CRC North Family Peer Support

Connecting with other families is so important, especially for families of children with disabilities/ special health care needs. Children’s Resource Center-North can connect families to parent leaders and other supports, including:

• Offers parent resources and support to families across northern Wisconsin who have children with disabilities/ special health care needs including mental health conditions.
• Host and facilitate Parent Cafés and Connect & Shares across the region and support parents in learning the Parent Cafe model so they may host in their communities. In 2026, CRC North will host Parent Cates in Ashland, Stevens Point, Woodruff, and virtually.
• Starting in late 2026, offer Virtual Parent Space, an opportunity to have focused conversation around topics that are important to families.
• Northwoods Parent Leader Network: Many parents are supporting their own families and also leading groups, facilitating conversations, or planning events to support the broader community. Come chat and enjoy community amongst fellow parent leaders over dinner. 

Statewide, Regional, & Local Groups

Below is a list of parent and family support resources that we are aware of for families of children and youth with special health care needs. Children’s Resource Center-North can help you navigate these resources and others by contacting us toll-free at 1-866-640-4106.

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

• Taylor Co Autism Support Group: meets in person on the 3^rd Monday of each month from 6- 7 p.m. at the Medford library. 
• Central Wisconsin Autism Support: active Facebook group in Stevens Point area
• Sawyer Co Connecting for Kids: autism focus 
• Autism Caregiver Support Group Minocqua, for caregivers of school-age Autistic children. Generally meets twice a month at the Minocqua Library. Reach out to CRC North for contact info.
• Lakeland Star Academy Parent Support Group generally meets one Saturday a month at the Lakeland Star Transition Center in Minocqua for parents with children with Autism and other developmental disabilities and special needs. Children are welcome to attend. Contact is asd@gmail.com; partnering with Scholl Community Impact Group
• Wisconsin Rapids Families with Autistic Youth Meet Up and Support Group– meets every 3^rd Sunday of the month for parents and children of all ages. www.facebook.com/groups/3180387052235304

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

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 1^st 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 4^th Monday of the month from 7-8p
  • Peer group for ages 18+ meets on the 2^nd Monday and 4^th Wednesday of the month at 5:30p at Grace United Church in Wausau
• NAMI Portage & Wood www.namiportagewoodcounties.org/
  • Both in-person and virtual peer and family support groups www.namiportagewoodcounties.org/support-groups

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