Become a Chapter Lead in your community.

Facilitate peer support to adult patients and families.

Chapter Lead Sign-up

Chapter Leads Supporting Patients & Families

  • Peer Support Chapters are community-based groups throughout Canada, that offer peer-to-peer support for adults living with PANS/PANDAS, as well, families supporting children with PANS/PANDAS.
  • IBA’s support program is run by volunteers with lived experience. Our Chapter Leads are passionate and want to help others by sharing their experiences to empower and provide hope to others.
  • The key role of a Chapter Lead is to facilitate peer support to adult patients or families in their local community by offering emotional support, and education related to challenges and support with system navigation.
  • Having local community chapters ensures a link to local medical and mental health services and resources.

3 Reasons for Becoming a Chapter Lead


coffee shop (Chapter leader meetings)

Provide Peer Support

  • Organize and run peer support chapters in their community.
  • For many chapters this is facilitated through a quarterly meeting.
  • Providing support through shared experience is at the heart of IBA, and is a key support to the community.
  • Medical and mental health services can be fragmented and frustrating for parents and caregivers to navigate. Our peer support chapters help families with their journey.

Facilitate Educational Opportunities

  • May facilitate opportunities for learning and development. These opportunities may range from guest speakers to workshops, or the sharing of information from local service providers.
  • Consult with local families to identify their needs and interests and organize the chapter accordingly.

Affect Change in the System

  • Play a pivotal role in affecting change in the medical and mental health system by lifting up patient and family voices about the challenges they encountered on their journey.
  • May sit on patient/family advisory committees, education advisory committees, and be advisors for PANS research studies.
  • Many Chapter Leads realize their unique role to not only share their perspective on system improvement, but to also bring the family voice.