With the success of the A1C Champions® program for adults, the program has been expanded to include the Our Diabetes Journey – For Parents and Kids program presented to youth with diabetes and their parents. These sessions are led by a youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, as well as one of their parents.

As a mentoring team, the youth and parent work both separately and together to educate participants about the importance of controlling their blood sugar. This team also discusses the choices each one has in managing their diabetes, while the parents learn how to work through some of the challenges faced when raising a child with diabetes.

The parent discusses the importance of supporting their child, while also encouraging independence, and will use personal experiences and tips that will help illustrate examples. Youth speak to children participants, and will share their experiences of growing up with diabetes and how it's important to take responsibility for their health.

We encourage you to apply for the A1C Champions® Youth-Parent Team to help educate other families going through similar situations. Sharing your own personal challenges and victories can be an empowering experience. You are making a difference by sharing stories that can inspire others to change their attitudes and behaviors.

If you and your child meet the following criteria, you both might be great candidates for the A1C Champions® Youth-Parent Team:

For Youth

• Is between the ages of 12 and 17
• Has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
• Is comfortable in talking with groups
• Communicates openly with his/her healthcare team
• Understands and follows the key steps in self-management (healthy eating, exercise, insulin, stress reduction)

For Parents

• Collaborates with youth to manage youth's diabetes
• Supports youth's decisions and ideas regarding treatment
• Encourages independence in youth's diabetes self-care
• Empathizes with youth and understands his/her challenges

For Both

• Have a passion for helping youth with diabetes and their families
• Are willing to share their experiences with diabetes

If you're interested in becoming a Youth-Parent Team for the A1C Champions® program, download and complete both of the forms below. If you have Adobe Acrobat, you may save the forms to your computer and then complete and return them by email. Otherwise, please print the forms and either scan and email, fax, or mail the completed forms.

If you are unable to mail a printed form or send an electronically completed Adobe Acrobat form, please contact us at 855-A1CHAMP (855-212-4267) or info@vprpop.com. We will then send a Word version of the form for you to complete electronically and return by email. Submission instructions are included on the forms. Once we receive your applications, you will be contacted by someone at the A1C Champions® Business Office regarding next steps.

Adobe Reader or Acrobat is required to view and fill out the PDF, while Adobe Acrobat is required to fill out the PDF and save an electronic version of the completed form. You cannot fill out and save an electronic completed PDF unless you have Adobe Acrobat. If you are entering your information in Adobe Reader, please print the form as soon as it has been completed. To download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader, please click here.