Title of the Study: Community Connections: How Parents of Children with Severe Neurological Impairment Experience Their Communities Principal Investigator: David Sherwood, LMFT Contact Information: Email: davidsherwood33@mac.com, Phone: (770) 299-4673 Introduction: You are invited to participate in a research study that aims to how parents of children with severe neurological impairment experience their communities. This study seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the physical, emotional, social, and psychological challenges faced by parents related to the connection, or lack of connection, to their community. Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to better understand the unique experiences parents have with their communities as they raise children with severe neurological impairment. By sharing your experiences, you will contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and strengths within this specific family context. Procedures: If you agree to participate, you will be invited to take part in an individual interview. During the interview, you will be asked to share your experiences, challenges, and insights related to raising a medically fragile child. The interview will be audio-recorded for accurate data analysis. Your identity will be kept confidential, and all data will be anonymized. Risks and Discomforts: Participating in this study may bring up emotions and memories related to your experiences. Discussing challenges and sensitive topics could evoke emotional discomfort during and after the interview. While we will ensure a supportive environment, it's important to acknowledge the potential emotional and psychological risks. (Resources for mental health services are listed below). Benefits: By sharing your experiences, you can contribute to a better understanding of the lived experiences of parents raising children with severe neurological impairment. Your insights may also help other parents facing similar challenges and guide the development of more effective interventions and support services. Confidentiality: Your participation will be kept strictly confidential. All data collected will be stored securely and only accessible to the research team. Your identity will be protected, and any personal identifiers (Names, schools, places of employment, places of residence, etc.) will be removed from the data. Once the audio recordings are transcribed, they will be destroyed. Voluntary Participation: Participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any point without any consequences. Your decision to participate or not will have no impact on your current or future relationship with the researchers or any institutions involved. Feedback: After the initial analysis of the data is complete, you will have the opportunity to review the findings of the study to ensure that they accurately reflect your experiences and perspectives. You will be provided with a summary of the key findings and asked to provide feedback or corrections if necessary. Your input is valuable in ensuring the credibility and validity of the research findings. Participation in giving follow up feedback is entirely voluntary, and your decision to participate or not will not affect your participation in the study or any future interactions with the researchers. If you choose to participate, you may withdraw your consent at any time. Compensation: There is no compensation for participating in this study. Support Services: If you experience emotional discomfort during or after the interview, support services such as mental health professionals, counseling, or support groups are available. Contact information for these resources will be provided at the end of this form. Questions, Rights and Complaints: If you have questions after completing the following surveys, please contact David Sherwood at parentingsni@proton.me. If you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant in this study, please contact the Human Subjects Review Committee at Lee University at jgardenhire@leeuniversity.edu. By signing below, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the information provided in this form. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you have had the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers.                              Support Resources: Shan Alexander — Integrate 1807 Bailey Ave Chattanooga, Tn 37404 (423) 732-3333 shan@integrateccs.hush.com Vanessa Snyder — Resilience Source 515 East Crossville Rd. Ste 140 Roswell, GA 30075 (678) 990-1403 info@resiliencesource.com If you live outside of the Chattanooga, TN or Atlanta, GA areas, and would like to receive mental health support, contact David and he will help you to locate a licensed professional in your area.