Alaska Center for Resource Families

Effective May 31,2010, the Office of Childrens Services is now requiring that all licensed foster families complete the OCS Orientation and the pre-services training (commonly called CORE) as a part of the initial licensing requirements. It is available here so, just check the appropriate calendar for your area/region for the times and dates of the Core you would like to attend or call 800-478-7307 for details.

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Support Groups

Jump directly to support group information for: Anchorage, Mat- Su, Fairbanks, or Juneau

Anchorage Support Groups

	For one time support groups, please visit our calendars
	AYFN Support Group for Parents and Youth Discuss issues of children’s behavioral health with other parents. 2nd and 4th Friday of each month at Gateway Learning Center, 801 Karluk. Call Alaska Youth and Family Network at 770-4979 for more information.
	FASD Play Day Dates Summer 2006 For information or to confirm date and place, call Stone Soup Group at 561-3701 or contact Cheri Scott cheris@stonesoupgroup.org . On bad weather days we will meet for craft activities at Volunteers of America, 1675 C St., Suite 201.
Last Tuesdays of month - 6:30 to 8:30 PM	No Empty Nest (NEN), Volunteers of America offers monthly support group meetings known as No Empty Nest (NEN). Grands gather at the offices of Volunteers of America at 1675 C Street, Ste. 201 , Anchorage . Supervised children's meeting with activities and games are offered during this time. Plus, local Anchorage churches sponsor a Grands Breakfast on the last Saturday of the month for grandparents raising grandchildren and their grandchildren. Call Tami Eller at 522-9866 for more information.
1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month 7:00 pm	Support meeting for families and children with emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric disorders. Meetings are held at NAMI Alaska Community Meeting Room at 144 W. 15th Ave., Anchorage, between A & C Streets. Call Tracy at 277-1300 or 277-2245 for more information.
Once monthly daytime	Daytime support group for foster and adoptive families. This group meets once a month and enjoys food, discussion, and some training. Call Aspen Perkins for time and date at 764-2932.
Last Thursday of the month 6:30-8:30 pm	Adopt Talk:Support, training and discussion group for adoptive parents. Meets the last Thursday of the month at ACRF 6:30-8:30. Dessert and coffee provided. No childcare available. Please call 279-1799 to register
Every 3rd Monday 11:30 am- 1:00 pm	FAS Family to Family Support Group: meets at Stone Soup. Bring your own lunch. For More information contact Cheri Scott at CheriS@stonesoupgroup.org
Every 2nd and 4th Friday 6:00 to 8:30 pm	Autism & Asperger Support Group: meets the 2nd Friday of each month; 6:00– 8:30 PM and for the kids AYFN Youth Night held the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month; 6:00—8:30. Held at the AHFC Gateway Learning Center Corner of 9th & Karluck. For more information email ayfn@yafn.org or call 770-4979.
	Families with Children for China: Alaska Chapter: China or Taiwan. Monthly playgroup and other activities. Contact: Shawnalee Whitney, 345-9698 or swhitney@yahoo.com
Every Thursday 6:00-7:30 pm	Coffee Talk: Newbook Club beginning on Thursday, January 7th 6:00 - 7:30pm at Arctic Playgroundz, located on Arctic Blvd between Benson and Northern Lights (across from McDonalds). The book we will be discussing is Three Little Words. You can order this book on Amazon.com for 9.99. Hostess: Pat Cochran. Your young children (ages 0-5/6yrs) are welcome to attend, as Playgroundz is especially designed to be a place where parents cans relax while their little ones play (it's pretty limited/boring for bigger kids). Adult admission is free, and the special price for Resource Families is $5 for the first child and $1 for each additional child. In additional to latte`s, cappuccino's and smoothies, Playgroundz offers a variety of kid (and adult)-friendly healthy food items and other beverages at reasonable prices. NOTE: Playgroundz is not a peanut-free environment. Please RSVP by January 2nd 279-1799.
First Wednesday of the month 6:30-8:30 pm	Let's Talk: Faith Based support group for foster and adoptive families. Facilitated by a licensed clinical therapist. Meets the first Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8:30 at ChangePoint Church. Childcare available by reservation only. Please call 279-1799 to register

Mat-Su Support Groups

	The Mat-Su Grandfamilies Raising Grandfamilies Support Group : contact Linda Price at Volunteers of America at 1-866-522-9866 or grands@voaak.org for upcoming topics and information about the group. The group usually meets on the 3 rd Tuesday of the month from 11:00-12:30 at Links Parent Resource Center on the Palmer-Wasilla Hwy in the Bagels Alaska building by the bus barn. For local information call Betsy at ACRF 376-4678 or Danita at Links 373-3632
Wednesdays: 10:00am to Noon	Mom 2 Mom, A Project of Alaska Attachment and Bonding Associates, a gathering for mothers of children with behavioral/attachment issues to talk, share and to learn a new art or craft. in the Mat-Su Valley, call or email Melissa Jessup for directions at 907-376-0506
	R.A.V.E.N Respite: Provides resources for parents raising traumatized children; Support Group, Library, Parent Hot Line, Online Group, Community Resources, Attachment and Bond Workshops and Parent Advocate, contact Melissa Jessup at 907-376-0506 for information.
Every 4th Wednesday: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm	Parent/Caregiver Support Group , 4 th Monday every month, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM We will be meeting at the new LINKS Training Center (Formerly Bagel’s Alaska Dining Room) Bring your lunch or a snack to share. All parents/caregivers of children with disabilities are encouraged to come and meet others that would like to give and/or receive support.
Ever 2nd Friday 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm	We are developing a Children’s Game Night the 2nd Friday each month from 6:00-8:00 PM. This is open to children with disabilities up to age 14 and their parents/caregivers only, no siblings please. You may bring a snack to share and a game your child enjoys. No handheld electronics, as we want to give our children a chance to learn social skills in a safe environment. For more information call Betsy at 376-4678 or Danita at Links 373-3632.

Fairbanks Support Groups

EVERY SECOND MONDAY Times vary	CASA CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING All trainings are open to anyone interested in the topic. After training there will be a time for case review for CASA volunteers and GAL’s only. All trainings will be held at the CASA Office: Suite 201 of the Key Bank Building, 100 Cushman Street, Fairbanks. Please call in advance to register at 451-2812.
2nd and 4th Mondays of every month	RCPC Support Groups: Fairbanks Public Health Center Play Group held at RCPC, contact Gloria Wheeler at 452-1776 for times and information.
Every Thursday of the month	Parenting on Thursday held at RCPC, child care is available, contact RCPC at 456-2866 for more information.
1st Thursday of each month	NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Fairbanks has its NAMI General Support Meeting the first Thursday of each month for consumers, family members, loved ones or anyone who are dealing with mental illness. Held in our office at 946 Cowles Street, suite # 102, the basement of the Arctic Bowl building from 7 to 9 pm. Coffee and cookies provided. 456 - 4704
EVERY SECOND TUESDAY 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm	Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Parent and Caregiver Support Group: Held at the Resource Center for Parents and Children, 726 26TH AVE Suite 2, Fairbanks. For more information, please call 388-9682 and leave a message.

Juneau Support Groups

	Juneau Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Family Support Group meets monthly at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Call 463-5161 or 209-4988 for date and time.
Tuesdays 6:00 - 7:30 pm	Parent's Anonymous support group for parents of special-needs children. Held by Catholic Community Services Family Resource Center at 8617 Teal St. (St. Vincent de Paul). Children's program and dinner provided in conjunction with group. Contact Helen Kalk at 790-4102 for further information.
Fridays noon - 1:30 pm	Parent's Anonymous support group for parents of special-needs children. Held by Catholic Community Services Family Resource Center at 213 Third St. (Reach). Children's program and lunch provided in conjunction with group. Contact Kim Champney at 586-8228 for further information.
Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30 am	Parent's Anonymous facilitated support group for all parents. Held by Catholic Community Services Family Resource Center at 8617 Teal St. (St. Vincent de Paul). Childcare and snack provided in conjunction with group. Contact 463-6180 for further information.
Thursdays 6:00 - 7:30 pm	Parent's Anonymous facilitated support group for all parents. Held by Catholic Community Services Family Resource Center at 8617 Teal St. (St. Vincent de Paul). Childcare and dinner provided in conjunction with group. Contact 463-6180 for further information.
Thursdays 6:00 - 7:30 pm	Parent's Anonymous facilitated support group for all parents. Held by Catholic Community Services Family Resource Center at the Family Learning Center #D-7 Cedar Park. Childcare and dinner provided in conjunction with group. Contact 463-6180 for further information.
Viernes (Friday) 6:00 - 7:30 pm	Parent's Anonymous en Espanol. St. Vincent de Paul, 8617 Teal St. 463-6180. Proveemos cuidado de ninos y la cena.
Mondays 5:30 - 6:30 pm	Parent's Anonymous Parenting Together for A Cause. GHS non-treatment Gastineau Human Services. Snack provided, no child care.

A project of Northwest Resource Associates. Funded by the State of Alaska DHSS, Office of Children's Services.
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