DSDN Rockin' Family Fund
Behind every child born with Down syndrome, there are parents – a rockin' mom™ and/or dad™ who experiences the unforgettable moment of hearing the diagnosis for the first time. The Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network exists to support these “Rockin’ Families” through that diagnosis experience and into early childhood. Our Rockin’ Family Fund makes that support possible.
Each year we welcome nearly 1500 new parents into our DSDN groups online. We are reaching over 20% of the families welcoming children with Down syndrome in the United States each year, and growing each year!
Your generous donation helps us welcome and care for expectant and new parents in bigger ways:
Adoption Grants
DSDN is proud to support families who have welcomed a child with Down syndrome through adoption by offering grants to help with some of the costs associated with the adoption process.
Applications for this year’s Adoption Grants are open through September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
Click here to apply.
To review the Adoption Grant Program Policy and Procedures, click here.
Scholarships
When a parent is looking for an opportunity to learn, connect, or recharge, DSDN offers scholarships to help offset the cost of attending a DSDN Rockin’ Retreat, a Down syndrome-related conference, or other educational and networking classes and events.
To be eligible, applicants must be a member of a DSDN online group and have a rockin’ child under age 4 during the current calendar year.
The application window for 2027 scholarships will open in February 2027. Stay tuned for more information!
Welcome Gifts
When a new or expectant parent of a child with Ds joins our community: a warm welcome gift coupled with helpful information and resources—and a message of congratulations, possibility, and encouragement that’s so often otherwise missing from the experience.
Care Packages
When a child undergoes surgery or has an extended stay in the NICU: a card and care package to remind parents they’re not alone and promote community among all our member parents.
Memorials
When a family in our DSDN community loses a child: a special, personalized gift to commemorate and celebrate that child’s life, and remind parents that they are always a part of the Rockin’ Family.