta, Winthrop, Skowhegan, Waterville and Farmington and vocational rehabilitation centers in Waterville, Augusta, Lewiston and Topsham. More information about KBH programs can be found online at kbhmaine.org or by calling 888-322-2136.