The Patient and Family Partner Program (PFPP) at the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania offers a unique mentorship opportunity through our highly trained volunteers, known as Certified Partners. These dedicated individuals provide essential emotional support to patients and caregivers navigating the many challenges associated with chronic kidney disease. They serve as compassionate guides, offering understanding and encouragement to those on a similar path.

Training and Expertise

Becoming a Certified Partner involves completing eight comprehensive two-hour training sessions. These sessions are specifically designed to equip volunteers with a deep understanding of their vital role. Training focuses on developing effective communication, listening, and problem-solving skills, crucial for addressing the emotional needs of struggling patients and family members. Partners also expand their personal knowledge of kidney disease and learn about the wide array of community resources available to patients, ensuring they can offer well-rounded support.

The Matching Process

Once their training is complete, Certified Partners are available to be matched with a mentee by the KFCP Program Coordinator. The process begins when a social worker, with the patient's consent, contacts the Program Coordinator to request a Certified Partner for a patient in need. To date, we are proud to have trained over 40 Certified Partners, facilitating almost 100 meaningful partnerships that bring comfort and guidance to our community.

Becoming a Partner

If you are a patient or caregiver currently coping well with kidney disease and feel you could encourage someone else along a similar path, we invite you to consider becoming a trained KFCP Certified Partner. To begin the application process, please speak with a member of your medical team and express your interest. While we do not allow self-referrals to the Patient and Family Partner Program, we warmly welcome applications based on a medical professional's recommendation to our next Certified Partner Candidate Training in your area.

Resources and Oversight

For our current Certified Partners, various resources are available, including evaluation forms for the PFPP and confidential contact report forms, accessible for download. If you or a family member wish to be matched with a KFCP Certified Partner, you can contact your social worker or the KFCP Program Coordinator to begin the process. The entire Patient and Family Partner Program, including its training and materials, is overseen by our PFPP Medical Director, Nasr Ghahramani MD, MS, FACP, FASN, from Penn State Hershey Medical Center, and Robin Asick MSW, LSW, from Fresenius Kidney Care of Harrisburg, ensuring the highest standards of care and support. Mentees also have the opportunity to provide feedback through evaluation forms, helping us continuously improve the program.