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At the Building Strong Brains Annual Summit on November 11, eight parents took the stage and candidly discussed what it takes to raise children in Elkhart County today.

Moderated by Paul Shetler Fast, executive director of Maple City Health Care Center, the parent panel brought together families with very different stories—military and international backgrounds, longtime residents, and families who arrived in one hectic weekend, single parents and married couples, children with complex medical needs, and children waiting on evaluations.

What they shared was not neat or simple. It was real, layered, and full of both strain and hope.

The real challenges parents face

Summer described how she knew her daughter needed more time after preschool. When she asked for a chance to repeat kindergarten, she was told no.

“She just needed time and repetition,” she said.

After searching, she found a school willing to offer a transition year. The experience showed her that many children benefit from an intentional bridge between preschool and kindergarten—and that families often have to fight for it.

Starting over without a safety net

Brian discussed leaving the military as a single father and relocating to Indiana without knowing anyone.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” he said.

Within months, people from the community stepped in, remembered him from earlier events, and offered support that helped him and his daughter begin again.

Moving a family in a weekend

Josefina moved from Ohio to Elkhart with her children in a single weekend after a Friday job interview turned into a Monday start date.

“With no family here, just friends, I had to trust the process,” she said.

She now volunteers with nurturing care groups through CAPS to support other parents facing housing, financial, and mental health struggles.

Navigating medical and educational systems

For Erica, an immigrant parent, faced the challenge of a language barrier, however, the greatest challenge has been trying to move through both the health and education systems while facing long wait lists for autism evaluations and therapy.

“We’re helping our son learn English and Spanish,” she said. “And we’re learning how the systems work so we can support him.”

Grace, an international student who became pregnant during her junior year of nursing school, described the stress of navigating Medicaid enrollment, healthy pregnancy resources, and medical appointments.

“You have to know somebody to tell you where to start,” she said.

Sara shared the shock of learning that her newborn had a cleft palate, followed by sleep apnea and aspiration concerns. Maple City Health Care Center and specialists at Riley Hospital for Children guided her through each step.

The cost of parenting alone

Penelope spoke about the financial strain of single parenting without consistent child support.

“There are days when I’m up at night thinking, ‘How are you going to pay the next bill?’” she said.

Her background in finance helped her prepare for maternity leave, but childcare and legal costs continue to weigh heavily.

Wanting to work and wanting to be home

Katja, a nurse at Goshen Hospital, described the tension between wanting to be at home with her baby and wanting to continue her career.

“I want to do it all,” she said. “But the system doesn’t make that easy.”

Her family earns just above the limit for some forms of assistance, leaving them in a gap where help is hard to access.

Where parents found support and hope

As they shared their challenges, the parents also highlighted the people and organizations that helped them find their footing.

Organizations that opened doors

Brian pointed to three kinds of support that helped him transition out of the military: a local mission that helped him when he was experiencing homelessness, Triple P parenting programs that offered practical tools, and the Veterans Administration, which helped him adjust to civilian life.

Josefina called CAPS “the greatest thing that could ever happen in my life.” They provided car seats when her twins arrived early, as well as frozen meals, classes, and navigation of resources. “If they can’t supply something,” she said, “they connect you to the next best person.”

Erica said Oaklawn, Center for Healing & Hope, and Golden Steps helped her family move forward after her son’s diagnosis. She later helped start a Spanish-speaking parent group for families raising children with autism.

Grace named WIC, her church, CAPS classes, and Triple P among her strongest supports.

“You can find help, but you have to gather it from many places,” she said.

Sara shared how Maple City Health Care Center’s pregnancy group gave her community before birth, and how Riley Hospital for Children made care easier by coordinating multiple specialists in one visit. WIC’s wellness program also provided check-ins throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Penelope discussed pouring her energy into various classes and support programs, including the Women’s Care Center, RETA, the Family Resource Center, Nurse Family Partnership, WIC, Healthy Families, and Healthy Babies. Her weekly writing class at RETA became a source of relief and connection.

Katja said that Penelope became one of her greatest resources, sharing what she learned and connecting her with programs that helped her navigate her daughter’s hemangioma diagnosis.

Words of Advice From the Parents

Paul closed with a simple lightning-round question: What advice would you give to someone starting out?

Their answers were clear:

• Trust your instincts and speak up for your child.
• Ask for help, even when it feels uncomfortable.
• Build several support systems, not just one.
• Have courage, even when the process is slow or complicated.
• Prepare yourself mentally and pause for a moment to gather your resources.
• Allow yourself to grieve when things do not go as expected.
• Don’t let ego get in the way of reaching out.

Listening to parents, strengthening our community

The parents who spoke at the Building Strong Brains Annual Summit and participated throughout the day showed what strength looks like in everyday life. They described the challenges they face, the people who support them, and the ways they continue to move forward through uncertainty.

Their stories are guiding Building Strong Brains as we work with partners across the county to improve access to early childhood resources, reduce fragmentation, and make it easier for families to find the support they need.

Elkhart County is home to numerous individuals and organizations eager to lend a hand. When parents are heard, supported, and connected, children grow up in stronger, steadier homes—and the entire community benefits.