The Self-Helper

These are just a few of the situations where the Self-Help Center can help people find or start groups to help address the isolation, frustrations, fears, concerns and resources they need to cope. There are over 70 groups in Champaign County that have been formed to meet the needs of families. Here are just a few that could help to address the situations outlined above.

Stay-at-home Dads – There are no local groups at present but there is a dad who would like to connect with other local stay-at-home dads. There is however, a national group, Dad-to-Dad, which can serve as a model for setting up a local group and an online resource, www.slowlane.com, provides online chat groups, email loops, resources and guidelines for starting local chapters of Dad-to-Dad for at-home dads, primary care-giving fathers, men and their families. Call the Self-Help Center if you are interested in helping a local group form.

Military Family – A group of women from various local churches formed this group about a year ago when they had family members in the armed services deployed in the Middle East. This small group has grown to over 40 families who are supporting each other through prayer, information and advocacy on behalf of military families. See the group update section of this newsletter for contact information.

Families with Children with Special Needs – Although the local chapter of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder) has disbanded there is another local group that has been very effective in helping to develop family community outings to increase opportunities for socialization. PROUDD (Parent Resource Organization for the Understanding of Developmental Delays) has a web site that lists upcoming family activities and conferences at www.PROUDD.com or phone 217-841-1222. The closest CHADD group is located in Bloomington, IL; see the group update section for meeting and contact information.

Groups for Parents with Preschoolers – Mothers and More and Mothers of Preschoolers are just two of the local groups with many activities to help new moms get out for socialization and support. There are also groups for Spanish speaking families. Visit the Self-Help Center website at www.prairienet.org/selfhelp and go to Parenting and then Parents of Preschoolers and Parenting (General) for a complete list of available groups.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – A local group of grandparents and relatives caring for grandchildren has been meeting since 1996 to help families in this situation cope and exchange resources. Childcare is also available. Call Lynda Gritten at 351-1748 for meeting information.

Groups for Parents and Children – Separation and Divorce – DivorceCare groups are available for parents and children at churches in the area and Rainbows, an international group founded in 1983, has trained adults guide children’s groups through the grieving process. There are also retreat programs and classes available in the area. Visit the Self-Help Center web site – Parenting – Separation and Divorce or call the Center for more information on local resources.

Mental Health – Families with children or young adults who are dealing with depression or other forms of mental illness may contact the Depression and BiPolar Support Alliance of Urbana Champaign or the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – Champaign County. Contact information is available at the Self-Help Center web site or by calling the Self-Help Center at 352-0099.

Families with Ill Children – The Carle Foundation Hospital has begun to reach out to families with children diagnosed with cancer with two tandem sessions for the parents and the children. Information is available at the Center’s web site or by contacting Sherrie Ross at 326-1932 There are also other groups available for parents of children with disabilities or illness at the SHC website under Parenting – Parents of Disabilities/Illness.

Assessing the Needs and Strengths of Self-Help Groups

A study conducted by the Self-Help Network of Wichita State University in 2004 of 250 randomly selected self-help/support groups in Kansas resulted in the following information:

Group Strengths

Group members supporting each other (79%)

Group structure – The unifying factor was a consistent meeting time and a convenient location. (56%)

The group was a source of useful information for the members. (38%)

Leadership structure – While there was variation in the structure (peer-led, professionally-facilitated or shared between professionals and peers) the respondents emphasized that a leadership structure consistent with the needs of the group was beneficial to the members. (27%)

Group acceptance of others - Acceptance included letting everyone know they are important to the group, helping one another and welcoming new members. (20%)

Group Challenges

Problems related to logistics including transportation, meeting location/time, childcare and funding (68%)

Attendance at group meetings (50%)

Public awareness of the group (33%)

Clearinghouse Support

Participants were also asked to identify how a self-help clearinghouse could be most useful to them.

Help with public awareness of the groups (over 50%)

Help starting and maintaining the group (40%)

Help locating guest speakers and other community resources (22%)

The groups also mentioned that the resources they most relied upon included the quarterly newsletter, the statewide directory listing of groups, the website and the toll-free phone line.

New in the Self-Help Library

While I was sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, I came across a book review of Sharon Bray’s new book, A Healing Journey: Writing Together through Breast Cancer” (2004, ISBN 0-941895-29-7). The book is about the power of the written word to express what cannot be said and to affirm that even people who think they cannot write can find healing and inspiration as they record and try to understand their cancer experience. Sharon Bray combines her own experience with breast cancer, how a writing support group works, and the powerful reactions and writings of women who took part in the Scribbling Women of the Community Breast Health Project in Palo Alto, California.

While this book is written in the context of women writing about their experience with breast cancer, the process explained in this book can be used by any group with members who are experiencing a chronic condition or any life situation where one needs to process the emotional and spiritual dimensions of it. It is my hope to bring Sharon or a person with experience in therapeutic writing to our community to do a workshop on how this can be applied in self-help/support groups. Contact the SHC if you would be interested in attending a workshop of this type or helping to plan such an event.

I Write Because

I write because it makes sense of my experience.

I write because I love words, language, images, expression.

I write because it is not enough just to live life.

I write to relive the joy and sorrow, sometimes making

sense of the senseless.

Sometimes I write just to say, “I was here, and THAT

Happened to ME,

And this is who I was, who I am becoming.”

Witness, yes. To my own truth.

And to the experience of others.

I write because the multicolored passion,

the fire and ice, rage and joy cannot be silence

within the life of one woman.

One frightened girl-child,

one shining warrior.

A Healing Journey: Writing Together Through Breast Cancer

Group Updates

Please notify the Self-Help Center of any changes in groups or additions to the list.

Note: “SGD” refers to the 2004-05 Support Group Directory

Defunct Groups

· CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Deficiency) – Champaign (Pgs 28 & 62 SGD)

· GLEE (God Loves Everyone Equally) – Champaign (Pg 72 SGD)

· LW’s Personal Growth Group – Champaign (Pgs 12 and 14 SGD)

· Memory Loss Support Group – Canterbury Ridge – Champaign (Pg 31 SGD)

New Groups

· BEREAVEMENT - GriefShare – First United Methodist Church, Champaign – A 13-week grief recovery and support group for any person 18 and older experiencing a loss. Contact: Rev. Mary Brady 356-9078

· DISABILITY - CHADD-Children and Adults with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder – McLean County – Meets monthly September through May. Contact: Robin Kirchner 309-451-4525

Asperger’s Syndrome and Awareness of Central Illinois – Sangamon County – Meets monthly in the months of Dec., Feb., Apr., June, August and September at First United Methodist Church, 2941 S. Koke Mill Road, Springfield Contact: diana.noble@insightbb.com

· HEALTH - Children with Cancer and their Families – Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana – Meets monthly in two tandem sessions for parents and children. Contact: Sherrie Ross 326-1932

New Horizon Breast Cancer Support Group – Vermilion County Open to all women with breast cancer whether newly diagnosed or survivors. Meets 3^rd Monday, 6 p.m. at Jocko’s Piazza Inn, Danville.

Contact: Stephanie Yates 443-5245

· MENTAL HEALTH - NAMI – University of Illinois Chapter – Raises awareness and provides support to any student affected by mental illness. Meets weekly during the school year. Contact: Jim Monti 630-768-0983 or email monti@uiuc.edu

· OTHER Military Family Support Group – Prayer, support and information to families who had or still have family serving in the military. Contact: Ann Russell 239-6629 or Mary Long 367-2665

1^st C.L.A.S.S. – Changing Lives and Staying Successful – Dedicated to helping men re-entering the community from the justice system (with or without convictions). Meets 1^st Sat., noon-2 p.m. Contact: Diane Beetz 363-3333 x27

Groups with Changes

Narcotics Anonymous – New Phone Number – 1-800-539-0475 (Pg 14 SGD)

PALS – Parents after Loss – Drop Dennis Cockrum as contact; replace with Provena Hospice – 337-2470 (Pg 20 SGD)

Survivor of Suicide – Drop Dennis Cockrum as contact; replace with Marlene Hart 337-2470 (Pg 22 & 51 SGD)

Amputee Support Group – Change contact to Bob Devin 355-2697 (Pg. 25 SGD)

Autism Network of Parents and Professionals – Change contact to Linda Tortorelli 352-1048 The new website is http://www.geocities.com/cuautism/index.html

IL Autism Project – Drop phone number; email correct (Pg 25 & 63 SGD)

Down Syndrome Network – Change contact to Paula Schmitz 365-9571 Email pschmitz@ameritech.net (Pgs 29 & 62 SGD)

Cancer Support Group –Savoy United Methodist – Meetings on hold. Contact: ACS 356-4974 (Pg 33 SGD)

Chronic Pain – Meetings on hold until a new location is identified. (Pg 35 SGD)

New Beginnings Breast Cancer – Contact: 258-4096 (Pgs 35 &41 SGD)

Parkinson’s Support Group – Add John Goodell 337-0972 as a contact (Pg 44 SGD)

Depression and BiPolar Support Alliance – Add meets Fridays 7 p.m. as well as Tues. (Pg 49 SGD)

Play & Learn Parent Support Group – Meets Monday 6-8 pm at Webber St. Church of Christ, Urbana

E-mail: ggarza@mhcenter.org (Pg 58 & 59 SGD)

Operation Snowball – Add Email ccos@champaignsnowball.org Web www.champaignsnowball.org

Youth in Transition & BEST – Springfield – New address 330 S. Grand Ave. W., Springfield 62704

Announcements

Fall 2006 Self-Help Conference – The theme of the conference set for October 21, 2006 in the newly constructed Christopher Hall on the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus is “How Self-Help/Support Groups are Helping to Meet the Diverse Needs of Families in Today’s World.” Further information will be available in upcoming issues of this newsletter.

Self Help Group Development and Facilitation Course Expands to 15 Weeks – The University of Illinois course will begin in January in 2006. Community members are welcome to attend.

See the SHC website for details.

Opportunties to Help Start or Join a Group-In-Formation

The Self-Help Center has a number of groups in our database for which there has been a request for a local group. If you would like to help start or join a group, please contact the Self-Help Center. Names are kept confidential and only released with permission to prospective group contacts. The Self-Help Center also provides consultation services, workshops and educational packages to group leaders or persons who wish to form a group.