Circle of Support for Parents

Forest Hills, Jamaica-Briarwood, Ozone Park

Parents

Parents have shared they feel disconnected from other parents since after Covid, many schools and other places they would normally meet parents have discontinued in-person events for them to get to know each other. For example, there is hardly any effort to have parent meet-and-greets at parent teacher night, or any PTA sponsored events that include all parents, but often limit the number of parents that can attend. Parents have shared they need the support of other parents and miss the impromptu meetings or discussions about each others' challenges raising a family. Parents have shared they need support in raising their children because there is no guidebook to raising children.

Provide support groups for parents to come together, share their successes and challenges, and foster deep connections with other parents. These group should be in community centers or social service agencies where families find most services. The group can have guest speakers on educational or trending topics that parents are interested in and would be lead by a social worker specializing in group work experiences. The group would be a safe space for parents to learn about parenting skills through the process of mutual aid in the group. Groups would have the option to be in-person, hybrid or online.

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