Support Groups

Vermont Post Permanency Support Groups

The following Support Groups are provided by the Vermont Adoption Consortium in collaboration with Post permanency Services (From Lund, Easterseals, or NFI). Some groups are also co-sponsored by community partners or are community based support groups.

Statewide

Stories of Adoption: For Adoptive & Guardianship Families VT Center for Children, Youth, and Family (UVM) and LUND Post Permanency are teaming to offer this group one Tuesday each month from noon-1pm. Join other adoptive and guardianship parents as we share our joys and struggles, learn new ways to work with our children's challenges, and care for ourselves. Click on this flyer for more information or to register.

OPEN TO ADOPTION AND GUARDIANSHIP CAREGIVERS STATEWIDE MEETING via ZOOM: Self-Care Support Group for Adoptive and Guardianship Caregivers: This group focuses on self-care activities and discussions. The dates and topics are available here. For more information or to register for this email Kathy at kathleeny@lundvt.org

Addison County

Addison County Support Group for Adoptive and Guardianship Families is currently on hold. If you are interested in participating with the group when it resumes, please contact Katherine Boise at katherineb@lundvt.org

Windsor County/Springfield

Circle of Support for Adoptive and Guardianship Families meets the second Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 virtually. If you are interested in joining this group please contact Stephanie Amyot (802) 735-5031 or email her at stephaniea@lundvt.org to receive the Zoom link.

Bennington County

Kin Care Support and Resources meeting virtually the last Thursday of each month - drop in anytime between 6:30 to 8:00 pm. To sign up and receive the link email kincare@ucsvt.org or call 413-884-5589

Windham County/Brattleboro

Brattleboro: Support Group for Adoptive and Guardianship Parents meets in person the second Tuesday of the month, 5:30-7:30 pm. For more information you can contact Su Lin Mangan by email sulinm@lundvt.org or phone 802-503-7513.

Franklin County

NOW MEETING via ZOOM: 1st Thursday of every month from 8:00-9:00 pm. To receive the link for this group please contact Nina Hill (802) 495-6187 or Monica Darrah (802) 495-6535

Lamoille County/Morrisville

Morrisville-Please contact Pam Montgomery, Easterseals of Vermont, (802) 595-5046 for information

Caledonia County/St Johnsbury

The Northeast Kingdom Foster and Adoptive Community is on a break until new staffing and support is identified

Upper Valley

ON HOLD UNTIL ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON: Kinship Care Support Group meets the first Thursday of every month, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, at 2458 Christian Street, Wilder (next to the Dothan Brook School on Rte 5). For more information contact: Judith Bush, ACSW at (802) 356-9393 x 2 or jbush@together.net

CURRENTLY MEETING VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM: Adoption Conversations - a Triad Group meets monthly, from 7-8:30pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. All participants are adults, and are either birth parents, adult adoptees, or adoptive parents. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. For more information, or to receive the zoom link to the meeting, reach out to Judith Bush, ACSW at jbush@together.net or 603-790-8283.

Other support groups of interest:

State-wide:

Transracial Parenting Learning Circle: For adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers who are parenting transracially in Vermont

This is a free, virtual monthly group for caregivers who provide guardianship, have adopted, or are fostering transracially or transculturally. Build your awareness, knowledge, and skills in a network of connection and support. The group is facilitated by EJ Bartlett, who adopted transracially, and Deidra Razzaque, who grew up in transracial kinship care. Group meets virtually the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 6-7:30pm beginning in January 2022. Click here for more info or to register. Please note: This group is currently on hold. If you are interested in participating in the group when it resumes, please contact the Vermont Consortium Coordinator at vtadoption@vermont.gov.

Burlington

Adoptee Youth Group: LUND Post Permanency is offering an opportunity for adoptees aged 12-16 to meet and connect! See flyer for details:Youth Group Flyer

Various Locations State-wide:

Families of Color (FOC): An informal, inclusive community of families who gather every month or so for various social activities (picnics, swimming, campfires, movies, skating, hiking, sledding, etc), plus an annual camping weekend. Open to adults and kids of all ages in families of color, and their allies, to build friendships and access a support network while at play together. Gatherings naturally allow discussion of themes related to adoption, transracial families, racism, BIPOC experience in Vermont and beyond, and more. Locations vary with activity, but usually are in the greater Central Vermont region. New families always welcome! Anyone interested in joining the email list should contact Jane Dudley, jane.dudleyvt@gmail.com.