If you need help finding local parenting classes, parenting support services or family resources , contact Parent Connection at (805) 543-3700, info@sloparents.org
Parent Connection of San Luis Obispo County does not endorse the parenting classes and resources listed on this site, but provides the information as a service to our community. If you have concerns regarding a particular class, please contact the agency who is providing the resource (listed with each class, under “CONTACT”).
North County Autism Parent Support Group: Providing opportunities to network and socialize with other parents, grandparents, & guardians, whose children’s lives are challenged with autism spectrum disorders (including Asperger Syndrome/HFA/PDD-NOS). The North County Autism Support Group is a discussion group for parents and families of Autism Spectrum children only. Childcare is NOT available.
Meetings are held every other month, on the 3rd Friday, from 7:00-9:00p.m.
Hampton Inn Conference Room
212 Alexa Court (Hwy 46 West @ Theatre Drive)
Paso Robles
For more information, contact Becky @ (805) 471-1354 or
nocosupport@autismspectrumcenter.com
NCAPSG Meeting Dates
South County Autism Parent Support Group
Serving San Luis Obispo, Avila Beach, Shell Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Oceano, Nipomo and Santa Maria.
Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of each month, from 12:00-1:30p.m., in Grover Beach
Contact Leslie @ (805) 541-7908 or lesliebartonlmft@gmail.com, to R.S.V.P.
Workshops will provide an overview of the four basic rights and protections for school children, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
http://taskca.org/workshops.html
CLASSES OFFERED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH
DATES/TIME: To be determined based on interest
LOCATION: Offered county-wide
CONTACT: Yolanda McAlpine, Team of Advocates for Special Kids (T.A.S.K.) at (805) 461-0231
Next workshop: Friday, January 12, from 9:00-1:00, at Tri-Counties Regional Center, SLO
Workshop Flyer
BEST PALS offers FREE screening, evaluation, and intervention services to assist children 0- kindergarten age, and their families in all areas of development. We provide your family with tools and information, as well as behavior management techniques to address your child’s behavior and social difficulties. Our experienced staff will deliver services in your child’s natural environment, with learning tailored to meet your child’s and family’s needs.
CONTACT: To learn more about BEST PALS, call Julie Loe at (805) 772-6014 or visit the website and view the video:
http://www.best-pals.org/
Navigation: Helping Families Find their Way on a New Journey
An eight week course designed to provide support, guidance and valuable information for families either with a new autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, or families that believe they may need one.
Navigation Flyer
Tuesdays, January 17– March 6, 2012
6:00-7:30pm (children need to be fed prior to class start)
Cal Poly Lab School Preschool
Cost is $300 per family for the entire 8 weeks
To register, or for more information, please go to:
www.AutismSpectrumCenter.com/Navigation
Questions, please contact Rebecca Trimbath, BCBA, rtrimbath@autismspectrumcenter.com or 269-352-3660
The center brings together and empowers individuals, families, and professionals for the purpose of improving the quality of life of those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.
http://autismspectrumcenter.com/
Special Events Flyer
The Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center
889 Murray Street, Suite 200
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
(805) 763-1100
Questions can be submitted to
contact@autismspectrumcenter.com
Specializing in Attention and Hyperactivity Disorders
Learn how to interpret and solve some of the most difficult aspects of your child’s misunderstood gifts. The Flaton ADDept (adept) Center’s website provides an educational tool for those interested in learning about Dr. Flaton’s program for assesing, diagnosing, and caring for children, teens and young adults who have difficulty with maintaing focus or managing impulsivness. A variety of support groups are available for children and teens.
http://janetflatonmd.com/default.aspx
Janet E. Flaton, M.D. , INC.
Phone: 805 545 8500
1428 Phillips Lane, Suite B-1
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
janetflatonmd@gmail.com
The Flaton ADDept Center will be offering the following summer groups and classes:
Becoming a Love and Logic Parent-Parenting Class
Summer Camps
Wise Girls
Time2Sign provides American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary classes for infants, toddlers and their parents/caregivers in their home. Signing Time is an award winning PBS series, DVD and CD series.
Benefits of using ASL with infants, toddlers and older children: creates a special parental bond, babies are able communicate long before they can speak, you will have less frustration, crying and tantrums, children who sign have larger vocabularies, it promotes early literacy, children score higher on IQ tests (when tested at age 7-8).
DAYS/TIME: By appointment
LOCATION: Coastal, Northern San Luis Obispo County and San Luis Obispo-class location is flexible
COST: Cost for the class, $15-$20/hour for each adult
ELIGIBILITY: Infant/toddlers, ages 0-3 years
CONTACT: Terri Minetti, Baby Signing Time Instructor
(805)503-9654
terriminetti@signingtimeacademy.com
www.time-2-sign.com
Jack’s Helping Hand, a non-profit organization, was created for purposes of advocating and advancing the interests of children and young people with special needs.
Family Support Groups
Groups are designed for families facing the challenges of a child with cancer. Meetings are on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:00p.m., at the Hearst Cancer Resource Center
1941 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo
Call for more information, (805) 547-1914
Adaptive Toy Lending Library
21 Zaca Lane, #100
San Luis Obispo
(805) 547-1914 (call for days/times)
Jack’s Helping Hand Adaptive Toy Lending Library provides financial assistance for therapeutic equipment or transportation to a medical facility, hospital or camp for disabled children when no other agency will provide it.
www.jackshelpinghand.org
jhh@jackshelpinghand.org
Transforming ADHD. Empowering People.
Are you interested in less stress and more effectiveness as a parent? Tim Ross, LCSW, and the Flaton ADDept Center are pleased to offer “Becoming a Love and Logic Parent”.
DATES: Call for information
TIME:
COST: $100 per person and $175 a couple
LOCATION: 1302 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo
CONTACT: Please email moe@flatonaddeptcenter.com or call at 805-545-8500
October-Love and Logic
Facilitated by Tim Ross and Erin Brzykcy
Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows them to live with the consequences of their choices. Learn the Love and Logic methodology through a class that is specially designed for the families of children with more intensive special needs. Children who fall into this category typically have: limited speech or communication; delays in both cognitive and social skills and challenges generalizing skills from one situation to another.
DATES: Thursdays, April 26th-May 31st, 2012
TIME: evenings
COST: $25.00 (scholarships are available)
LOCATION: Call for time and location
CONTACT: Terri Kurczewski @ 544-0801x 28 with questions or to enroll
Children’s Assessment Center
The Children’s Assessment Center provides assessment and treatment strategies for children at high risk for health and behavioral health problems.
Martha’s Place utilizes a comprehensive system of tools and procedures to identify, assess, refer and treat children who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs and/or who are exhibiting at-risk behaviors that may interfere with normal development. The goal is to facilitate appropriate interventions to support each child in reaching their full potential, to enter school ready and able to learn, and to be emotionally well-developed.
Children referred to Martha’s Place undergo a comprehensive assessment of their medical, cognitive, behavioral, social, educational, and emotional development, as well as their family relationships. Services for children include: a medical examination, cognitive, psychological, behavioral, emotional and social evaluations, mental health therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration, family support, parent education and case management.
2925 McMillan Avenue, Unit 108
San Luis Obispo
(805) 781-4948
Referral Form
Mental health treatment services for SLO county’s youth, including help with family, personal, or psychiatric issues. Clinics are located in the North County, South County, and in San Luis Obispo.
To access services, or for immediate help, please call 1-800-838-1381. This emergency number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Do you have a family member suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other serious mental illness? Do you know where to find help? Do you think enough support is available? NAMI San Luis Obispo County presents a screening and discussion of the eye-opening public television program:
Breaking the Silence: Mental Illness and the Family
The Arroyo Grande Wellness Center is happy to announce our new collaboration with NAMI to offer a Family Support Group for friends and families in the South County. Everyone is welcome, so even if you have not taken the Family-to-Family course with NAMI, please come and bring friends or other family members who interact with your loved one.
The AG Wellness Center is located at 203 Bridge Street in Arroyo Grande. This is right on the corner of Bridge and Nelson, and just a few steps from Traffic Way. The group meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00am-12:00pm. As with every NAMI program, there is never a charge. The group is entirely free.
Karen Wood is the lead support group facilitator in Arroyo Grande, and she is assisted by Madeleine Johnson, support group Coordinator for NAMI here in SLO County.
If you would like more information, please call Karen at 481-0764 or Madeleine at 544-2086.
NAMI SLOCO is a non-profit organization of families and friends of people with severe mental illnesses. Members provide educational and emotional support for each other and advocate for better understanding, treatment and care of people with mental illness. Extensive training is provided by NAMI for those members leading support groups and classes. NAMI SLOCO is affiliated with the NAMI California and NAMI National.
The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a 12 week course for families of individuals with severe brain disorders (mental illnesses). The course is taught by trained family members. All course materials are furnished at no cost. The curriculum focuses on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), clinical depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The course discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively.
NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses. The NAMI Basics course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13 years. All instruction and course materials are free to class participants.The program was developed around elements that have been extensively tested and found to be highly effective in the field, including:
- Recognition of mental illness as a continuing traumatic event for the child and family
- Sensitivity to the subjective emotional issues faced by family caregivers and well children in the family
- Recognition of the need to help ameliorate the day-to-day objective burdens of care and management
- Gaining confidence and stamina for what can be a lifelong role of family understanding and support
- Empowerment of family caregivers as effective advocates for their children
The NAMI website offers a current schedule of classes: http://www.namislo.org/
Parents Helping Parents (PHP) is a non-profit, community-based, parent-directed family resource center. PHP provides lifetime guidance, supports and services to children with any special need, their families and the professionals who serve them.
The mission of Parents Helping Parents of San Luis Obispo County is to empower children with special needs to reach their fullest potential. This is realized by strengthening families through parent and professional education, mutual support, referral networks and greater community awareness.
To receive our calendar of local events, email us at: php@ucp-slo.org
CONTACT: PHP @ 805.543.3277
Click on the website link to find out about PHP’s support services: www.phpslo.org
Parents Helping Parents Resource Center Libraries
- 3450 Broad Street, Suite 111, San Luis Obispo
(805) 543-3277 - 7305 Morro Road, Atascadero
(805) 461-7413
The Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), per state mandate, provides county wide regional coordination and leadership in special education to insure compliance with state and federal laws relating to students with disabilities. Our SELPA provides an array of services related to special education to local districts, parents and the community. We provide support and information to parents and educators.
Does Your Child Need Special Education Services? Parents are invited to call with questions. For more information, visit www.sloselpa.org or contact SLO County SELPA at 782-7301.
Sibshops are fun-filled workshops just for brother and sisters of children with special needs. This is a great opportunity for kids to meet other siblings, play games, do crafts, share experiences, and have A LOT of fun! Sibshops provide siblings with a safe place to share their unique experiences with other children who can understand.
DATES: Call for monthly dates and times
COST: $5 per child
LOCATION: United Cerebral Palsy, 3620 Sacramento Drive, Suit 201, San Luis Obispo
CONTACT: For more information or to sign-up contact us at centralcoastsibshop@yahoo.com, find us on Facebook “Central Coast Sibshop” or call Emily Dugan at (805) 703-3761
This is a hands-on course for parents and caregivers to learn the art of infant massage and other types of nurturing touch techniques. Experience the profound and lifelong benefits that both parents and babies enjoy from this shared activity. Special needs babies and parents are highly encouraged to attend. Classes run for 1½ hours per week for 4 weeks with a limit of 5 babies and their parents to each class, so as to maximize individual support and parent connectivity. Morning and evening classes are available at various locations throughout SLO and the Five-Cities area. The cost for the 4 class series is $75.00.
For more information or to register for classes, please contact:
Jayna Troutman
Certified Massage Practitioner, Certified Educator of Infant Massage
(805) 459-1959 or soothingtouchinfantmassage@gmail.com
http://soothingtouchinfantmassage.com/
Workshops on Assistive Technology are being held at Atascadero Regional Center on September 19th and 20th. Click on the flyers for more information.
Assistive Technology 101 SLO
Assistive Technology for Autism-Atascadero
TASK is a family-centered nonprofit offering support to families of children with disabilities.
TASK provides assistance in seeking and obtaining necessary education, early intervention, medical, and therapeutic support services.
TASK believes that a knowledgeable and ethical advocacy effort can make a positive impact on the quality of services for children with disabilities.
TASK provides a variety of services such as: individual telephone assistance, workshops on special education, community presentations, parent advocacy training, peer counseling, legal rights information, early intervention information, vocational education information, an assistive technology program and a quarterly newsletter.
For additional information, contact:
Yolanda McAlpine
Bilingual Advocate
TASK of San Luis Obispo
(805) 461-0231
This ongoing group is designed for teens with High Functioning Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome and related social challenges who are looking to learn and practice friendship and social skills in a supportive environment. Diagnosis not necessary for participation.
We strive to create a fun learning experience for participants through the use of interactive games, role-playing and drama, art, movement, and video clips/other media.
Group Topics Include:
Building and Maintaining Friendships
Improving Conversational Skills
Increasing Awareness of Social Cues
Coping with and Expressing Feelings
Managing Stress
Solving Problems
Dealing with Peer Pressure and Bullying
Understanding and Enjoying Humor
Identifying and Nurturing Strengths, Hobbies, and Passions
Exploring Self-Image and Self-Esteem
Groups are based on Michelle Garcia Winner’s “social thinking” model and will be tailored to meet the individual needs and goals of participants.
Facilitated by: Kim Richards, MFT-I and Cindy Stricklen, MFT-I at Tidelands Counseling (www.tidelandscounseling.com)
Cost: $35/session
Where: 1411 Marsh St., Suite. 105, San Luis Obispo
For additional information or to reserve a space in the group, please contact Kim Richards, MFT-I at (805) 543-5060 or kim@slotidelands.com.
A six week class for individuals with a family member who they know or suspect has a mental illness.
DATES: Tuesdays
TIME: 12:00am-1:00pm
LOCATION: 784 High Street (corner of High and Santa Barbara Street), San Luis Obispo
TUITION: All services are free
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: for persons who know or suspect they have a loved one with mental illness
CONTACT: Janice Holmes, Program Manager, at (805) 541-5144 x171
http://slothestigma.org/
For families and loved ones of persons with mental illness; this is a drop in group no charge and no need to call for attendance.
DATES: Tuesdays
TIME: 1:00am-3:00pm
LOCATION: 784 High Street (corner of High and Santa Barbara Street), San Luis Obispo
TUITION: All services are free
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: for persons who know or suspect they have a loved one with mental illness
CONTACT: Janice Holmes, Program Manager, at (805) 541-5144 x171
www.t-mha.org
http://slothestigma.org/
Se invita a padres que están criando a niños menores de edad con preocupaciones de conducta o emocionales a reunirse con nosotras cada semana para platicar y encontrar ayuda y apoyo.
Horario a determinar
S.A.F.E. Family Resource Center/Centro de Recursos S.A.F.E. para la Familia 1086 Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande
Para más información, favor de llamar a Jackie Garza, (805) 458-6388
Parents who are raising minor children with behavior or emotional concerns are invited to meet weekly for help and support.
Schedule to be determined
S.A.F.E. Family Resource Center
1086 Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande
For more information, please call Jackie Garza at (805) 458-6388
http://slothestigma.org/
The road to recovery from mental illness can be a lonely journey at times, but it doesn’t have to be. You’re not alone. Come join us at one of our peer support groups where everyone who attends, including the facilitator, knows what you’re going through because they’ve been there too! FREE Confidential Groups! No need to call to register for the support groups, you are welcome to just show up!
Schedule of Support Groups
For information on available support groups (including: Peer Support, Support Groups with Dr. Kelly Moreno, Dual Recovery Anonymous and Recovery Discussion Groups), contact Meghan Walters (805) 540-6577 or MWalters@t-mha.org
For information, and to sign up for WRAP Groups (Wellness Recovery Action Plan: a 12-week class that provides tools to deal with mental illness and/or an emotional crisis), please contact Betty McGraw at (805) 540-6578
Tri-Counties Regional Center exists to provide supports and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities living in San Luis Obispo, so that they may live fully and safely as active and independent members of our community. To view TCRCs support services, please visit the website:
http://www.tri-counties.org/
San Luis Obispo
3450 Broad Street, Suite 111
San Luis Obispo
(805) 543-2833
Atascadero
7305 Morro Road, Suite 101
Atascadero
(805) 461-7402
YO! (a program of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers) runs a youth oriented toll-free information line that provides information, resources and opportunities for YOUTH with DISABILITIES. The YO! Line is answered by youth with disabilities Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. We can provide information on IHSS, Education (Pre-K to Post Secondary), Self Esteem, Jobs, Disability History, Disability Rights, Leadership Opportunities throughout the State and much more. Give the toll-free line a call and get CONNECTED!
YO! Disabled & Proud
A project of The Californian Foundation for Independent Living Centers
1234 H Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95814
866-296-9753 (voice) 800-900-0706 (TTD)
www.YOdisabledproud.org
