Joining support groups can be an invaluable experience for people facing various challenges. Whether it is coping with an illness, dealing with grief, overcoming addiction, or needing a sense of community, support groups can provide a safe space for individuals to share their experiences and hear from people going through similar challenges. Support groups also create a comfortable environment to offer and receive empathy and gain practical advice from people who utterly understand their struggles. Support groups can foster a sense of belonging and provide a family for people who feel isolated and alone, reminding members that they are never alone in whatever they may be going through. Being part of a support group can empower people to learn from the successes and setbacks of others while promoting healing, growth, and well-being for all people involved.
Adoptions from the Heart hosts a plethora of support groups that incorporate individuals from each side of the adoption triad with unique experiences.
Waiting Family Support Group:
The Waiting Family Support Group provides waiting prospective adoptive parents with the opportunity to join individuals going through the same experience as them. They can process the highs and lows of the adoption journey together and empathize with one another.
Birth Parent Support Group:
The Birth Parent Support Group gives birth parents the opportunity to come together and lean on one another in a safe space. They can share their thoughts and feelings with others who have had similar experiences without feeling judged or misunderstood. Nobody is obligated to stay for the entire meeting, nor speak if not comfortable.
Single Parent Support Group:
Through the single parent support group, single waiting and placed families get to join social work staff to connect and process the various aspects of the adoption journey. The adoption experience as a single parent is unique and this support group provides a distinctive opportunity to relate to others experiencing the same thing.
Older Adoptee Support Group:
Adoption can be an intense, demanding situation for all parties involved. Adoptees have a shared understanding of unique hardships in navigating through life. Although everyone’s journey is different, many of their feelings are similar. The Older Adoptee Support Group gives adoptees ages 15 and older the opportunity to share and hear their stories in a safe environment.
Transracial Adoption Support Group:
The Transracial Adoption Support group allows adoptive parents who have adopted transracially to connect and discuss thoughts and experiences. Transracial adoption can be difficult to navigate as it brings new, principal factors to the table. This support group provides a safe space for adoptive parents to share ideas, educate each other, and express issues and problems they need help figuring out.
If you are interested in participating in any of our support groups, please be sure to check out our calendar of events at calendar.afth.org!
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