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 or using the Contact Us form on our website www.crcnorth.org. Our website also has this information, which makes it easy to connect to the websites listed.

Connecting Families– Waisman Center connectingfamilies.waisman.wisc.edu/, working on creating parent support group opportunities for the following populations:

• Black families Sankofa connectingfamilies.waisman.wisc.edu/sankofa-midwest/
• Medical Complexity connectingfamilies.waisman.wisc.edu/children-with-medical-complexities/
• Rural families connectingfamilies.waisman.wisc.edu/rural-and-northern-wisconsin/
• Children with Hearing differences connectingfamilies.waisman.wisc.edu/parents-reaching-out/

Parent-to-Parent of Wisconsin p2pwi.org/ 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.

Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin

• • New to Autism Virtual group typically meets the third Monday of the month from 6:30-7:30 PM.
  • Central Chapter- Parent support group meetings (New to Autism, Dads group, online adult support group) and social activities, in addition to many other special events throughout the year. They can be reached at autismsocietycw@gmail.com.
  • Betty McCluskey facilitates free parent support groups for parents/caregivers of all ages and circumstances. Meets 1st Wed of each month (6:30-8) and 4th Friday of each month (1230-2) in the community room of the Incredible Bank building in Tomahawk. No registration required. Contact for group: dkleinf@psychresctr.com 715-224-2100

Other Local Autism Support Groups

• Taylor Co Autism Support Group: meets in person on the 3rd Monday of each month from 6-7p at the Medford library.
• Central Wisconsin Autism Support: active Facebook group in Stevens Point area
• Sawyer Co Connecting Families Support Group: 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 OR at Scholl Community Impact Group in Winchester-for parents with children with Autism and other developmental disabilities and special needs-children are welcome to attend. Contact is parents4helpingparents.asd@gmail.com; affiliated with Lenelle Scholl and Scholl Community Impact Group
• Wisconsin Rapids Families with Autistic Youth Meet Up and Support Group– meet up every 3rd Sunday of the month for parents and children of all ages.

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/

DSAW Down Syndrome Association Wisconsin www.dsaw.org/central-wisconsin www.dsaw.org/supportgroups

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 2nd Monday and 4th 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 programing 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

    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