Some groups are informal meetings where participants talk with each other to share information and resources, or to provide emotional support. Other groups ask speakers to bring information on specific topics. Some are age, gender or diagnosis-specific. Others are non-categorical, including a broad spectrum of participants. Some meet with children, some without, and some meet for parties, picnics or outings.
Groups can meet for limited periods of time or over the course of many years.
Depending on how you define your support needs, the group you are looking for may or may not already exist in your area. If you are lucky, you can become a part of an existing group. In response to input from parents all over the state, the Family Support Team at Parent to Parent has put together a packet of information about starting and maintaining support groups. There are suggestions about the many places to ask about groups in your area. We can help you contact other parents in your area to either help with the organizational details, or just to come to a first meeting.