Support groups in Ocean County NJ

by Joseph Krok
(Toms River, NJ)

I am interested in support groups, near Toms River for children with SPD. My wife and I have a 5 year old son and we need to talk/meet to other parents with similar challenges in our area. At my sons school we feel alone and sometimes like an outcast.




If there are no local groups, I would appreciate any groups in the entire state of NJ.





Comments for Support groups in Ocean County NJ

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 27, 2007
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
I have one!
by: Anonymous

I run a support group for families in Ocean and Monmouth County NJ. We meet the 4th Thursday of every month. Please email me for further information.
DawnVanBrunt@optonline.net

Sep 26, 2007
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
help from a "Self-Help Group Clearinghouse"
by: Ed Madara

Dear Joseph,

I work at the N.J. Self-Help Group Clearinghouse at St. Clare's Hospital in NJ, and I would be glad to help you in your effort to get a local parent support group going in the Tom's River area. Anyone in NJ can just call us at 1-800-367-6274, more easily remembered as 1-800-FOR-M.A.S.H. (Mutual Aid Self-Help). Our website is www.njgroups.org (check out the Library there for general suggestions and info on starting any type of self-help - i.e., member-run - mutual help group.

For those outside NJ, there are a few other non-profit self-help clearinghouses in specific parts of the country and the world:
http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/selfhelp.php?id=859

In any case, best to you in your group developmjent efforts!

- Ed

From a research study exploring parents' perceptions of the effect of parent-led support groups for parents of children with disabilities. Qualitative methods were used to examine the experiences of members of nine parent-run support groups...

"Results of the study indicated that the effects of belonging to a parent-led parent support group were substantial. Through these groups, parents gain increased skills, an increased sense of power and a sense of belonging. Participants are able to connect with each other and provide support and skills to deal with the day-to-day issues of raising a child with disabilities."

- "The Perceived Effects of Parent-Led Support Groups" by Mary Law, Susanne King, Debra Stewart, & Gillian King, from the journal, Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, vol. 21, numbers 2/3, pp. 29-48, 2001.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to The SPD Q & A.