Caregiver Wellness & Support

Tool · Plan

Map Your Support Circle

A one-page exercise for naming who is actually available, and for what.

Who it's for
Outside Caregiver, Whole Family
Child / youth age
All ages
Geography
Local
Action type
Plan
Reading time
About 4 min
Last verified
August 2026

What this is

An exercise that maps people and organizations into rings of support.

Why it matters

Most caregivers have more support than they can name in a stressful moment.

What you should know

  • Inner ring: people who could take the child in an emergency.
  • Middle ring: people who can help with a ride, a meal, or an hour.
  • Outer ring: schools, community organizations, kinship programs, and faith communities.
  • Ask people to opt in ahead of time rather than during the emergency.

Talk about it

Tell the child which adults are on the emergency list, and why.

Your next step

Write three names in the inner ring and confirm one of them this week.

  • PlanOutside Caregiver

    The Caregiver Weekly Check-In

    Four questions to ask yourself before the week starts.

    About 3 min read

    Read Resource
  • LearnOutside Caregiver

    Recognizing Overload Before It Becomes a Crisis

    Common early signals of caregiver overload, and lower-cost responses.

    About 4 min read

    Read Resource
  • Find HelpOutside Caregiver

    Kinship Care Supports

    What relatives raising a child can ask about, from school enrollment to available assistance.

    About 5 min read

    Read Resource