FSN News:
Family Strengths Network offers Support Groups for Families
Family Strengths Network (FSN), 3540 Orange St., offers four recurring support groups open to the community. These are free and provide a chance to connect with and find support from others in similar familial circumstances.
Birth Talk Circle
Birth Talk is a community talk circle for pregnant and postpartum women, whether it’s their first pregnancy/child or a subsequent one. It serves as a safe place to learn about options in pregnancy and childbirth and to share experiences with others.
Facilitators Karen Brown and Kate Hall said, “Being able to meet with people in a similar phase of life and to talk about what’s on our minds is so empowering — supporting each other in integrating our personal experiences, unexpected and wonderful and even challenging, and helping us to recognize our strengths. Hearing a variety of birth stories can give encouragement, better compassion, wisdom, and clarity about birth experiences.”
- When: 6:30-8 p.m. the first Mondays of each month
- Where: Hybrid (at FSN and online)
- Facilitators: Kate Hall and Karen Brown.
- For more information and to receive online meeting links, contact birthtalkla@gmail.com
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
A support group for grandparents raising their grandchildren, and other adults raising children in kinship or fictive kin arrangements. Participants discuss the many challenges associated with kinship care, share experiences and learn about resources these types of families may need.
- When: 5:30-7 p.m. the second Mondays of each month.
- Where: Hybrid (at FSN and via Zoom)
- Facilitator: Lori Padilla
- For more information and to receive Zoom links for meetings, contact pmlori62@gmail.com
Circle of Security
The Circle of Security support group (based on the parenting class of the same name) provides a safe place to share feelings and experiences and listen to those of other parents, receive support, and learn tools, skills, and resources that support Circle of Security parenting techniques. Knowledge of Circle of Security is helpful but not required.
- When: 9:30-10:30 a.m. the second Thursday of each month
- Where: In person at FSN
- Facilitator: Brandi Seekins, LMSW
- For more information, contact seekinsbrandi7@gmail.com
Loving Trans Family Together
This support group is for parents, siblings, or other family members of someone who is trans/genderqueer/gender nonconforming. It’s a space to connect with others in similar situations and share experiences, resources, and knowledge to better support their trans loved ones. Parents might come in looking for something specific, such as where to find gender affirming care for their child, and sometimes it’s simply a place to process shared feelings around how the world treats trans people.
“We’ve had couples attend who share that their child has just come out to them as trans, and they have no idea how to move forward. People often feel blindsided by the information and may not even fully understand what it means to be trans,” Facilitator Luke Eigelbach said. “For them, Loving Trans Family Together is a place to come ask questions and get advice from people who had been in their shoes, without fear of judgment. It is also a place to process the complicated feelings they have around their child’s coming out – feelings they wouldn’t share with their child – with people who understand.”
The goal of Loving Trans Family Together is to uplift and celebrate the trans kids (and adults!) in our lives and community. It is a place for families to come and see themselves reflected and share some of the bright possibilities that lie ahead.
- When: 6:15-7:30 p.m. the last Monday of each month.
- Where: In person at FSN
- Facilitators: Luke Eigelbach and Tara Adams
- For more information, contact tarakadams@gmail.com and/or luke.eigelbach@gmail.com