- Who it's for
- Outside Caregiver, Youth / Young Adult, Whole Family
- Child / youth age
- All ages
- Geography
- Local
- Action type
- Find Help
- Reading time
- About 4 min
- Last verified
- August 2026
What this is
Guidance on locating peer support — kinship groups, faith communities, family-advocacy organizations, and school parent networks — and how to evaluate whether a group is a fit.
Why it matters
Isolation is the most consistent thing families report. A group of people who do not need the situation explained changes the weight of it.
What you should know
- Start with kinship-care and family-advocacy organizations in your state.
- Online groups are useful when transportation or schedule makes in-person impossible.
- A good group protects privacy and does not pressure disclosure.
- Leave a group that traffics in judgment; it is not the only one.
- Some groups are for caregivers, others for youth — a young person may need their own.
- Two or three visits is a fairer test than one.
Talk about it
Ask one other caregiver how they get through the hardest part of the week.
Your next step
Identify one group and attend or join once this month.
Related in Build Your Support Circle
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What relatives raising a child can ask about, from school enrollment to available assistance.
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Kinship Caregiving: You Are Not the Only One
National information for grandparents and relatives raising children, and where the state-specific supports live.
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Includes a link to Administration for Children and Families (HHS)