What is Circle of Parents?

Circle of Parents Support Groups are professionally facilitated, peer-led, self-help groups for parents and other caregivers. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we stopped meeting in person in March, 2020, and we resumed Circles as “virtual,” online meetings. These free, confidential, ongoing support groups are co-facilitated by a parent leader and a trained facilitator. They provide an empowering, supportive environment where participants strive to improve their parenting and help for the prevention and treatment of child abuse.

Why attend Circle of Parents?

Circle of Parents allows parents to:

• Learn new parenting ideas

• Replace old, harmful parenting ways with new, healthy ways

• Give support to other parents

• Have time with other adults while their children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environment

• Build friendships
  

What do parents talk about in Circle of Parents?

Parents come to Circle of Parents with issues such as:

• Needing new parenting ideas as their children get older

• Feeling isolated and alone

• Raising their children as a single parent

• Feeling afraid that they might abuse their children

• Experiencing conflict with their current or former partner or other family member about how to parent their children

When and where does Circle of Parents meet?

Circle of Parents participants meet weekly for 1.5 hours online in virtual meetings. To find a group appropriate for you, call 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-244-5373) OR 1-802-229-5724. You can also contact us at: pcavt@pcavt.org.

Does Circle of Parents take the place of therapy?

Circle of Parents does not take the place of therapy. It supports parents socially and emotionally so that they are better able to participate in other services. In situations where sexual abuse or substance abuse is an issue, other services are necessary in addition to Circle of Parents.