Back to School – Support for Families

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.