Support and collaboration are our best forces to make change. The Support Group Project was created through the collaborative efforts of the Treatment Research Institute and Hope for Addiction. The Treatment Research Institute (TRI) has been a leader in the substance use research field since 1992, with a belief that science can only be truly impactful when it is used to improve polices, programs and practices. TRI’s work focuses on applying research to change behaviors, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for individuals, families and communities affected by addiction.
It is through TRI’s Parents Translational Research Center, funded by NIDA as one of the first translational research centers of its kind, that we can devote such research to developing practical tools for families and loved ones confronting issues of drug or alcohol use with their teenagers.
Not only is this website available for families and loved ones to find a support group, but adding new support groups to the website is essential in order for us to meet the needs of parents and family members throughout the country. Please share this website with others and add your group today.
Now, more than ever, we need to continue to expand opportunities for families to connect, to find support and to navigate a loved one’s addiction and recovery process. Please support our work to change the way addiction is perceived and managed by society – and to create a brighter future for all those affected by this disease! The Parent Support Group Project is made possible through donations from the community. Please consider making a gift today.
“I have attended parent support group meetings since 2010. When my husband and I were in the darkest place of our lives, we didn’t even realize how much we needed to be with people who had a shared experience. Nearly five years later, we are still active in our support group, and the men and women we have met in those rooms are some of our closest friends today. I do not know where we would be without that group. Together, we have laughed, cried, and learned how to take care of ourselves – regardless of our sons’ or daughters’ recovery.” – Kim Rubenstein, parent.
“Most parents of children who are addicted to drugs and alcohol suffer crisis after crisis in total isolation. In the 8 years that we have been attending parent meetings, hundreds of parents have come through the doors, but we know there are thousands more who don’t know that support is out there. Over and over we hear the words: “Why didn’t we know about this years ago?” Resources are available at meetings, free of charge, where parents can get first-hand information and referrals to service providers from other parents based on direct experiences. In the past, finding your way to the meetings has been hit-or-miss. The meetings tend to support “anonymity” so finding out when and where they are held has been based on chance referrals by someone who knows someone. We are grateful to TRI for putting this directory and search engine together. The website gives groups a place to inform others and will help connect parents and other family members with the support they need.” – Pam and Bill Roberts, parents, support group leaders.
“I have attended parent support meetings for the past 4 years and they have changed our lives. I no longer feel alone or ashamed about our son’s addiction. The groups offer so much wisdom, resources and hope. I have made many new friends that I feel comfortable calling no matter what the issue is. I have learned that no matter how awful the crisis feels, someone in the group has gone through the same issues,” – Lori Quintavalle, parent.
1. Follow this link: www.supportgroupproject.org/register/
2. Set up an administrative account.
3. You will automatically receive and email/password confirming your account with a link.
4. You will use that link to enter information about your group.
5. Enter basic details about your group, such as group location, contact information, etc.
6. Enter specific details about your group, such as group affiliation, who the group is appropriate for, etc.
7. Once you submit the group information form, it will take (no more than) 48 for your groups details to be reviewed, approved and made available on the
site. You will receive a confirmation email from our team that your group has been posted.
8. As an administrator, you can add multiple groups under your account and manage them all from one administrator account.
9. Update your group information as needed by logging in to your administrative account.
10. We will only email you for important notifications and to remind you to check that information on your page twice a year.
