ADOPTION
Adoptive/Foster
Kinship Support Group: Meets
the last Wednesday of the month from 7-8:30PM at the
CONTACT:
Nancy
Amante, (978) 597-6161
Adoptive
Families Together:
COMING in APRIL 2008
Contact
Meri Viano at 508-688-5709, Maviano@aol.com for more
information.
Adoptive
Families Together/MSPCC
3rd
Thursday, 7-9pm
CONTACT: (617) 587-1563
E-MAIL:
nofarrell@mspcc.org
WEBSITE:
www.mspcc.org
St
Mary’s Adoptive and Pre-Adoptive Parents and Foster Care Providers Support
Group: meets
third Thursday of the month from
7:30-9pm at St. Mary’s
Contact:
Donna
(508) 842-2529
Adoption
Parent Group:
For dates and times call Adoption Journeys
CONTACT: Debbie Giza (508)
753-5425
ADHD
Shrewsbury
ADHD Parents Networking Group:
A
networking group that meets monthly at the Shrewsbury Public Library. This group
offers support to learn more about the developmental, social and educational
ramifications of ADHD
CONTACT: Helen, (508)
842-1391
ADHD
Parenting Group: meets
7 consecutive Thursdays 6-7:30 at Community Healthlink Youth and Family
Services, Worcester. 1st session: Feb. 29-April 12th Second session: May 1st –
June 12th.
Contact: Donna Massey (508)
421-4466
ADVOCACY
Self
Advocacy Support Group: a
support group for people 16 and older who are interested in understanding the
Rights and Responsibilities of using your Voice. This group meets from 5:00-7:00pm the
second Wednesday of the month at the ARC of North Central MA. Please call for
more information.
CONTACT:
Kathy Black, (978) 343-6662 ext 115
E-MAIL:
kblack@arccommunityservices.org
WEBSITE: www.arccommunityservices.org
Central
Massachusetts Work Team:
Self
advocates who reside in
CONTACT: Bruce
Brewer, 413-284-1553
SAY
What I — Self-Advocacy for Young Adults
(age 16-22): Meets 30 Wednesday
evenings from September to June at Seven Hills Foundation,
CONTACT: Celia Brown,
508-752-6983
E-MAIL:
cbrown@sevenhill.org
WEBSITE:
www.sevenhills.org
SAY
What II — Self-Advocacy for Young Adults
(age 16-22): Meets Mondays through
Thursdays from September to June @ Central Branch YMCA,
CONTACT: Celia
Brown, 508-752-6983
E-MAIL:
cbrown@sevenhill.org
WEBSITE:
www.sevenhills.org
Teammates: Adult Self Advocate group meets
twice/month September to June on alternate Mondays from 3:30 - 5pm @ Seven Hills
Foundation,
CONTACT: Paula
LeDuc, 508-755-2340 x 271
E-MAIL:
pleduc@sevenhill.org
WEBSITE: www.sevenhills.org
TEAM
Two: Adult
self-advocacte group meets twice/month September to June on alternate Mondays
from 6:30-8pm @ Seven Hills Foundation,
CONTACT:
: Paula
LeDuc, 508-755-2340 x 271
E-MAIL:
pleduc@sevenhill.org
WEBSITE: www.sevenhills.org
ALLERGY
“The
Peanut Gallery” is a support group for peanut allergic children that meets 4 – 5
times a year at the Central Mass Allergy and Asthma Care office in
CONTACT: Joan
Hawkins, 508-757-1589
E-MAIL:
joan_cmaac@verizon.net
ASPERGER’S
SYNDROME
Aspergers Association of
CONTACT:
E- MAIL: Lorraine.Cavallaro@va.gov
WEBSITE : www.aane.org
Asperger's Support Group for
Parents: group
meets 2nd Wednesday of the month from 7:00 - 9:00 at the Autism Resource Center
of Central Massachusetts. Call for information
CONTACT: Sue Loring 508-835-4278
E-MAIL at autism@hmea.org WEBSITE: http://www.arccm.org
Aspergers
Group (6- 8yrs):
open to all children 6-8 years old with Aspergers . Meetings are Tuesdays from
4-5:15
CONTACT: Children’s Friend,
WEBSITE:
www.childrensfriend.org/counseling.html
Aspergers
Group (9-11yrs):
open to all children 9-11 years old with Aspergers . Meetings are Thursdays from
5 - 6:15 pm.
CONTACT: Children’s Friend,
WEBSITE:
www.childrensfriend.org/counseling.html
Aspergers
Group (12-14 yrs):
open to all children 12-14 years old with Aspergers . Meetings are Mondays from
5:15-6:15.
CONTACT: Children’s Friend,
WEBSITE:
www.childrensfriend.org/counseling.html
AUTISM
SPECTRUM
Autism 101 – a support group that is a
collaboration between the ARC of North Central and the
CONTACT:
CONTACT: Sue Loring 508-835-4278
E- MAIL at autism@hmea.org WEBSITE: http://www.arccm.org
SUPPORT
GROUPS
Autism
Support Group: Meets
the 1st Tuesday of each month
from
9-11am @ the
Autism
Support Group: Meets
the 4th Tuesday of each
month
from 6-8pm @ the Charlton Public Library.
Call
for more information: (508) 835-4278.
Autism
Support Group: Meets
the 3rd Friday of each month
From
10 am -12 @ the
Call for more information: (508)
835-4278.
Moms
and Tots (preschoolers): Meets 2nd Wednesdays of the
month
from 4 – 6 pm at the
Call
for more information: 508-835-4278
SENSORY
INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES
Space is
limited and families must register with The
WEST BOYLSTON – YOGA
with Katie Cohen (12yr and older)
March 2,
9, 16 30 April 6, 13
March 1,
8,15,22,28, April 5
Feb.16, 23,
March 1, 15, April 5, 19
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 28, April 5
STERLING - Sensory Gym with Anita Poulin,
OTR/L
March 1, 8, 5, 22, 28, April 5
MUSIC ACTIVITIES
March 2, 9, 16, 29, April 6,13
SWIM
& SAFETY PROGRAMS for children with Autism, Ages
3-17
Space is
limited and families must register with The
Children will be taught how to
'save' themselves from drowning while swimming or after falling into the water.
Family member and/or caregivers will be taught how to use self defense while
swimming with a person with autism and basic rescue maneuvers.
These 6
week sessions will run in
Children’s
CONTACT: Dr. Johana Sagarin or Karen Ludington
(508) 753-5425
WEBSITE: www.childrensfriend.org/carriage_house.html
The Compassionate Friends:
a National
non-profit, self support organization that offers friendship and understanding
to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. There is no religious affiliation and
there are no membership dues or fees.
The MA/CT Borders Town Chapter meets
the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm at St. Anthony Padua Church,
CONTACT: Anne
508-248-7144
For chapters in Holliston/Milford,
CONTACT: TCF National office 877-969-0010
WEBSITE:
www.compassionatefriends.org
CHILDHOOD
CANCER
Why Me & Sherry’s House:
a
CONTACT: Margaret White,
508-757-7734
E-MAIL:
mwhite@whyme.org
WEBSITE:
www.whyme.org
Down
Syndrome Group: A
support group for families who have a loved one with Down Syndrome. Meets the second Saturday of the month
from 10:00-11:30AM at ARC Office,
CONTACT: ARC Community Services,
978-343-6662
E-
MAIL : kblack@arccommunityservices.com
WEBSITE: www.arccommunityservices.org
Central
MA Down Syndrome Resource Group: provides
support, information and social opportunities for families of children with Down
Syndrome. Meets monthly at St. Anne’s Church Hall,
Contact:
Debbie Frost : Frostfam33@hotmail.com or Maura Lucier : Maura_lucier@hotmail.com
MA
Down Syndrome Congress: MDSC helps parents and professionals to
understand and cope with issues relating to Down Syndrome.
CONTACT: 1-800-664-MDSC
E-MAIL: mdsc@mdsc.org
WEBSITE: www.mdsc.org
EATING
DISORDERS
Eating
Disorders Family Support: a
support group in
CONTACT: 508-482-5444
ARC
of North Central Non-Disability Specific Support Group: Meets
the first Thursday of the month from10:00AM-Noon @ the Lawrence Library,
Pepperell. Call for more information.
CONTACT: Nancy Hanley,
978-582-6203
WEBSITE:
www.arccommunityservices.org
ASK
– Assist
Special Kids: Support group for families and
caregivers of special needs children in the Sturbridge area, meets every second
Thursday of the month at 7:00PM @ the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
Call for details.
CONTACT: Jen Herrmann,
508-347-9150
Family
Hope: a support group for families of children
(birth-22) with special needs. Meets every Tuesday 6:30-8:30 Holden.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Keaney, Inclusion Facilitatiors of
Parents
Empowering Parents: a support group in North Central
Massachusetts for families and caregivers of children with special needs and
health concerns. Call for more
information.
CONTACT:
Anne Hurst,
978-632-7904
Pernet
Health Parents Helping Parents Support Group (Spanish): a
Spanish speaking support group held every Friday from 10:30-12:00
at
Pernet Health, Worcester. Transportation and childcare is
available.
CONTACT: Sylvia Rosado at (508) 755-1228
Parenting
Group (Spanish): a
Spanish speaking support group for parents/caretakers of children under age 18.
Meetings are held at Y.O.U., Inc Centro Familiar, Worcester on Wednesdays from
5:30-7:00pm.
CONTACT: Jeanette Cardozo (508) 849-5600 ext,
211.
Multiples
support group – twins, triplets and more – group
meets
the
2nd Wednesday of the month from 3-4:45 at the
CONTACT:
Nancy Amante, (978) 597-6161
Parents
Helping Parents:
statewide network for support group for parents and other adults in a caretaking
role, who are isolated, overwhelmed, or afraid of their anger toward their
children. Call for information on a local support group in
CONTACT: 800-882-1250
WEBSITE:
www.parentshelpingparents.org
“Total
Transformation” is
a step by step program to help parents understand and manage challenging
behaviors in children. This 8 week series is held on Monday evenings 5-6:30 in
CONTACT:
Christine Kroell 508-856-5761
E-MAIL:
christine.kroell@umassmed.edu
“Nurturing
Program for Parents and Adolescents” is
a 12 week
series
for families with children from 12-18 years old sponsored by the Youth and
Family Center South. The program is held in
Registration
is required.
CONTACT:
Christine Kroell 508-856-5761
E-MAIL:
christine.kroell@umassmed.edu
Support Group for Parents of Children with Attachment Problems: a support group for parents of children who have suffered early trauma and who have attachment problems. This group is sponsored by Adoption Journeys of Central MA. Families do not have to be in treatment to participate. Meetings are held on alternating Mondays at the Attachment institute of New England, 21 Cedar Street, Worcester, MA CONTACT : Dr. Suzanne Allen (508) 799-2663 x 104#
FATHER’S
Fathers
Group: meets every Tuesday 5:45-7:15 at Pernet
Health, Worcester. Open to all fathers. English only. Transportation available
but
no child care.
CONTACT:
Chris Nelson (508) 755-1228
GRANDPARENTS
Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren: Provides
information, training and support for grandparents raising their grandchildren.
Meets every Tuesday from 6-8 pm at the
CONTACT:
Donna Mezynsky (508)
799-8072
HOMESCHOOLING
Massachusetts Home
Learning Association
is an advocacy and education organization, which endorses home learning and
offers support groups throughout the state.
CONTACT: http://www.mhla.org
Advocates for Home
Education in Massachusetts (AHEM) is a nonprofit, independent,
grassroots, volunteer-run, educational organization that gathers and
disseminates information about homeschooling in Massachusetts through education,
advocacy, and events.
CONTACT:
http://www.ahem.info/HSinMAPage.htm
MEDICAL
CONDITIONS
Celiac Support Group of
CONTACT: (508)
852-6175.
Diabetes
Support Group: a
support group for individuals with diabetes who are interested in learning more
about managing their diabetes. Family members and friends are welcomed. The
meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8:30 pm at the
CONTACT:
508-852-6175
Heart
to Heart: Fallon
Clinic support group will be forming
soon. Please call for more information.
CONTACT:
508-852-6175
Friends
With Heart: A
support group for parents of children with congenital heart conditions, meets
monthly from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at Worcester Library. There are also quarterly
informative meetings with a guest speaker. For details and
directions.
CONTACT: Dawn
King, 508-842-1636
E-
MAIL: dawnking@townisp.com
Prader-
Willi
Syndrome Association
of
CONTACT:
Sherry
Bombardier
508-943-1400
E- MAIL:
info@pwsane.org
WEBSITE www.pwsane.org