Support Groups

Hand to Hold
Hand to Hold provides comprehensive resources and support programs to parents of preemies, babies born with special health care needs and those who have experienced a loss due to these or other complications.

Founded by parents of premature infants, this organization has a vision to enable a network of families to offer support, comfort and understanding to one another, and to provide them with knowledge, information and resources to reduce the impact of prematurity and ensure the best outcome for their children and families.

For more information, visit www.handtohold.org

Bump Club
Bump Club and Beyond is the largest social event company in Austin connecting moms and moms-to-be.  Offering events from seminars to work-out classes, this group offers many resources and is a great way to connect with new parents.

www.bumpclubandbeyond.com/austin

Cheer Up Buttercups
Based on the old adage that “It takes a village,” Cheer Up Buttercups is a one-stop shop for issues concerning child development, lactation, sleep training and nutrition. No matter what challenge you are facing, they support parents from the newborn stage through the early childhood years.

www.cheerupbuttercups.com

Luke Lives On is committed to assisting families who have endured pregnancy loss or early infant death with a positive grieving experience through the gift of comfort boxes and post-hospital follow-up support. The gift box is a gesture to eliminate the feeling of empty arms that so many mothers experience when leaving the hospital after a loss, and that the box contents provide families with a variety of support resources for the road of grieving to healing.

www.lukeliveson.org

Parent to Parent
A group that is created by parents for families of children with disabilities, chronic illness and other special needs throughout the state of Texas. They offer families a place to access information and resources, a one-on-one match with a trained Supporting Parent Volunteer, someone to call or email when you just need to hear a bit of encouragement or help figuring out the next step in your journey with your child.

For more information, visit www.txp2p.org

Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas
The mission of Down Syndrome Association of Central is to provide education, support, and resources to individuals with Down syndrome, their families, professionals, and the community while building public awareness and acceptance of the abilities of individuals with Down syndrome.

For more information, contact: www.dsact.com/index-2.html

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Austin Chapter
This Austin-based group for Type 1 teens was started in 2003 as a result of area teens and their parents feeling an important need to come together for mutual support, the exchange of information, and advocacy for Type 1 teens. This group meets the second Wednesday of each month, but meeting dates vary depending on holidays and additional group plans.

For more information, contact: www.jdrfaustin.org

Ronald McDonald House
For families with seriously ill children, Ronald McDonald House of Austin is a temporary home-away-from-home where they can have a comfortable room and bed, kitchen and laundry facilities, and a play area. They can draw hope and strength from late night conversations over a hot cup of coffee, sharing with other residents their experiences that may be difficult for family and friends back home to fully understand.

For more information, contact: www.rmhc-austin.org

American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading 501(C)3 nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities. The mission of the Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Use the link below to get more information about happenings in the Austin, TX area.

For more information, contact: www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/whatslocal.jsp