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Parent and Family Support Groups

Support

Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) via Oaks Integrated Care 

The program strives to improve caregivers’ overall functioning by offering individualized information, education and therapeutic support.

Through IFSS, families learn to be supportive in ways that promote wellness, recovery and independence. Ultimately, the program helps all family members begin to find peace of mind. Services help caregivers:

  • Navigate the community mental health system
  • Develop successful support systems
  • Better manage crisis situations
  • Communicate more effectively
  • Utilize coping strategies
  • Recognize the signs and symptoms of serious mental illness
  • Learn about mental health treatment options
  • Become a more effective advocate

Caregivers choose from a variety of services that are most relevant to their needs. Services are flexible and accessible to families in terms of when, where and how services are provided.

Individualized Family Consultation – Family Support Specialists provide regular face-to-face and telephone support to help caregivers find ways to build balance in their lives.

Family Psycho-education Groups – Staff and guest lecturers conduct and facilitate groups on topics that families identify as areas in which they need further knowledge and skills. Past topics include financial management, coping strategies, health diagnoses and more. Family members, friends and mental health providers are encouraged to attend.

Support Groups – Support groups provide an opportunity for families to meet with other families and support each other with the help of a trained facilitator. We conduct a variety of groups based on the current needs of our families including families with schizophrenic loved ones, parents with mentally ill adult children, etc.

Recurring support groups include:

  • Families Coping With A Loved One With Schizophrenia – Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm
  • Families Coping With A Loved One With a Mood Disorder – Meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm
  • Families Coping with A Loved One with a Personality Disorder – Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3:00 pm

Attendees must be enrolled in IFSS to attend support groups. Groups meet at 1409 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.

Respite and Social Activities Group – Respite gives caregivers planned time away to relieve stress, restore energy and promote balance in the caregiver’s home or a community setting. Social activities such as museum trips, miniature golf, the movies and other fun outings, provide a relaxed venue for caregivers and consumers of mental health services to interact with peers experiencing similar situations.

Advocacy – Family Support Specialists help caregivers become more effective advocates for themselves and the person they are caring for by explaining their rights as caregivers and the rights of individuals in mental health treatment.

Information and Referral – Family Support Specialists work with families to identify additional mental health and non-mental health services. They help form connections with new resources and assist with important paperwork.

Office Locations
1409 Kings Highway North
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
p: 856-482-8747

1001 Spruce Street, Suite 205
Trenton, NJ 08638
p: 609-396-6788

Fee: There is no fee for this service.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Contact: 856-662-2600

Support Group meets every 4th Monday of the month from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Audubon NJ 

Camden County "Warm Line"

Contact: 856-662-2600

Call this hotline Monday-Friday 9am-5pm for advice and support!

Camden County Family Support Organization

Support Group meets every Thursday night from 6:30pm-8:30pm on 23 W. Park Avenue in Merchantville

The group is free and they offer free babysitting. Contact: 856-662-2242

Parents Anonymous

Professionally-run. Support and advocacy for parents and caregivers of children with complex emotional and behavioral challenges. Building is handicapped accessible. Discussions, guest speakers, networking, literature and phone help. Childcare provided. Meets in Merchantville. Before attending call Parents Anonymous 1-800-843-5437 or 856-662-2600 (day). Website: http://www.camdenfso.org 

Family Success Center

Support groups for parents/families that meet for a few weeks at a time. Also offers educational programs on parenting, budgeting, housing, social services and other helpful programs. Camden Family Success Center, 2850 Federal St., Camden. Call 856-963-0270 (day).

Center For Family Services Parent Resource Center

The Parent Resource Center is a community based multi-diciplinary project that empowers parents with knowledge and skills needed to be effective caregivers.  Through the program, effective discipline techniques are encouraged and parent/child relationships are enhanced. The eight-week program is designed to enhance parenting skills for parents with infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and adolescents. Parent Resource Center provides practical information that can be incorporated into every day parenting in an effort to keep children and families safe. 

The Parent Resource Center is a partnership program with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. The program is open to families in both Camden and Gloucester Counties. 

Through the Parent Resource Center, parents can access:

  • Counseling services for individuals and families
  • Support groups for parents
  • Parent enrichment workshops
  • Parent training classes
  • Books, videos and other information focusing on parenting skills 

 Phone: 856.964.1990 x194 (Camden) or 856.728.0404 x4615 (Gloucester)  Email: parentresourcecenter@centerffs.org

Address: 584 Benson Street, Camden, NJ or 601 S. Black Horse Pike, Williamstown, NJ 

Ongoing Workshops/Parenting Groups:

School-Age Children (5 to 12)
Parenting and Discipline Group
Tuesdays:  11 am - 12:30 pm & 6 pm - 7:30 pm
This eight-session, focused group will present parents with a wide range of skills necessary for parent empowerment and effective behavior management of children. The approach throughout will emphasize the individuality of both parent and child, and the importance of accepting responsibility for personal choices. Parents will learn discipline skills such as time out; natural and logical consequences; providing options; limit setting; giving directions and choices; setting structure, effective communication skills; and cognitive/critical thinking. Parents will also learn the importance of play to both parent and child. This group is for parents of children between the ages of 5 to 12 years. This group will be offered on Tuesdays, from 11-12:30pm and 6-730pm, with ongoing enrollment continually throughout the year. 
 
Parenting Infants and Toddler Group (Birth to 2)
Child Development and Basic Care
Wednesdays: 11 am - 12:30 pm
This eight-session group will deal with the major aspects of infant and toddler development, including physical growth, cognitive development, language acquisition, and motor skills. Parents will learn how to respond to their child’s changing needs. Specific response areas to be worked on include nutrition, bathing and hygiene, and emotional attachment/bonding issues. Parents will learn to recognize age-appropriate behavior, and will learn their key role as nurturers in this phase of their child’s life. Creating safe environments and supervision will also be addressed. Parents will also learn about the importance of sensory stimulation and regular medical care e.g. immunizations. This group is for parents of children of age birth to two years. This group will be offered on Wednesdays, from 11 am – 12:30 pm, with enrollment start dates alternating throughout the year. 
 
Toddlers/Pre-school Group (2 to 4)
Parenting and Discipline Group
Thursdays: - 11 am - 12:30 & 6 pm - 7:30 pm
(Evening group will be held only when eight or more referrals are received.) 
This eight-session, focused group will present parents with a wide range of skills necessary for parent empowerment and effective behavior management of toddlers. The group’s focus includes role modeling; behavior modification; age appropriate discipline strategies and developmental skills; the importance of setting routine and structure; effectively communicating with toddlers; building self-esteem. Strategies to build better child and parent interaction will also be discussed. This group is for parents of children between ages 2 to 4 years. This group will be offered on Thursdays, from 11am - 12:30 pm, with ongoing enrollment continually throughout the year.
 
Adolescent Parenting Group (13-17) 
Thursdays:  6 pm - 7:30 pm
(Evening group will be held only when eight or more referrals are received.)
 
This eight-week group provides parents with techniques for dealing with the difficult times they may face in their son or daughter’s adolescence. We will follow a workshop format focused on the following skill building areas: adolescent development; communication skills; conflict resolution; anger or temper management; negotiation skills; natural and logical consequences; self-esteem building; and discipline. Throughout, we will stress the importance of developing and maintaining healthy relationships between parent and adolescent. This group is for parents of adolescents between ages of 13 to 17 years. This group will be offered on Thursdays, from 6-7:30pm, with enrollment start dates alternating.
 
For referral information, please contact Wendy Alexander, 856-964-1990 x194.  Groups can be organized for schools, neighborhoods and community organizations. Fees are associated with this service. To receive information on developing a group for a specific organization, call the Parent Resource Center, 856-964-1990 x194.