Foster and adoptive parents and kinship caregivers!

Youth and young adults ages 14-22!

We believe that we really are stronger when we share experiences and work together to improve our own lives and the systems that are supposed to help youth and families.

In June 2021, we launched new peer-led Formed Families Together support groups for adoptive and foster parents and kinship caregivers. Our Formed Families Together groups are led by trained Formed Families Forward staff and volunteers who have first-hand lived experience raising children, youth and young adults with special needs.

As of March 2023, we are hosting one MONTHLY VIRTUAL group. The FFT peer support group meets the first Sunday evening of the month from 7:30 – 9 PM.  Adoptive, foster and kinship parents and caregivers should register in advance and log-in information will be emailed. Both are free of charge. Registration HERE.  

Download FLYER for the Formed Families Together group HERE.

Our youth and young adult Stronger Together skills and peer support group is designed for teens and young adults age 14-22 who have lived experiences in one or more service systems such as:

• Social services (foster care, child welfare, family services)
• Special education (learning or emotional disability or other condition)
• Mental health services
• Substance use treatment/recovery

Groups are facilitated by professional clinicians and meet during the school year.  In 2023, Stronger Together is offered as an 8-week session that will introduce tools that can be used to navigate everyday challenges. Skills include interpersonal effectiveness, conflict resolution, self-determination and self-efficacy. The group emphasizes positive peer supports as a context for strengths-based growth. A light dinner will be served each evening. Regular weekly attendance is expected.

Our Winter/Spring 2023 Stronger Together support group met 8 weeks in February and March. The next offering for youth and young adults will be this fall; registration will open in late summer. Announcements will be made here, in our e-news and on social media. Stay tuned!

NOTE: Other family support groups are available through NAMI Northern Virginia and the Virginia Family Network at NAMI Virginia.

Fairfax County CSB offers Thursday evening groups for youth ages 14-17 and family members. More information at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/recovery/heads-up-talk-it-out.