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| Photo courtesy RaeAllen. |
by Angela
Gaughan
Support Group Project Specialist
As the new school year approaches, families are anxiously
making plans to get their children ready to go back to school. The new school
year brings with it feelings of excitement and anticipation for the children.
For parents and grandparents, who may be raising children, stress and anxiety
may be some of the feelings they are experiencing. Many parents and
grandparents find they do not have a solid support system, which can provide a
sense of comfort and reassurance through times of stress.
A number of support groups are available for parents. One
resource is the Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL). They provide a
statewide support group system, the Circle of Parents® Support Group Program, which
offers support groups to grandparents raising grandchildren (Kinship), parents
of children with special needs, fathers, adoptive/foster care parents, Hispanic
families and parents in general. Other organizations offer support groups for
parents in Kansas on topics such as multiracial families, homeschooling,
troubled youth and infant care.
“There are a number of benefits for those who attend support
groups, some of which include sharing personal experiences and gaining
information about similar situations from others. Groups provide an opportunity
to talk with knowledgeable group leaders and some of the groups share
educational information. Attending a group meeting is a great way to establish
a network of support,” said B.J. Gore, KCSL supervisor.
With school aged children returning to the classroom, some
support groups are offered during the day and adults can look for meeting times
which meet their schedules. People who attend groups sometimes do not realize
that the information they share can be helpful to others who are attending the
meeting. A friend recently told me that she was able to describe how she worked
with her daughter to complete her homework in a timely manner, only to discover
that her story helped someone else in a similar situation.
The KCSL support groups are offered free of charge and there
is no application process required. Groups
meet in cities across the state. For more information, contact B.J. Gore at
316-942-4261, ext. 1315 or bjgore@kcsl.org.
The groups are listed at https://www.kcsl.org.
In Kansas, more than 2,000 community support groups,
national organizations and websites provide help for a broad range of specific
issues. Contact information for support groups can be accessed through the
Kansas Health Solutions website at www.kansashealthsolution.org/Shn1.0 or by
calling 800-445-0116 in Kansas.
