STAR mission:

To promote healthy psychological and social development for adolescents with chronic physical health conditions through mentoring, education, and peer and family support programs.

STAR gave me a whole new outlook on how to live my life and to continue to believe in myself, strive for goals and never ever give up.
-Sasha

Just being able to talk out loud to people who understand you and what you deal with everyday of your life helps.
-Nicole

STAR has helped me accept my illness, and has given me confidence in living my day-to-day life.
-Stephanie

STAR is unique program that strives to help make adolescence a rich and positive experience for teens living with chronic physical health conditions, and to help them successfully transition into adulthood. This is done through peer-based support groups for teens and their parents, education, and mentoring from Dartmouth College students who are also living with chronic health conditions.

STAR is a program of the Special Needs Support Center (SNSC). SNSC has been supporting parents of children with special needs since 1979 and has five other categories of services for families including Parent to Parent of New Hampshire; Respite Child Care; Kids On the Block educational programs; Family Support Services (including Educational workshops; Information and referral; Educational Advocacy; Nathan Hall Library; and Family Support Groups); and Community Partners Programs [including Connections, a Big Brother/Big Sister program with Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth; DEAF (Deaf/Hard of Hearing Empowerment and Advocacy for Families in the Upper Valley); Happenings; Sibshop; Art Group; Social skills groups; and educational classes through Lebanon College].

For more information about any of SNSC’s programs, please take a look at our newsletter or contact us for details.