Parent Support Groups help parents cope with the unique developmental and psychological issues that they and their adopted children face. The groups provide peer support that enables families to learn from each other’s strengths, values and resources. Groups are culturally relevant, flexible, and driven by parent need.

Adolescent Support Groups are provided to allow adolescents to communicate and interact with other adolescents and discuss various issues of being an adolescent and an adopted child. The support groups provide a venue for peer support as well as a channel of communication. The group facilitator helps the teens understand the feelings that their new families and even they themselves may have difficulty acknowledging. A variety of media, such as topical movies, is utilized to stimulate discussion. The adolescent support groups also periodically offer recreational and cultural enrichment activities and outings.

Parent and Child Support Groups provide a safe forum for resolving conflicts that may have escalated at home, by allowing parents and children to communicate their feelings in a safe and non-judgmental environment. The groups help enhance parents’ and children’s communication skills and allow them to discuss sensitive issues effectively. Parent and child support groups feature flexible sessions with an emphasis on therapeutic sharing of experiences and concerns.

To view NYCARC Support Group topics and schedules, see our calendar section

For information on NYCARC Support Groups and how to join, contact:
Project Director
212-475-0222, ext. 209
pgore@coac.org