Parent Support Groups in Schools
A variety of school-based support groups are available to parents. These programs provide support and encouragement in the day-to-day challenges parents face when raising children. While some programs are geared toward traditional parenting topics, others are designed to help parents who face specific challenges or whose children have been diagnosed with special needs.
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Children With Learning Challenges
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The Parents Education Network, a school-based parent support organization with locations throughout the United States, is geared toward parents whose children have been diagnosed with learning or attention difficulties. The group provides continuing education for parents on how to identify a child's learning challenges and strengths and offers guidance on how to help special needs children to better meet their academic goals.
PDD BP Kids offers support groups for parents of children who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression and other mood disorders that present learning challenges. The program welcomes parents of school age children and adolescents and typically meets regularly in schools throughout the U.S. Online support is also available.
Dealing With Divorce and Grief
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Calm Waters offers school-based support groups for parents and children who have struggled with the effects of divorce, death or traumatic loss of a loved one. The program offers its grief counseling and divorce support services free of charge to families with children who are between the ages of 3 through 18 and meets regularly in schools throughout the nation.
Banana Splits is another school-based support group that offers support, resources and counseling services to children and parents who have experienced death or divorce. The program typically meets on a weekly basis.
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Teen Parent Support Groups
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The City of Seattle Department of Human Services offers a school-based support group for teenage parents. The program helps participants to address the challenges faced by teen parents. The program offers guidance on parenting, discipline and provides information on how to find help with housing, food and health care.
Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP), offers support groups for teenage parents that meet in high-schools throughout the state. The program offers career counseling advice, financial resources referrals and the opportunity for teenage parents to share their feelings and concerns. Meetings are typically held once per week.
Substance Abuse
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Guiding Good Choices (GGC) offers school-based support groups for parents who have children that struggle with a drug or alcohol addiction. The program provides resources, counseling and educational programs relating to addiction and offers guidance on building stronger families.
Focus on Families, designed for parents receiving methadone treatment for opiate addictions, provides support for parents facing the challenges of staying sober while raising children. The group teaches family management skills and offers referrals to community resource programs geared toward helping opiate addicted parents reduce their chances for future drug use.
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is another school-based parenting support group designed to help parents with substance abuse issues to improve their parenting skills. The program offers guidance in stress management and resources for parents of children ages 6 to 11.
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References
Resources
- Parents Education Network: Contact Us
- Calm Waters: Contact Us
- City of Seattle: Departments: Contact Us
- Parent Talk: Contact Us
- Because I Love You: Parent and Youth Support Groups
- UCLA Center: School-Based Mutual Support Groups
- MOAPPP: Adolescent Parent Programs
- Focus on Families: Resources
- Strengthening Families Program: Welcome
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
