Our Support Groups provide adoptive, foster, and kinship parents a place to connect with one another. Each support group opens with a time of sharing, continues with a piece of curriculum, and ends with a group discussion on the concepts covered for that meeting. The goal is for each parent to leave feeling heard, connected to other parents who understand them, and having a sense of direction for the future.
We offer two different support group models-
- Trauma-Informed (open, ongoing)
- Faith-Based (private, one year)
If you are looking to be a part of a community of like-minded families we hope you will find a home at one of our Support Groups. (See all 8 of our locations below!)
Lead Teams
Each Support Group is run by a Lead Team of adoptive, foster, and kinship parents just like you! If you are interested in being a part of one of these teams, check out the details below.
Our Support Groups run best when there is a healthy Lead Team of 3 families. We ask that couples join the Lead Team together when possible. This is to ensure there is a balance of moms and dads in our Support Groups. We strongly believe that the whole family needs connection and support and we can best model this by our leadership! Ideally, each person on the Lead Team would be in charge of at least one of the following roles.
- Leader- Leads entire Lead Team as they run the Support Group together.
- Facilitator – Facilitates the Support Group meeting time including the sharing, curriculum, and discussion time.
- Attendance/Welcoming – Taking attendance for parents, kids, and volunteers. Making sure everyone also has name tags and feels welcome.
- Childcare Team Lead – Tracking RSVPs, scheduling volunteers, managing Childcare Team.
- Dinner – Tracking potluck signups (if your group does a potluck). Making sure water, cups, plates, napkins, and utensils are out.
- Facilities – Arranging room reservations for the year, making sure the rooms are set up as needed day-of with enough tables/chairs.
- Tech – Some Facilitators find it helpful to have someone set up and run the video clip.
If you have questions about our Lead Teams or are interested in applying to join one, send an email to rachel@helponechild.org. (Our Trauma-Informed Support Groups are open to everyone, but we do ask for a statement of faith from the members of our Lead Teams.)
Feedback from Support Group Attendees
The thing I appreciate most from attending one of Help One Child’s Support Groups is the peer support!! Hearing other parents share that they get it and they REALLY have experienced the same craziness (not just normal development stuff parents of typical children are familiar with). The teaching is also excellent and I’ve learned so many great things over the years.
I am so thankful for the teaching tools such as workbooks and videos at our support group. They have been eye opening and life changing. The knowledge and guidance of our leader is encouraging and supportive. Also, my five kids love going and connecting with the friends they have made. We’ve had the wonderful opportunity to get to know some very special families.
Trauma-Informed Support Groups
Palo Alto
Date/Time: second Thursday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30 PM
**Group does not meet in December. August date TBD for Summer Party.**
**Location: Peninsula Bible Church, 3505 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Come and meet with other adoptive, foster, and kinship parents who are walking the same parenting path as you. There will be time for sharing as well as time for learning trauma-informed parenting skills that will help you in your day to day life with your child.
A potluck dinner starts off the evening from 5:30-6:00 as a way for parents, kids, and volunteers to connect with one another and build community. After dinner, the kids and volunteers move to the childcare room. Childcare is available by RSVP only. Fill out this form by Monday, 5 PM the week of the meeting to reserve childcare. Sign up for the email list below to receive a monthly email with the details of the upcoming meeting.
If you have any questions about this support group, please send an email to paloalto@helponechild.org.
Subscribe to the Palo Alto Support Group Email List
Los Gatos
Date/Time: second Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM
*Group does not meet in December.
Location: Calvary Church, 16330 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Calvary Church provides dinner for this support group as a way to encourage the growth of this community of adoptive, foster, and kinship parents along with their children, and our wonderful childcare volunteers. Everyone enjoys eating together from 6:30-7:00, then the children join the volunteers in childcare while the parents meet from 7:00-8:30. Childcare is available by RSVP only. Fill out this form by Monday, 5 PM the week of the meeting to reserve childcare. Sign up for the email list below to receive a monthly email with the details of the upcoming meeting. If you have any questions about this support group, please contact Alice at losgatos@helponechild.
The support group starts with a time of sharing, then moves into a time of learning a trauma-informed parenting skill, and concludes with a group discussion of what this skill would look like applied to daily life.
The goal is for each parent to leave feeling heard, connected to other parents who understand them, and having a sense of hope for the future. We hope you can join us!
Group meets in Parkside 3. Click here to see the campus map.
Subscribe to the Los Gatos Support Group Email List
Redwood City
Date/Time: third Sunday of every month from 5:30-7:30 pm
**Group does not meet this September** **Launch date (first meeting) is October 20th, 2019.**
Location: Peninsula Covenant Church, 3560 Farm Hill Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94061
In partnership with Peninsula Covenant Church (PCC), we are so excited to announce the launch of a new support group in Redwood City! PCC has a big heart for children from hard places and their families. We hope you can come and connect with this vibrant community!
Come and meet with other adoptive, foster, and kinship parents who are walking the same parenting path as you. There will be time for sharing as well as time for learning trauma-informed parenting skills that will help you in your day to day life with your child.
Dinner will be provided. Kids will eat in childcare. Parents will eat during the support group meeting. Childcare is available by RSVP only. Please fill out this form by Wednesday, 5PM the week of the meeting to reserve childcare.
Sign up for the email list below to receive a monthly email with the details of the upcoming meeting. If you have any questions about this support group, please send an email to Holly at redwoodcity@helponechild.org.
Subscribe to the Redwood City Support Group Email List
Walnut Creek
Date/Time:
- October 28th, (Monday) 6:30-8:00 PM
- November 18th, (Monday) 6:30-8:00 PM
- December 30th, (Monday) 6:30-8:00 PM
Location: Cornerstone Fellowship Church
In partnership with Cornerstone Fellowship Church, we are so excited to announce the launch of a new support group in Walnut Creek! We hope you can come and connect with this vibrant community!
Come and meet with other adoptive, foster, and kinship parents who are walking the same parenting path as you. There will be time for learning trauma-informed parenting skills that will help you in your day to day life with your child, as well as time for group discussion.
Dinner will be provided. Childcare is available by RSVP only. Please send an email to Julie at walnutcreek@helponechild.org if you need childcare for your child(ren), or if you have any questions about this support group.
Sign up for the email list below to receive a monthly email with the details of the upcoming meeting.
Subscribe to the Redwood City Support Group Email List
San Jose
Date/Time: first Sunday of every month from 5:30-7:30 pm
**Meeting for September moved one week later (to the second Sunday of the month) due to Labor Day Weekend. September meeting will be Sunday, 9/8, from 5:30-7:30pm.**
**Group does not meet in December.**
Location: The River Church Community, 670 Lincoln Ave #200, San Jose, CA 95126
We are so excited to announce the launch of our new support group in San Jose! Come and meet with other adoptive, foster, and kinship parents who are walking the same parenting path as you. There will be time for sharing as well as time for learning trauma-informed parenting skills that will help you in your day to day life with your child.
A potluck dinner starts off the evening from 5:30-6:00 as a way for parents, kids, and volunteers to connect with one another and build community. After dinner, the kids and volunteers move to the childcare room. Childcare is available by RSVP only. Fill out this form by Wednesday, 5 PM the week of the meeting to reserve childcare. Sign up for the email list below to receive a monthly email with the details of the upcoming meeting. If you have any questions about this support group, please send an email to Lesley at sanjose@helponechild.org.
Subscribe to the San Jose Support Group Email List
San Bruno
Date/Time: second Sunday of every month from 6:00-7:30 pm
**Group does not meet in December.**
**2020 April meeting will be moved one week later (t0 4/19) due to Easter.**
**2020 May meeting will be moved one week later (to 5/17) due to Mother’s Day.**
Location: New North Church, 300 Piedmont Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066
Come and meet with other adoptive, foster, and kinship parents who are walking the same parenting path as you. There will be time for sharing as well as time for learning trauma-informed parenting skills that will help you in your day to day life with your child.
Childcare is available by RSVP only. Fill out this form by Wednesday, 5 PM the week of the meeting to reserve childcare. Sign up for the email list below to receive a monthly email with the details of the upcoming meeting. If you have any questions about this support group, please send an email to Julie at sanbruno@helponechild.org.
Subscribe to the San Bruno Support group email list
Morgan Hill
Date/Time: third Monday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM
**Group does not meet in December.**
Location: West Hills Community Church, 16695 Dewitt Ave, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Come and meet with other adoptive, foster, and kinship parents who are walking the same parenting path as you. There will be time for sharing as well as time for learning trauma-informed parenting skills that will help you in your day to day life with your child.
Childcare is available by RSVP only. Fill out this form by Thursday, 5 PM the week prior to the meeting to reserve childcare. Sign up for the email list below to receive a monthly email with the details of the upcoming meeting. If you have any questions about this support group, send an email to Maylin at morganhill@helponechild.
Subscribe to the Morgan Hill Support Group Email List
Half Moon Bay – Spanish
**Group does not meet in December.**
Location: Mariners Church, 100 Stone Pine Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Subscribe to the Half Moon Bay Spanish Support Group Email List
New Locations
Date/Time: once a month, same day, same time
Location: Local Host Church
Do you wish there was a support group in your neighborhood? Contact us (Rachel@HelpOneChild.org) to find out how to make this happen for yourself and other adoptive, foster, and kinship families in your community. Our vision is to have a support group in every city in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. We’d love for you and your church to partner with us as we work to provide this important resource to families in their local communities.
Faith-Based Support Groups (Replanted)
Morgan Hill
Date/Time: once a month, same day, same time
**Group does not meet in December.**
Location: Local Host Church
We are happy to announce our new partnership with Replanted. Replanted is a national ministry dedicated to helping adoptive and foster families find community within support groups.
While Help One Child’s traditional Support Group model is-
- Open (any adoptive, foster, or kinship family can drop in at any time)
- Ongoing (groups continue meeting year after year to provide a consistent resource to the local community)
- Trauma-Informed (our curriculum is based on educating parents on trauma-informed parenting techniques)
The Replanted model is-
- Private (families register for the group and commit to attending faithfully to each monthly meeting)
- One Year (the group commits to meeting together for one year)
- Faith-Based (the curriculum is based on scripture and focused on helping parents connect with one another)
“These groups are a place of encouragement and prayer for families as they care for children. We believe that as families and children grow in relationship with each other, these groups can become a place of deep trust and encouragement for all involved.”
We, at Help One Child, are excited to now be able to offer both of these support group models to our families (open/trauma-informed, private/faith-based). If you are interested in joining the Morgan Hill Replanted Group contact rachel@helponechild.org
New Locations
Date/Time: once a month, same day, same time
Location: Local Host Church
We are happy to announce our new partnership with Replanted. Replanted is a national ministry dedicated to helping adoptive and foster families find community within support groups.
While Help One Child’s traditional Support Group model is-
- Open (any adoptive, foster, or kinship family can drop in at any time)
- Ongoing (groups continue meeting year after year to provide a consistent resource to the local community)
- Trauma-Informed (our curriculum is based on educating parents on trauma-informed parenting techniques)
The Replanted model is-
- Private (families register for the group and commit to attending faithfully to each monthly meeting)
- One Year (the group commits to meeting together for one year)
- Faith-Based (the curriculum is based on scripture and focused on helping parents connect with one another)
“These groups are a place of encouragement and prayer for families as they care for children. We believe that as families and children grow in relationship with each other, these groups can become a place of deep trust and encouragement for all involved.”
We, at Help One Child, are excited to now be able to offer both of these support group models to our families (open/trauma-informed, private/faith-based). If you are interested in starting a Replanted Group in your area contact rachel@helponechild.org.