Family Support & Leadership

Parent/Family Peer Support

Connecting Families– Waisman Center, UW Madison  connectingfamilies.waisman.wisc.edu/, supports active parent groups as well as work with parents to create support group opportunities.

Parent-to-Parent of Wisconsin p2pwi.org/ provides direct 1:1 parent/caregiver support over the phone. Parents are matched with other parents who have children with the same diagnosis or similar experiences.

Courageous Parent Network- Courageous Parents Network is a non-profit organization that orients and empowers parents and others caring for children with serious medical conditions, by providing resources and tools that reflect the experience and perspective of other families and clinicians. courageousparentsnetwork.org/

Autism Society of Wisconsin: autismsocietywi.org/

  • Virtual support group meetings (New to Autism, Dads group, online adult support group), including “New to Autism” virtual group that typically meets the third Monday of the month from 6:30-7:30 PM.
  • Central Chapter- social activities and special events throughout the year. They can be reached at autismsocietycw@gmail.com.
  • In 2025, they started offering a 1-day caregiver retreat

Other Local Autism Support Groups

DSAW Down Syndrome Association Wisconsin  www.dsaw.org/services/virtual-support-groups/

Epilepsy Foundation-Wisconsin www.epilepsywisconsin.org/groups has virtual and in-person groups in other parts of the state. Parent and Caregiver Connect Group takes place every third Thursday each month at 6:30 over Zoom.  To join, contact Alicia Gajewsky at agajewsky@epilepsywisconsin.org

Hand to Hold (NICU Families) handtohold.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

  • NAMI Northern Lakes-serves Forest, Oneida, and Vilas counties naminorthernlakes.org/ 715-420-1700
    • Raise Your Voice peer group at Rhinelander HS and LUHS
    • Family Support Group meets at Howard Young in Woodruff on the 1st Tuesday of the month (6:30-8), for individuals 18 and older who have a loved one experiencing mental health issues
  • NAMI Northwoods-serves Marathon, Lincoln, and Langlade www.naminorthwoods.org/
    • Family Support Group meets at Grace United Church of Christ in Wausau on the 4th Monday of the month from 7-8p
    • Peer group for ages 18+ meets on the 2nd Monday and 4th Wednesday of the month at 5:30p at Grace United Church in Wausau
  • NAMI Portage & Wood www.namiportagewoodcounties.org/

Children’s Wisconsin Family Resource Centers and family programming childrenswi.org/childrens-and-the-community/families-and-clients/parenting-resources/family-resource-centers

Relatives as Parents Program gwaar.org/grandparents-and-relative-caregivers Grandparents and other relatives who have taken on the role of surrogate parenting due to the absence of the parents can be served through NFCSP if the caregiver is a relative by blood, marriage, or adoption and are at least 55, primary caregiver, lives with the child, and the child is under 19 and/or has a disability

Sibshops: Sibling support for children aged 5-12 who have a sibling with special health care needs. These are workshops that are usually offered one Saturday a month. In our region, Sibshops are offered at Marshfield Clinic-Marshfield www.marshfieldchildrens.org/child-life/child-life-services. WisconSibs has opportunities in the Fox Valley and also offers camps. 

UW Extension Parenting and Family Relationships parenting.extension.wisc.edu/ Triple P Programs, co-parenting groups

Wisconsin Family Connections Center offers virtual and in-person support for adoptive parents, foster parents, reunified families, kinship care, and adult adoptees

CAMP (Caregivers of Autism Maximizing Potential) CAMP is a weekend retreat for those who love and guide individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Generally held in May and October and can be covered by CLTS

Family Leadership and Advocacy

Family Voices 

Our partner, Family Voices of Wisconsin, has information on their website on how to advocate including attending Advocacy for Change at the capital and becoming a part of the Family Action Network: familyvoiceswi.org/family_leadership/

Have you ever thought about joining a committee or board to make a difference for children?  

  • Becoming a Family Leader
  • Serving on Groups that Make Decisions: ServingOnGroups.org
  • Family Voices has a list of state-Level Committees and Councils that Include Families and Focus on Children and Families, Disabilities, and/or Long Term Support here: familyvoiceswi.org/family_leadership/

Other Ways to Advocate, as well as learn about legislation and policy

  • The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities BPDD Partners in Policymaking Training: a six-session advocacy and systems change training program designed to develop a group of future leaders across the state who can work with legislators and communities on policies and initiatives that will support the full participation and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of life. Partners in Policymaking is designed for adults with developmental disabilities and family members of children and youth with developmental disabilities, ages birth to 21. wi-bpdd.org/index.php/partners-in-policymaking/
  • The Genetic Alliance “engages individuals, families, and communities to transform health”. You can view their website here.
  • Advocacy for Change: an opportunity to connect with legislators in Madison along with other families. Occurs every spring. 
  • Survival Coalition: The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations is a cross-disability coalition of more than 40 state and local organizations and groups. For more than 20 years, Survival has been focused on changing and improving policies and practices that support people with disabilities of all ages to be full participants in community life. You can sign up for their email alerts on their website.
  • Connecting with your local Center for Independent Living. Wisconsin ILCs are community-based, consumer-directed, not-for-profit organizations, serving persons of any age with any disabilities in all 72 counties. Unique in the world of human services, ILCs are governed and operated by a board and staff composed of a majority of people with disabilities. All ILCs provide five core services, which include: Information and Referral, Peer Support, Individual and Systems Advocacy, and Integration to Community life for people with significant disabilities. A list of the 8 centers in Wisconsin are listed here: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disabilities/physical/ilcs-contact.htm
  • The Arc of Wisconsin also hosts webinars and call-in meetings to provide up to date information for families on current policy changes: arcwi.org/public-policy/.