Join our NEW Online Support Group for Grandparents & Kinship Caregivers!

Online Support Group

A safe, confidential peer space for kinship caregivers—guided by certified professionals to help you navigate trauma, systems, and self-care without walking the road alone.

You Don’t Have to Navigate Kinship Caregiving Alone

A safe, confidential virtual support circle for grandparents and relative caregivers raising grandchildren.

Welcome to the Group

Raising your grandchildren brings unique joys, but it also carries complex challenges—navigating school and legal systems, managing altered family dynamics, and carrying the weight of caregiver burnout. You shouldn't have to walk this road alone.
Connected to our podcast, the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Online Support Group is a dedicated virtual space where you can connect with peers who truly understand your experience.
Every session is overseen and facilitated by certified therapists, counselors, and specialized family coaches who bring deep expertise in kinship care, trauma-informed parenting, and family systems navigation. While our leaders provide structured guidance and practical insights, our group remains a peer-first space focused on mutual connection, emotional safety, and shared experience—free from judgment, cross-talk, or unsolicited advice.

What to Expect & Our Agreements

To maintain emotional safety for every caregiver, all participants agree to uphold our core values of strict confidentiality, non-judgmental listening, and respect for every family's unique boundaries. Children are welcome in the background of your screen, but we ask that you use headphones if sensitive topics are being discussed.
We follow a structured 90-minute meeting flow designed to ensure everyone feels heard and supported:
  • Welcome & Group Agreements (5–10 mins): Setting our safety ground rules and shared boundaries.
  • Opening Check-In (10–15 mins): A brief round to share what is currently on your heart.
  • Open Group Share & Self-Care Focus (30–40 mins): An open floor to process burnout, system navigation, and emotional hurdles.
  • Practical Spotlight Segment (5–10 mins): Expert guidance on targeted topics like IEPs/504 plans, trauma de-escalation, and setting boundaries with birth parents.
  • Closing Round & Affirmation (5–10 mins): A grounding close to carry peace and self-compassion into your week.

Meeting Schedule & Details

  • Launch Date: Wednesday, October 7th
  • When: Every other Wednesday
  • Time: 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM ET
  • Format: Online Video via the secure Eggmed Telehealth Platform

Upcoming Schedule: October, November & December 2026

Meetings take place every two weeks on Wednesdays from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM ET.

Date & Time Topic Facilitator/Focus

October 7, 2026

12:30–2:00 PM ET

Session 1: Caring Through Change: Managing Family Transitions, Stress, and Burnout

Sudden family transitions often disrupt roles, responsibilities, and relationships in entirely unexpected ways. This facilitated conversation creates a supportive space to reflect on the realities of caregiving, share experiences, and learn from one another. Drawing on personal caregiving experience and change management expertise, the session focuses on navigating caregiver stress, unexpected family shifts, and balancing self-care while supporting others.

Dr. Kristy Smith

Kinship & Caregiver Trauma Specialist

October 21, 2026

12:30–2:00 PM ET

Session 2: Navigating Personal Triggers

Looking at what triggers our stress so we can lead our families with a steady hand and a calm heart, rather than just feeling like we're constantly putting out fires.

Latiffe Ghanem

Life and Conscious Parenting Coach
November 4, 2026

12:30–2:00 PM ET

Session 3: Navigating School Rights in Schools

School Advocacy (IEPs vs. 504 Plans), Educational Rights, Childhood Trauma in School

 

 

Paula Yost

JD, LCMHC-S

Attorney and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor

November 18, 2026

 

12:30–2:00 PM ET

Session 4: 

Holding Hope Through the Holidays

Managing Stress, Grief, and Changing Family Traditions

 

 

Dr Dale Atkins 

Psychologist, author, lecturer, media commentator, and relationship expert

December 2, 2026

 

12:30–2:00 PM ET

Session 5: Holiday Stress Management & Trauma De-escalation

While the holidays bring joy, changes in routines and family dynamics can easily trigger stress and big emotions for grandparents raising their grandchildren. This interactive session explores why these holiday pressures occur and offers practical cues to help you recognize emotional escalation early. We'll discuss simple realistic strategies to manage your own stress and guide your family back toward calm, connection, and a more peaceful and enjoyable season.

 

Bonnie Butler

Life Coach, foster and adoptive mom

December 16, 2026

 

12:30–2:00 PM ET

 

Session 6: Setting Boundaries


Setting boundaries with birth parents and protecting household peace.

Dr. Lindsay Emmerson

Psychologist
 

December 30, 2026


12:30–2:00 PM ET

Session 7: Reflect, Restore, Renew


Year-End Reflection, Self-Compassion, & Setting 2027 Caregiver Goals

Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst

Psychologist/Author

*Topics and guest facilitators are subject to minor adjustments based on community needs.

Pricing & Community Accessibility

We are committed to making this support accessible to all kinship caregivers.
  • October – December 2026: 100% Free Community Preview
    Join our launch sessions at no cost to experience the circle and connect with fellow caregivers.
  • Starting January 2027: $10 / month
    To help cover platform costs and sustain our professional facilitation team, the circle will transition to a sustained membership fee of $10 per month (includes both bi-weekly sessions).
  • Full Scholarship Spots Always Available:

    No caregiver will ever be turned away due to financial hardship. If the fee presents a barrier to your family, you can request a no-questions-asked, full scholarship directly during registration or within your Eggmed client portal.

How Registration Works

Because we utilize a secure telehealth platform (Eggmed) to protect your privacy and uphold strict confidentiality, registration follows a simple multi-step process:
  1. Click the Registration Link: Click the button below to open our secure registration form.
  2. Submit & Confirm: Complete the form to agree to our group confidentiality rules. You will immediately receive a confirmation email from Kit asking you to confirm your email address.
  3. Watch for Your Eggmed Invitation: Because profiles are processed individually during our launch phase, our team will manually set up your account in the secure Eggmed system. Within 24–48 hours, you will receive a second email with instructions to finalize your private profile and sign group agreements.
  4. Receive Your Video Link: Once your Eggmed setup is complete, your personal video room link will be sent via email/SMS prior to each scheduled meeting.

Ready to Join the Group?

Fill out the from below to access our registration page and save your spot for our next meeting.

Have Questions?

If you have trouble registering or have questions about whether this group is right for your family, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

 

Contact the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Team:

 

📩 Email: support@grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org