Source: Pennsylvania Grandparents Raising GrandChildren, Pennsylvania Dept. of Aging
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=616615&mode=2
Support groups are beneficial to families, because:
- They can help reduce caregiver stress, improving overall health and resulting in greater physical and emotional stability for caregivers and those in their care.
- No matter the situation, just knowing there are others experiencing the same thing is very helpful.
Organizing a Support Group
Here are some helpful pointers on how to start your own kinship care support group if none exist in your area:
- Gather information about other kinds of support groups; if possible, call and ask permission to attend a meeting to watch, ask questions and borrow ideas.
- Assess the need in your community. Talk with the decision makers at your local schools, preschools and daycares and get them to agree to distribute a short survey that gathers information about kinship care families in your area. (See sample survey at the bottom of this page)
- Develop ground rules by which you will run your meeting so that everyone will know what to expect without apprehension. Confidentiality of discussions is an example.
- Decide if you want an open meeting or an educational meeting with speakers who can educate about caregiver needs. Often it is a good idea to have an open coffee and/or pizza meeting and let the group participate in developing the organization. Be flexible.
- Find a convenient and safe meeting place for a one to two hour meeting, such as a library, community center, church or synagogue, hospital, social service agency, YMCA/YWCA, bank, or fraternal organization.
- Contact human service professionals that work with older adults, families or children as well as school officials and make them aware of your support group. Ask them to refer families to your organization.
- Publicize meetings through posters, flyers, announcements or letters-to-the-editor in newspapers. Place them where you go and you are likely to find other caregivers in the same position as you
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