Support Groups

Support groups are listed in alphabetical order by city/town. (provided by the MA Commission for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren).

A

Acton

Location: The Acton Senior Center 30 Sudbury Road

Acton, Ma.

• Meetings: This group meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month 11:00 – 12:30 pm at the Acton Senior Center. The support group meets monthly to help each other navigate through the challenges and joys faced as grandparents raising grandchildren, and become informed about the resources available.
• Language: English
• Childcare: No

Contact Information: Joe O’Leary
[phone]
[e-mail]

Amherst

Location: The Bridge Family Resource Center, A Program of Clinical and Support Options

101 University Drive, Suite A3, Amherst, MA 01002

Sign in front of building reads “CSO-Clinical and Support Options”, plenty of free parking

• Meetings: Monday evenings from 4pm to 5:30pm
• Language: English
• Childcare: provided upon request
• Sponsor/Affiliated: The group is facilitated by Eve Eisman, a trained volunteer from
• Parents Helping Parents

Contact Information: TBD

Arlington

Location: Arlington Council on Aging

27 Maple St., Arlington, MA 02476

• Meetings: Services: support group, information & referral Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month @ 12:00-1:30 p.m.
• Language: English
• Childcare: Not provided
• Sponsor/Affiliated: Arlington Council on Aging –Town of Arlington

Contact Information: Lourie August, Social Worker

[e-mail] [phone]

*Interested participants must contact Lourie August for intake

Athol

Location: North Quabbin Grandparent Support Group 423 Main Street  Athol, Ma. 01331

• Meetings: Services:  support group, information, and referral.
• Meetings are the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 9:30-11:00 am
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided per request                                               

Contact Information:Bette Jenks [phone]

[e-mail]

Attleboro

Location: Robbins Children Center

803 N. Main Street  Attleboro, Ma.

• Meetings: This group meets every 3rd Tuesday 6:00-7:30 p.m.
• At the Welcome Center. Small refreshments as well as a snack for the children is provided.
• Language: English
• Child Care: Available for those who register ahead

Contact Information:   Lee-Ann Pereira  [phone]

[e-mail]

 

B

Boston 1

 Location: MSPCC/Kinnections

3815 Washington Street  2nd Floor Jamaica Plain, Ma. 02130

• Meetings: Meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month 10:00-12:00 Services include supports group, information, and referral
• Language: English
• Child Care: No

Contact information: Deanna Forist [phone]

[e-mail]

 

Boston 2

Location: The Julia Martin House via MSPCC/Kinnections 90 Bickford Street  Jamaica Plain, Ma. 02130

• Meetings: 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month 10:00-12:00
• Services include supports group, information, and referral
• Language: English
• Child Care: No

Contact: Deanna Forist [phone]

[e-mail]

 

Boston 3

Location: Laboure Center/Catholic Charities

275 West Broadway  South Boston, Ma. 02127

• Meetings: Every Tuesday at 11:00
• Services include support group, information, and referral, parenting advice, and counseling available for families
• Language: English
• Child Care: No

Contact Information: Emily Elmore  [phone]

[e-mail]

 

Bourne

Location: Bourne Council on Aging

239 Main Street  Buzzards Bay, Ma. 02532

• Meetings: Held the 4th Monday of the month 10:00-11:30 am at the Bourne Senior Center.
• Services include support group, information and referral, resource library, family programs, and special programs
• Language: English
• Child Care: No

Contact Information: Lois Care, Outreach Coordinator

[phone] ext. 5228

[e-mail]

 

Brimfield

Location: Hitchcock Academy in Brimfield

P.O. Box 281  Wales, Ma. 01081

• Meetings: 1st Tuesday of the month at 9:00-10:30 am 2nd Thursday of the month at 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided upon request

Contact Information: Margo Chevers and Terri McIssac [phone]

margo@margocheve

C

Charlton (Southbridge)

Location:  St. Joseph’s Church, Charlton 120 Sayles Street

Southbridge, Ma. 01550 www.stjosephscharlton.com

• Meetings: Meetings are to advocate and organize grandparents in a supportive group to share concerns, solutions, resources, and to develop friendships in a caring and confidential manner. Meetings and information are by appointment, must contact facilitator.
• Language: English
• Child Care: Not provided

Contact Information: Ted and Dianne Dubsky, [phone]

[e-mail] or [e-mail]

Chicopee

Location: Chicopee Council on Aging/Chicopee Senior Center

5 West Main Street Chicopee, Ma.

• Meetings: Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of the month 6:00 pm-7:15 pm Meetings are for support, information, and resources, as well as social events.  Light refreshments provided.
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided (contact facilitator for information)

Contact Information: Kristine Rose, Program Coordinator, [phone]

[e-mail]

F

Falmouth

Location: Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition East Falmouth Elementary School

33 Davisville Rd.

E. Falmouth, Ma. 02536

• Meetings: Support group meetings are held every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month.  Dinner is at 5:30 pm/ meeting 6:00-7:15 pm.
• *No meetings in July and August
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided (contact facilitator for information)

Contact Information: Beverly Costa-Ciavola

Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition [phone]

[e-mail]

Fall River

Location: Fall River Family Resource Center 45 Rock Street

Fall River, Ma. 02720

• Meetings: This group meets 1st Tuesday of the month 5:30 – 7:00 pm
• Dinner and child care is provided, please register ahead of time
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided (contact facilitator for more information)

Contact Information: Allison Hague, [phone]

[e-mail]

Framingham #1

Location: Callahan Senior Center 535 Union Avenue Framingham, Ma.

• Meetings: Meetings are the 2nd Wednesday of the month 7-9 pm
• Dinner and Child Care are provided Must register ahead of time
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided (contact facilitator for more information)

Contact Information: Carol Casey

Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children [phone]

[e-mail]

Framingham #2

Location: The Framingham Family Resource Center and The Wayside Youth & Family Support Network

88 Lincoln Street

Framingham, Ma. 01702

• Meetings: Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month 6:00-7:30 p.m.
• Support for school issues/child care; behavioral/mental health issues; financial resources; custody issues; community & statewide resources.
• Language: English Child Care

Contact Information: Robin Joyce, Senior Family Partner, [phone]

[e-mail]

Franklin

Location: The Bernon Family YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road Franklin, Ma.

• Meetings: Meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month 6:30 pm-7:30 pm. Light refreshments will be available. Child care is available for the meeting.
• Language: English
• Childcare: Yes, contact the YMCA in advance 508-528-8708.
• Sponsor/Affiliated: The group is facilitated by Meredith Poulten and sponsored by the
  YMCA, and the S. A.F.E. Coalition.

Contact Information: YMCA: 508-528-8708

Florence

Location: Meadowbrook Apartment Community Room 491 Bridge Road

Florence, Ma.

• Meetings: Meetings days and times:  3rd Monday of the month  5:30-7:30 p.m.
  *light supper and childcare provided, please register.
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided (please contact facilitator for more information)

Contact Information: Pat Keith, United Arc

[e-mail]

H

Hyannis

Location: Cape Cod Family Resource Center 29 Basset Lane

Hyannis, Ma. 02601

• Meetings: This group meets the third Wednesday of every month 5:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. at the cape Cod Family Resource center with Kerry Bickford form the Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.  This group provides a supportive environment for all grandparents who play a role in raising grandchildren. Dinner and child care provided.
• Registration is required.
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided

Contact Information: Cape Cod family Resource Center, 508-815-5100
[e-mail].

L

Lowell #1

Location: Lowell General Hospital

Community Health and Wellness Department One Hospital Drive

Saints Campus, Second Floor Lowell, Ma.

• Meetings: This group meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month during the school year (unless otherwise noted).  Meetings are held 6:00-7:30 pm.
• Language: English Child Care

Contact Information: Lowell General Hospital, Community Health and Wellness Dpt. [phone]

Lowell #2

Location: Lowell Family Resource Center 27 Prescott Street

Lowell, Ma. 01852

• Meetings: Call facilitator for meeting information
• Language: English
• Child Care: TBD

Contact Information: Lori Sousa, facilitator, [phone]

Lynn #1

Location: Lynn Community Connections Coalition 298 Union Street

Lynn, Ma. 01901

• Meetings: Meetings: 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month 6:00-7:30; September – June.  Childcare, activities, and food provided
• Language: English
• Child Care: Provided (Contact facilitator for more information)

Contact Information: Pam Freeman, Director,  [phone]

[e-mail]

Lynn #2

Location:  The Gregg House After-School Program 106 Broad Street

Lynn, Ma. 01902

• Meetings: Meetings are held weekly on Thursdays while school is in session 9:30-11:00am.    The Grandparent Raising Grandchildren Support Group in Lynn is open to grandparents who are in both the primary and secondary caregiver role for their grandchildren. Please call Meegan Simpson-Best for more information.
• The group is supported by Greater Lynn Senior Services, Gregg House, and The Department of Children and Families
• Language: English
• Child care: Not provided

Contact Information: Meegan Simpson-Best, Social Worker, [phone]

Lynnfield

Location: North Suburban Child and Family Resource Network

30 Farm Street

Wakefield, Ma. 01880

• Meetings: Twice a month, Monday mornings from 9:30am - 11:30am from September-June. Please call the Family Resource Network for specific dates and locations.
• Group is open to people in Lynnfield, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester & surrounding communities
• Language: English
• Child Care: Not Provided

Contact Information: Kathy Harlow, Program Manager, [phone]

[e-mail]