Over the past year, I’ve had many people ask me a simple but important question:
“Is Hope WINS the same as MAC Camp?”
The short answer is no.
MAC Camp is one of the many programs Hope WINS offers, but Hope WINS itself is much bigger than any single program or event. Because the question has come up so often, I thought it might be helpful to share a little more about who we are and why this organization exists in the first place.
As a parent, community member, and special needs mom myself, I understand firsthand how complicated, beautiful, exhausting, and rewarding parenting can be. Some days feel full of victories, and other days feel overwhelming. What I have learned through my own journey is that families don’t just need information or resources.
They need connection.
They need people who understand.
They need a village.
That is exactly what Hope WINS was created to build.
At its core, Hope WINS exists to help families feel supported, connected, and less alone. Everything we do is built around that idea.
Inclusive Programs for All Families
Many people first hear about Hope WINS because of our work supporting families raising children with disabilities. That work will always be an important part of our mission.
But something that is equally important for people to understand is that most Hope WINS programs are intentionally designed to be inclusive for everyone.
Our events and activities welcome:
• Families navigating disabilities or higher support needs
• Families with neurodivergent children
• Families with neurotypical children
• Parents who are simply looking for connection
• Children of all abilities and developmental stages
We truly believe that when children grow up interacting with peers who may think, learn, or experience the world differently than they do, something powerful happens.
They learn empathy, patience, kindness, and acceptance.
Inclusion isn’t just about creating space for children with disabilities. It’s about creating communities where all children and families grow together.
The R.I.S.E. Program
Much of the work we do through Hope WINS falls under a program called R.I.S.E.
R.I.S.E. was created to help families build the connections, resources, and support systems they need so that every child and caregiver has what they need to succeed.
Through R.I.S.E., families can participate in several different programs designed to support both parents and children in meaningful ways.
R.I.S.E. Parent Support Group
Our R.I.S.E. Parent Support Group is designed for parents and caregivers raising children with higher support needs.
This may include families navigating autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays, behavioral challenges, mental health concerns, medical complexities, or any situation where a parent feels their child requires more support than most.
But there is something very important we want parents to know.
If you feel your child has higher support needs, you are welcome here.
If you are a parent who simply needs support, encouragement, or someone to talk to, you are welcome here.
No one will ever be turned away from our parent support group.
Parenting can be hard. Parenting a child with higher support needs can sometimes feel isolating. Our goal is to make sure every parent who walks into that space knows they are not alone.
R.I.S.E. Parent-to-Parent Partners
Another part of the R.I.S.E. program is our Parent-to-Parent Partner program.
In simple terms, this program is parents helping other parents.
Sometimes families need help finding resources. Sometimes they need someone to sit beside them while they navigate a diagnosis, a school meeting, or a new challenge. Sometimes they simply need someone who understands what their life looks like.
Our Parent-to-Parent Partners help families by:
• Connecting them with resources and services
• Offering emotional support and encouragement
• Helping parents set goals for their family
• Walking alongside families during difficult seasons
• Reminding parents that they are not alone
There is something incredibly powerful about being supported by someone who has walked a similar path.
R.I.S.E. Family Connection Nights
Another important part of the R.I.S.E. program is our Family Connection Nights.
These evenings are designed to bring families together around something simple but powerful: sharing a meal and learning together.
Family Connection Nights are family-style sit-down dinners where parents, caregivers, and children gather at the same table. Families have time to eat together, play games, laugh, and connect with others who understand the ups and downs of parenting.
After dinner, parents usually hear from a speaker from the community who shares information, tools, or resources that families can add to their parenting toolkit. These conversations might focus on mental health, behavioral supports, navigating services, advocacy, or strategies that help families thrive.
While parents are learning, children are engaged in activities of their own. Kids spend time playing, learning, and exploring similar themes in ways that are age-appropriate for them.
The hope is that when families head home later that evening, parents and children can talk together about what they experienced and learned.
Family Connection Nights are about helping families learn, grow, and connect together.
Where MAC Camp Fits In
MAC Camp is one of the programs offered through Hope WINS, and its story really reflects the heart behind everything we do.
MAC Camp actually started in the home of our founder. At the time, there were children with higher support needs who simply could not access childcare. Many daycare programs require children to be potty trained, may not be able to provide one-to-one care, or may not have the staffing needed to support children with higher needs.
That left many families without options.
What started as a small effort to help a few families quickly grew into something much bigger.
Alongside children with higher support needs were also siblings, friends, and neighborhood kids. That natural mix created something really special. It became an environment where neurotypical and neurodivergent children learned how to interact, support one another, and build friendships.
MAC Camp grew into a place where children learn that people may have different outward and inward abilities, but every person deserves kindness, patience, and acceptance.
That spirit of inclusion continues to guide the program today.
MAC Camp Family Days
In addition to camp sessions, we also host MAC Camp Family Days.
These days are designed to bring families together for fun experiences out in the community that many parents may not typically do on their own, or that simply feel more enjoyable when shared with a village of supportive families.
Sometimes that might look like a field trip, a special activity, or a fun evening together in the community. The goal is to create opportunities where families can relax, laugh, explore, and build memories together without feeling like they have to navigate everything alone.
For many parents, these outings become something really special. It’s a chance for kids to spend time with peers who understand them, and for parents to enjoy experiences alongside others who truly get what family life can look like.
MAC Camp Family Days are another way we continue building the heart of what Hope WINS is all about: connection, inclusion, and community.
The Hope WINS Collaborative
Another piece of our work that many people may not know about is the Hope WINS Collaborative.
The Collaborative is a group of parents, caregivers, agencies, and professionals who come together because they care deeply about strengthening support for families in our community.
Sometimes families run into gaps in services. Sometimes there are areas where programs simply do not exist yet. Sometimes something just needs a little more collaboration, creativity, and care to truly meet the needs of families.
The Hope WINS Collaborative exists to help identify those gaps and work together toward solutions.
Parents bring lived experience.
Professionals bring knowledge and expertise.
Community partners bring resources and ideas.
When those perspectives come together, real change becomes possible.
If you are someone who feels called to make a difference in your community, this may be the space for you.
Growing the Village
Hope WINS continues to grow, and there are more programs and initiatives currently in development that will continue expanding support for families in our community.
So stay tuned — there is much more to come.
At the end of the day, everything we do comes back to one simple belief:
Families are stronger when they have a village.
Maybe you are a parent looking for support.
Maybe you want to attend a Family Connection Night.
Maybe you’d like to join the Parent Support Group.
Maybe you want to participate in MAC Camp Family Days.
Maybe you’re interested in becoming a Parent-to-Parent Partner or joining the Collaborative.
However you found your way here, you are welcome.
Hope WINS is proud to be helping build a village for families in Freeport, Illinois and the surrounding communities, and we would love for you to be part of it.
With gratitude,
Janelle Nelson
Program Director
Hope WINS