Local Support Groups, General

Providing leadership and advocacy on issues important to older Idahoans. Administration and monitoring of federally and state funded programs and services designed to help older Idahoans retain their independence, safety and dignity. Counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai & Shoshone

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:

• Adult Protection - Investigation and legal assistance.
• Family Caregiver Support Program - Assistance, information, respite, support and supplemental services.
• In-Home Services - Case management, homemaker, home-delivered meals, caregiver respite.
• Nutrition Services - Home-delivered meals, congregate meals.
• Ombudsmen - Advocates for the elderly in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities.
• Support Services - Information and Assistance, outreach, adult day care.
• Options Counseling, Benefits Counseling.
• Supports the efforts of grandparents and other adults/kin who step in to parent children during temporary or permanent absence or neglect of parents.
• RSVP - provides opportunities for community Volunteering.

The Idaho Commission on Aging provides contract oversight to the Area Agency on Aging offices.

The Area V Agency on Aging located in Pocatello provides information and support which maximizes independence and quality of life for older adults, 60 years of age and older, individuals with disabilities and vulnerable adults 18 years and older.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:

• Adult Protection - Investigation and legal assistance.
• Family Caregiver Support Program - Assistance, information, respite, support and supplemental services.
• In-Home Services - Case management, homemaker, home-delivered meals, and caregivers respite.
• Medicare Education - Help in understanding Medicare and rectifying billing questions.
• Nutrition Services - Senior Center directory, home-delivered meals, congregate meals, education and counseling.
• Ombudsmen - Advocates for the elderly in skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities.
• Support Services - Information and Assistance, outreach, transportation, adult day care.
• KinCare Coalition - supports the efforts of grandparents and other adults/kin who step in to parent children during temporary or permanent absence or neglect of parents.
• Assistive Technology - storage for Equipment Reutilization Program.

The Idaho Commission on Aging provides contract oversight to the Area Agency on Aging offices.

Services for older adults and adults with disabilities.
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:

• Adult Protection - Investigation and legal assistance.
• Family Caregiver Support Program - Assistance, information, respite, support and supplemental services.
• In-Home Services - Case management, homemaker, home-delivered meals and caregivers respite.
• Medicare Education - Help in understanding Medicare and rectifying billing questions.
• Nutrition Services - Senior Center directory, home-delivered meals, congregate meals, education and counseling.
• Ombudsmen - Advocates for the elderly.
• Support Services - Information and Assistance, outreach, transportation.
• Additional Programs & Services - Telephone reassurance.
• KinCare Coalition - supports the efforts of grandparents and other adults/kin who step in to parent children during temporary or permanent absence or neglect of parents. Relatives as Parents or Grandparents as Parents support groups are established to share information among members and provide a safe place to discuss the problems associated with your new parenting situation. Call the contact listed for meeting times and more information.

The Idaho Commission on Aging provides contract oversight to the Area Agency on Aging offices.

The Idaho Commission on Aging (ICOA) serves Idahou2019s seniors and people with disabilities by safeguarding their rights, fostering self-sufficiency, providing counseling, and advocating on their behalf. The ICOA provides opportunities for individuals to access a comprehensive array of private and public pay, long term care, support services through u201cSingle Access Pointsu201d operated by the Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs).

The Older Americans Act (OAA) authorizes the state to designate a State Unit on Aging (SUA) to administer federal programs in Idaho. As the SUA, ICOA has the authority to: develop and manage budgets and programs, propose statutory changes and administrative rules, and develop the required State Plan to address the needs of older Idahoans, people with disabilities and their caregivers.

The Idaho Commission on Aging was designated by the Governor as the SUA, pursuant to the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, Section 305. The ICOA is considered an independent Commission directly under the Governoru2019s office and administers and ensures compliance of state and federally funded programs under the Older Americans Act and the State Senior Services Act.

This agency provides solutions for seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers aimed at securing safe, healthy, community supported and independent living options through comprehensive information, assistance, advocacy, and planning efforts.

• Adult Protection
• Aging and Disability Resource Center
• Caregiver Services
• Case Management
• CSI Gold Card Program
• Homemaker Services
• Ombudsman Program
• Senior Service Specialist
• Senior Center Nutrition Program (Congregate and Home Delivered Meals)
• Support Groups (Caregiver, Grandparents and Widowed Groups)
• Transportation

Kootenai & Shoshone: ICARE- 208-664-3095, Panhandle Health 208-415-5240, Mountain States Group 208-336-5533. Twin Falls & Jerome: Community Council 208-454-1652. Offered on voluntary basis to pregnant women or families with children birth to kindergarten. Embedded in a comprehensive, high-quality early childhood system that promotes maternal, infant & early childhood. health, safety, development and strong parent-child relationships. Federal program was established in 2010 to provide funds for “Evidence-Based Home Visiting Programs.”

This group offers support and information for families and friends of persons with Down syndrome.
TV Down Syndrome Association was established to ensure that persons with Down syndrome achieve their highest potential by:*providing an outreach and support to new parents.*providing information to families, professionals and the general public on various aspects of Down syndrome.

Down Syndrome Association offers:
*Group meetings
*Annual Family Picnic
*Up about Down Newsletter
*New Parent Packet
*Up & Down booklet - Personal stories written by local families especially for new parents.
*Lending Library

We seek to assist individuals, couples and families in need of skills and healing for such personal and spiritual problems.

Grief Support Group: Treasure Wellness runs a Grief Support Group. There is no cost for the Grief Support Group but they will gladly accept donations.

Grief Support Group: Tuesdays at 6 pm (open group)

Anger/Stress Management: $25 per session $25 sign up fee meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm (open class)

Positive Discipline Parenting Classes - see website for details

Low Cost Counseling Available - $25 per session with masters level student.

Provides support groups geared toward support/network/social gatherings. Offers support, education, advocacy for families with gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual members.

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

We serve families that have a child with a disability through the "Family Enriched Weekend Program", "Information In A Box Program", and "Parent Training".

Call for more information.

Services for Nez Perce Tribe.

Commodity Food Distribution is provided to low-income inviduals/families who meet the qualifications and live within the Nez Perce reservation boundaries. No Dual participation either commodity foods or food stamps.

Womens Outreach Program
Child Protection Program
Elder Protection
Veterans Services

Volunteer Opportunity. Helps people maintain independence in their own home. Types of services that may be available are; transportation, yard maintenance, social visits and homemaker services.

The mission of Inland Oasis is a volunteer-based organization that conducts and supports educational, social and health programming for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and allied communities on the Palouse, Southeastern Washington, and North Central Idaho. 

Services include:

• Palouse Pride
• Rainbow Families: Potluck and game night for LGBTQ+ families and their allies.
• Lily Longlegs Emergency Fund: Fund to support individuals in need.
• Transgender Support Group: Support group for adults that identify as transgender, trans, or questioning.

Services include:

• Food bank
• Medical Services
• Counseling Services
• Celebrate Recovery
• After School Kids Tutoring Program
• Foster and Adoptive Family Circle

Women's Life is an extension of St. Luke's RMC. In a convenient and comfortable atmosphere, this program provides answers to health care problems. Materials available on several issues concerning women including pregnancy/parenting, STD's, preventative
education and more.

Neonatal Support Group 381-2661 - for parents of NICU babies during initial hospitalization and beyond. Support is provided by volunteer parents with similar experiences. Meetings are held weekly.

Parents Plus Support Group. 208-841-9199. Focuses on helping parents whose children have physical or mental disabilities, serious or chronic health conditions and developmental delays. Anderson Center, St. Luke's Hospital, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - second Friday of each month. No spanish available. No fees.

Parenting and/or Pregnancy Support Services:
St. Luke's offers classes on every phase of childbirth and parenting issues. The classes are informative, useful and affordable. Call for specific details on times and costs which may be associated with the service or support group:
* Breastfeeding support group, Lactation Specialist conducting the meetings. Downtown and Meridian location.
* SIDS/Miscarriage support group (monthly) - Share of Idaho
* Ongoing community education programs, including car seat checks
* Childbirth Education classes
* Pregnancy Exercise Program (H2O Aerobics and Yoga)
* Childbirth Preparation - new classes begin every month
* Marvelous Multiples - designed to help people who are expecting multiple to prepare for childbirth and parenting. 4 week series offered every other month
* Parent Refresher - classes offered twice a month.
* Baby Care Basics: Are You Ready? - class offered four times per month.
* Sibling Preparation: class offered monthly.
* Safe Sitters Class for Pre-teens
* Teen Dating classes
* Puberty Class
* Caesarean Birth - class offered every other month.
* Heart Saver First Aid class
* CPR: Infants and Children Basics of CPR-Airway Management for infants & children

The Center for New Directions offers individual career/personal counseling and classes for single parents, displaced homemakers and other adults going through a transition. One on one sessions are available for self-esteem building, re-focusing your life, career or self exploration. Mentoring and retention services for EITC students.

Counseling for students and adults.

Offers peer contacting, grief companions, a lending library and information about local support groups.

To have foster and foster-to-adopt parents who are a support to families, not a substitute for parents. There is also a need for families who are interested in adoption if, after supporting the child and their family, reunification is unsuccessful.

• Foster parents are part of a professional team, which includes parent(s), social workers, court-appointed special advocate/guardian ad litem (GAL), court personnel, therapists, school staff, and other professionals.
• Foster parents support birth families toward reunification.
• Foster parents provide safe, loving, temporary care for children whose parents cannot safely meet their needs. The majority of children or youth who cannot be safely reunified with their parents/guardian will achieve permanency through their relative, kinship family, or foster parent. 
• Foster parents support children in maintaining their connections to their community, school, family, friends, and faith.
• Reunification is the primary goal and the most common outcome.

To have foster and foster-to-adopt parents who are a support to families, not a substitute for parents. There is also a need for families who are interested in adoption if, after supporting the child and their family, reunification is unsuccessful.

• Foster parents are part of a professional team, which includes parent(s), social workers, court-appointed special advocate/guardian ad litem (GAL), court personnel, therapists, school staff, and other professionals.
• Foster parents support birth families toward reunification.
• Foster parents provide safe, loving, temporary care for children whose parents cannot safely meet their needs. The majority of children or youth who cannot be safely reunified with their parents/guardian will achieve permanency through their relative, kinship family, or foster parent. 
• Foster parents support children in maintaining their connections to their community, school, family, friends, and faith.
• Reunification is the primary goal and the most common outcome.

To have foster and foster-to-adopt parents who are a support to families, not a substitute for parents. There is also a need for families who are interested in adoption if, after supporting the child and their family, reunification is unsuccessful.

• Foster parents are part of a professional team, which includes parent(s), social workers, court-appointed special advocate/guardian ad litem (GAL), court personnel, therapists, school staff, and other professionals.
• Foster parents support birth families toward reunification.
• Foster parents provide safe, loving, temporary care for children whose parents cannot safely meet their needs. The majority of children or youth who cannot be safely reunified with their parents/guardian will achieve permanency through their relative, kinship family, or foster parent. 
• Foster parents support children in maintaining their connections to their community, school, family, friends, and faith.
• Reunification is the primary goal and the most common outcome.

To have foster and foster-to-adopt parents who are a support to families, not a substitute for parents. There is also a need for families who are interested in adoption if, after supporting the child and their family, reunification is unsuccessful.

• Foster parents are part of a professional team, which includes parent(s), social workers, court-appointed special advocate/guardian ad litem (GAL), court personnel, therapists, school staff, and other professionals.
• Foster parents support birth families toward reunification.
• Foster parents provide safe, loving, temporary care for children whose parents cannot safely meet their needs. The majority of children or youth who cannot be safely reunified with their parents/guardian will achieve permanency through their relative, kinship family, or foster parent. 
• Foster parents support children in maintaining their connections to their community, school, family, friends, and faith.
• Reunification is the primary goal and the most common outcome.

To have foster and foster-to-adopt parents who are a support to families, not a substitute for parents. There is also a need for families who are interested in adoption if, after supporting the child and their family, reunification is unsuccessful.

• Foster parents are part of a professional team, which includes parent(s), social workers, court-appointed special advocate/guardian ad litem (GAL), court personnel, therapists, school staff, and other professionals.
• Foster parents support birth families toward reunification.
• Foster parents provide safe, loving, temporary care for children whose parents cannot safely meet their needs. The majority of children or youth who cannot be safely reunified with their parents/guardian will achieve permanency through their relative, kinship family, or foster parent. 
• Foster parents support children in maintaining their connections to their community, school, family, friends, and faith.
• Reunification is the primary goal and the most common outcome.

To have foster and foster-to-adopt parents who are a support to families, not a substitute for parents. There is also a need for families who are interested in adoption if, after supporting the child and their family, reunification is unsuccessful.

• Foster parents are part of a professional team, which includes parent(s), social workers, court-appointed special advocate/guardian ad litem (GAL), court personnel, therapists, school staff, and other professionals.
• Foster parents support birth families toward reunification.
• Foster parents provide safe, loving, temporary care for children whose parents cannot safely meet their needs. The majority of children or youth who cannot be safely reunified with their parents/guardian will achieve permanency through their relative, kinship family, or foster parent. 
• Foster parents support children in maintaining their connections to their community, school, family, friends, and faith.
• Reunification is the primary goal and the most common outcome.

To have foster and foster-to-adopt parents who are a support to families, not a substitute for parents. There is also a need for families who are interested in adoption if, after supporting the child and their family, reunification is unsuccessful.

• Foster parents are part of a professional team, which includes parent(s), social workers, court-appointed special advocate/guardian ad litem (GAL), court personnel, therapists, school staff, and other professionals.
• Foster parents support birth families toward reunification.
• Foster parents provide safe, loving, temporary care for children whose parents cannot safely meet their needs. The majority of children or youth who cannot be safely reunified with their parents/guardian will achieve permanency through their relative, kinship family, or foster parent. 
• Foster parents support children in maintaining their connections to their community, school, family, friends, and faith.
• Reunification is the primary goal and the most common outcome.

Survivors of Suicide Loss is a non-profit, self-help support group for family and friends of suicide victims. Monthly support group meetings 2nd Friday of each month at First United Methodist Church, 11th & Hayes, Olivet Rm, Boise, Idaho. Enter thru the 11th St. glass doors.

This group offers support and information for families and friends of persons with Down syndrome. TV Down Syndrome Association was established to ensure that persons with Down syndrome achieve their highest potential by:*providing an outreach and support to new parents.*providing information to families, professionals and the general public on various aspects of Down syndrome.

Down Syndrome Association offers:
*Group meetings
*Annual Family Picnic
*Up about Down Newsletter
*New Parent Packet
*Up & Down booklet - Personal stories written by local families especially for new parents.
*Lending Library

We are a breastfeeding support group. Our services are free and Leaders are trained in the latest medical information regarding breastfeeding. We offer monthly meetings for women interested or currently breastfeeding. We encourage women to come before their baby is born. We have a free lending library and offer information sheets. Our meetings are based on Mother-to-Mother support (mothers helping each other) with the Leaders facilitating the discussion and offering current information. Some Leaders will also do home-visits for mothers experiencing breastfeeding difficulties.
We are a non-profit, non-sectartian organization.

Events/Services include:
Hold monthly informational presentations with professional speakers, and community advocates (2nd Monday of each month, 7pm at St Luke’s Meridian Medical Center)
Provide information about services and programs in the Treasure Valley
Give scholarships toward workshops, conferences, & camps to autistic individuals and parents
Sponsor community events and training which support autistic individuals and their families: Free To Be Wild night at the Boise Zoo; iCan Shine Bike Camp; Idaho Partnerships Conference on Human Services; Wrightslaw Special Education & Advocacy Training
Present annual autism-friendly events: Easter Egg Hunt, Summer Picnic, Halloween Harvest Party, Holiday Jubilee
Coordinate annual Run For Autism (April) and Ride For Autism (September), events which raise community awareness about and acceptance of autism in the Treasure Valley
Participate in legislative advocacy

Meets the 4th Monday of each month at the Panhandle Health District Office in Bonners Ferry from Noon 2:00PM.

Adult Cancer Support Group is designed to bring cancer patients together to discuss cancer related topics and offer emotional support. Meets 1st Monday 4:00PM - 5:30PM and 3rd Monday 5:00PM - 6:00PM.

An exhaustive library of informational materials on worldwide developments in spondylitis,
A state by state locator to search for a rheumatologist.
Accessibility Information
Specialized Information and Referral
Support Groups

The mission of Recovery International is to use the cognitive-behavioral, peer-to-peer, self-help training system developed by Abraham Low, MD, to help individuals gain skills to lead more peaceful and productive lives.

Online Resources Include:

• Local meeting locator

Christian non-profit organization. Started as a group for mothers of preschoolers. Now provides local and online support groups for moms of children with children of all ages.