Discover you are not alone. Be acknowledged for your role as a parent caring for a child with extra support needs. Gather and share information, learn about community resources and connect with other families who really understand.

For more information about any of the Family Support Programs, please call Kim Banfield at (250) 380-6363 or e-mail Kim at kbanfield@communityoptions.bc.ca.

Moms' groups are an opportunity for moms to meet informally to support each other by sharing ideas and exchanging information through general discussion and mini-workshop type formats.The group meets at 9:30 the third Wednesday of each month. Caregiving for children is provided on site.

Just for Fathers Group

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new guys, share information and have a 'night out'. Often men who come to this group have never had the opportunity to meet other fathers who are parenting a child with extra support needs. This program has a flexible agenda and meets the third Thursday of each month. A light dinner is provided.

A variety of educational opportunities are available to parents or family members who are currently being served through the respite or family support program and/or have an active membership with Community Options.

• Family Resource Funds - funding may be available to parents or family members to attend relevant workshops, conferences or courses, or to purchase relevant educational material.
• Lending Library - resource materials including books for all family members and computer hardware and software make up the lending library.
• Parent Partnership Education - a series of workshops for parents of children with support needs, developed collaboratively between Community Options for Children and Families, the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health and the Victoria Association for Community Living.

This program was developed with the belief that parents are a unique and valuable resource to each other. A 'resource' parent is connected with a newly referred parent according to that family's needs.

Sibshops & Sibteen

Children ages 6 through 16 who have a brother or sister with special needs are invited to join this program. SIBSHOPS participants have an opportunity to meet other children, share their circumstances, learn more about their own sibling, discuss common concerns and take part in a variety of arts, crafts and recreational activities. A number of SIBSHOPS are offered throughout the year for different age groups. Professionally qualified individuals facilitate all of our sibling programs.

• Sibshops - take place on Saturdays in a recreational setting and are usually two hours in length and six weeks in duration. Participants' ages range from 6 to 18 years.
• Sibteens - provide support for teens (ages 13-18 years) that have a brother or sister with a disability. Informal groups meet once a month in the evening from October to May each year.