Parents, caregivers, and support people for LGBTQ+ individuals need support too! Below, you can find support groups, information, and articles on how to support your LGBTQ+ child, friend, or family member.
Support Groups for Parents & Families
PFLAG Providence
Monthly virtual and in person support groups
All are welcome to attend our meetings. They are not just for parents seeking support. We also welcome members of the LGBTQ community who are seeking support and questioning how to come out to family. Allies who want to learn how to better support their LGBTQ+ friends or provide support to others are welcome, as are members of the medical community, social workers, therapists, educators, etc. If you need immediate support, you can always call our Helpline: (401) 307-1802. It rings on our home phone, so please leave a message if there is no answer and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
PFLAG Attleboro
Monthly virtual and in person support groups
PFLAG of Attleboro monthly support meetings are open to family, friends, allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you would like an invitation to the meeting, Please email pflagattleboro@gmail.com and let us know what we may do to help and support you on your journey.
Merrimack River Wellness – MA, ME, CT, VT & NH
Closed virtual parent groups, click the link to see specific offerings.
Transhealth Northhampton
Hybrid monthly parent support group
Transhealth is proud to sponsor the longest running peer support group for the parents and caregivers of trans and gender-diverse youth in the area.
Transforming Parents is a peer support group for parents or caretakers of children who identify beyond the gender binary, including, but not limited to, transgender, non-binary, queer, trans-masc or trans-fem. Some of the children are exploring and questioning their gender identity. We have been meeting since 2012 to provide information and support. Our participants usually have adolescent or adult children; we welcome families with elementary age children. Join us to receive and provide support and learning.
The group meets one evening each month. The cost to participate in this group is free! In order to attend and to learn of the location, hours and days of the meeting Please email to tell us you are interested and we will arrange a phone call with one of our Guidance Team members to get you signed up.
Please email us at transformingparents@protonmail.com and a member of our team will contact you. We look forward to hearing from you!
Ways to Support Your LGBTQ+ Child
Articles
Other Parent Support Groups
Bradley Hospital Online Parent Support Group
Free and open to the public, for parents and concerned adults of children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges. Meets the 2nd Thursday each month, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Pre-registration is required. To register, or for more information, please call or email Chris Bdown at 401-432-1205 or email cbrown@lifespan.org with your name and email address. All welcome!
The Village for RI Foster & Adoptive Families Support Groups
All Village Support and Socialization groups provide an opportunity for all parents to get out and meet other foster and adoptive parents and to relax, and share freely in a non-judgmental zone. Experienced Village foster parents will be on-hand to provide support and answer questions. The Village generally offers childcare for all in person support groups (currently on hold due to COVID-19)! It is a great opportunity for kids to socialize with others just like them! For planning purposes, registration is required at least 24 hours in advance.
Wave Clinic Parent Group
This group is for parents of teens who use substances. In the 10 weekly sessions, held via video conference, parents will learn how to support their child through the stages of change and how to encourage positive behaviors.
E-Unstuck and On Target is an evidence based online intervention program (Kenworthy, 2018) for caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and difficulty with executive function. Online learning modules teach caregivers how to support children’s executive function and behavior regulation. Learn more about E-Unstuck and On Target (PDF). To register, please call 401-432-1119. A phone intake interview will determine program eligibility.
Parent Training for Disruptive Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
The Verrecchia Clinic offers a parent training group for caregivers of school-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who exhibit challenging, disruptive behaviors. This six-week abbreviated program introduces behavior modification techniques to help parents/caregivers learn effective ways for managing and reducing disruptive behavior in their children. Groups are offered in the fall, winter, and summer. Please contact Gina M. Marini at 401-432-1119 for more information.
Asperger/Autism Network, Rhode Island Chapter, Parent Support Group
This support group is for parent of adults or older children with Asperger’s Syndrome. It is free and meets the second Monday of each month during the school year. The group may cancel on holidays or in bad weather. Please call for more information and to verify the meeting date and time. Pre-registration required. For more information visit www.aane.org. Meeting Time: Second Monday of each month during the school year, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Contact: Toby Liebowitz, 401-762-1763.
Incredible Years: Positive Parenting for Challenging Kids
Incredible Years is a skill-building course for parents to learn effective ways to help children with behavior challenges to calm down, follow directions and get along with others.
