Support Groups
Kinship Center hosts support groups for parents and youth in locations throughout California. Support groups are facilitated by Kinship Center social workers, therapists, program managers and other professionals to meet the specific needs of client families in Kinship Center programs. Some groups are also open to the public.
Interested individuals should contact the number provided, for details and to determine eligibility.
Monterey County
Orange County
Los Angeles County
San Bernardino County
Santa Clara County
San Benito County
San Luis Obispo County
- Salinas PACT (Parenting Adoptive Children Together): A networking, support and education group for foster and adoptive parents and relative caregivers; free experienced childcare provided. Meets bi-monthly. Contact: Gayle Ward (831) 455-4717
- Support group for Birth Parents and Adult Adoptees: A networking and support group for birth parents and for adult adoptees. Meets quarterly. Contact: Carol Bishop (831) 455-4702
- Relative Caregiver (“Family Ties”) Support Group: a networking, skill building, recreational and support group for relative caregivers in the Kinship Center Family Ties program. Meets weekly. Contact: Family Ties (831) 443-0662
- Kinship Center Open Adoption Support Group: A therapeutic support group for birth and adoptive families and those who support them. Meets monthly. Contact: Melissa Dodson (714) 881-8634
- Relative Caregivers’Support Group: A networking and support group for all caregivers who are raising a relative’s child; a children’s group is held concurrently. Meets monthly. Contact: Cindy Roe (714) 881-8659
- Resource Parent Support Group: An educational, support and skill-building forum for parents who are fostering or adopting children. Meets monthly. Contact: Allison Davis Maxon (714) 881-8635
- Yoga Group for Children and Their Parents: An opportunity for families to self-soothe and to maintain emotional and physical regulation. Meets weekly. Contact: Grace Katzenstein (714) 881-8658
- Caring for Kids Support Group: A networking, problem solving and educational support group for pre-adoptive, current, and post-adoptive families; a children’s activity group meets concurrently for a $15 fee. The group provides two certification hours for families with those needs. Meets monthly. Contact: Melissa Dodson (714) 881-8634
- Special Topics in Parenting: An open group for all parents to dsicuss issues like power struggles, getting homework done, managing bedtime, etc. Meets monthly. Contact: Grace Katzenstein (714) 881-8658
- Fathers’ Group: An all-dads group focusing on the unique needs of adoptive/foster or relative caregiver men. Meets weekly. Contact: Marty Whitecotton (714) 881-8679
- Adoption Support & Enrichment Group: A networking support and education forum for foster and adoptive APSS parents and children. The groups explore key adoption concepts and share experiences; children’s activity groups (ages 8 and over) meet concurrently. Child care for children under 8 is provided. Meets bi-monthly; groups are held in English and Spanish. Contact: Sandra Browne (909) 447-8720 x 233 or (626) 966-5111 x 233
- Attuned Parenting: Expanding Your Toolbox: A networking, support and education forum for APSS adoptive families; children’s activity groups (ages 8 and over) meet concurrently. Child care for children under 8 is provided. Meets monthly. Contact: Sandra Browne (909) 447-8720 x 233 or (626) 966-5111 x 233
- San Dimas Hesitant Support Group: A suport group for older children who are exploring adoption as a permanent plan. These groups are offered at no charge to children in the care of Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Held year round; new groups are scheduled once there is a sufficient number of participants. Contact: Sandra Browne (909) 447-8720 x 233 or (626) 966-5111 x 233
- Children’s Groups: TFN (Tuesday Fun Night) – every other Tuesday for teenage boys; GNO (Girls Night Out) – every other Wednesday for teenage girls; KNO (Kids Night Out) – every other Friday for boys and girls ages 9 – 12. Each of these groups is constructed for kids with adoption commonalities to have fun together and network.
- Caring for Kids Support Group: A networking, problem solving and educational support group for pre-adoptive, current, and post-adoptive families; a children’s activity group meets concurrently for a $15 fee. The group provides two certification hours for families with those needs. Meets monthly. Contact: (909) 798-9547
- Parent/Teen Support Group: An open group to provide support to participants, promoting interactions between adoptive teens and their parents in a supportive environment. Meets monthly at the determination of the group. Contact: Deborah Schreibstein (408) 554-2550
- High School – Now What?: An open support group for adoptive high school students to discuss a variety of topics. Meets weekly for 6-wk cycles. Contacts: Deborah Schreibstein (408) 554-2550; Delores Springs (408) 554-2550
- Adoptive Parents of Grades 1-7: An open peer networking, education and support group to help parents meet the needs of adoptive children. Meets monthly at the determination of the group. Contact: Kathy Metz (408) 554-2550
- Parents of Teens Support Group: An open networking and peer support group based on needs of adoptive adolescents with discussion on independence, life skills, education and vocations. Meets monthly based on needs of participants. Contact: (408) 554-2550
- * Hollister PACT (Parenting Adoptive Children Together): A networking, support and education group for Hollister families who have adopted infants or young toddlers and for relative caregivers; experienced childcare is available for $5.00/family. Meets every other month. Contact: Nancy Murphy (831) 455-4705
- Relative Caregiver (“Family Ties”) Support Groups: A networking, skill-building, recreational, support and education group. Three groups meeting monthly – 2 in North County and 1 in South County. Contact: Marta Nielsen or Adele Prior at (805) 434-2126.
- Adoptive Parenting Support Group: An open group for adoptive parents and guardians to process permanency issues. Meets 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Contact the clinic at (805) 434-2449 x 10
