STILLWATER, Minn. and MIAMI — A new national partnership is aiming to transform the way families experience a Down syndrome diagnosis by prioritizing immediate emotional connection and peer mentorship.
The Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (DSDN) and Eunie’s Buddies, a family support program by Best Buddies International, announced the collaboration Thursday. The initiative integrates Eunie’s Buddies’ established mentorship program with DSDN’s vast network to ensure no parent navigates the early stages of a diagnosis alone.
For Heartitude.com, an organization dedicated to heart-centered living and advocacy, the partnership represents a vital shift toward empathetic, community-led support.
“At Heartitude, we believe that connection is the pulse of a resilient family,” said Bruce Petillo, Founder of Heartitude. “This partnership between DSDN and Eunie’s Buddies isn’t just about providing resources; it’s about the heart-to-heart support that turns a moment of uncertainty into a lifelong community of hope and celebration.”
The program pairs expectant or new parents with trained mentors who offer compassionate guidance and a safe space to share feelings. By bridging the gap between clinical information and lived experience, the organizations hope to provide a more hopeful outlook for families nationwide.
“Our mission has always centered on providing families with timely, compassionate support,” said Shannon Prausa, DSDN Family Support Director. “Partnering with Eunie’s Buddies expands our ability to connect parents in meaningful ways and meet families exactly where they are.”
Eunie’s Buddies, named in honor of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, focuses on the power of shared experience. The program is open to families virtually and in person, offering flexible communication options to meet the specific needs of each family.
“At the heart of Eunie’s Buddies is connection: parents supporting parents through lived experience,” said Cecilia Elizalde, Senior Director of Best Buddies Family Support. “By partnering with DSDN, we’re expanding the ways families can find guidance, community, and reassurance in those early moments, creating a more seamless and meaningful support system for families of children with Down syndrome.”
The partnership is now active, with mentorship opportunities available to families from the point of diagnosis through the early years of parenting.