Palliative Parenting™ Study

Palliative ParentingTM Study

Starting April 2026

Palliative ParentingTM – CMHRC’s custom designed parenting approach was created to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for the whole family.

CMHRC is actively looking for parent and caregiver volunteers with children living with behavioral or mental health challenges.

Participation in this study is at no cost, and includes a comprehensive program to support the parents and caregivers while providing psychoeducation on managing symptoms and challenging behaviors at home.

Take the Interest Survey

Palliative ParentingTM Study

What Is Palliative Parenting?

CMHRC’s parenting model, called Palliative ParentingTM, focuses on reducing isolation and improving quality of life for the whole family.

Palliative ParentingTM brings together parents and caregivers into community, while providing tools to reduce symptoms, manage challenging behaviors, and nurture relationships.

With included psychoeducation on mood disorders in childhood and adolescence, this course equips caregivers with the knowledge they need to understand the hurdles their children face.

Join The Study, Participate at No Cost

Parents and caregivers willing to participate in the Palliative ParentingTM class; complete before, after, and follow-up surveys; and keep track of their children’s daily behaviors and symptoms may be eligible to participate in this study at no cost. For more information take the interest survey or use the link below to email us.

Email Us

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Thank you so much for your interest in CMHRC’s Palliative ParentingTM study. Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions. If you do not find the answer to your question, please contact us and we will get back to you with an answer within 2 business days.

What is Palliative ParentingTM ?

Palliative Parenting™ is a parenting approach that was developed by CMHRC’s mental health professionals in collaboration with parents, and adults with lived experience of mental illness, who know first hand how to survive and thrive with mental illness.

New study cohorts will begin every 10-12 weeks. The first cohort begins April 7th, 2026. Cohort two has an intended start date of June 2026. Screening of potential participants is ongoing.

We ask that you submit your interest survey to us as soon as you are able. Or contact us directly. Space is limited and the sooner you respond the sooner you will be able to reserve your spot.

Yes! Individuals and families who are receiving mental healthcare services, such as therapy or psychiatric care, are eligible for the study. 

Palliative ParentingTM is not a treatment program and all medical and mental healthcare services including therapy and medication management will remain with your current care team. CMHRC will not provide medical care or oversight during this study. All medical decision making will remain with participants and their primary care physicians. 

There is no monetary, or other form of, compensation for participating in this study.

  • The CMHRC Toolkit for symptom tracking
  • The full Palliative ParentingTM face-to-face class, led by CMHRC staff
  • The Palliative ParentingTM course workbook
  • Ongoing psychoeducation and support sessions through the monthly Palliative ParentingTM Drop-In groups
  • Access to CMHRC staff facilitators

Yes! Any household size or configuration can participate in the study. Some families may choose to have all of the adults in the household participate, whereas other families may choose to have only one parent participate. 

Whatever you decide, staff will be there to support you as you implement the strategies taught during the Palliative ParentingTM course. 

Yes! We welcome any parent or caregiver looking to learn new techniques and strategies related to parenting.

Anyone who does not meet the study guidelines for participation will be offered a spot in the fee-for-service course.

No, no one will be automatically removed from the study due to hospitalization. Study staff must be notified of the hospitalization because parents and caregivers will not be able to collect data on daily symptom presentation during that period of time. We will support the parents and caregivers in reintroducing their child to the home when they are discharged.

Yes! We provide access to a monthly Palliative ParentingTM Drop-In group that all study and class participants have access to. 

  • Attend 10 weekly class sessions of 90-minutes each
  • Participate in one follow-up meeting six months after completing the course
  • Complete a series of short quality of life surveys before beginning the course, at the end of the course, and one last time six months later
  • Record and share data on daily behaviors and symptoms. 
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We do not expect perfection! This is a scientific inquiry and we want to know how Palliative ParentingTM impacts quality of life.  Responses from participants will be valued information for the study to collect.

Acceptance

  • Our children have an illness.
  • We parent differently because their needs are different.
  • We let go of our preconceived expectations for our children.
  • We can’t protect our children from the pain of their illness, but we can make their daily lives better.
  • When we make mistakes, we forgive ourselves.


Respect

  • Our children are human beings first, with their own journeys.
  • Our children’s symptoms are not willful or deliberate behaviors.
  • We respond to our children’s symptoms with empathy and compassion.
  • We model and teach self care.
  • We strive for the highest possible quality of life for our kids.


Community

  • Our children make positive contributions to the world.
  • We advocate for awareness, acceptance, and accommodation.
  • We are honest about our, and our children’s, strengths and weaknesses.
  • We facilitate collaboration among our children’s support systems.
  • We share strength, knowledge, and hope within our community.