Parents, caregivers, and support people for LGBTQ+ individuals need support too! Below, you can find support groups, information, and articles on how to support your LGBTQ+ child, friend, or family member.
Support Groups for Parents of LGBTQ+ Children
Other Parent Support Groups
Bradley Hospital Online Parent Support Group
Free and open to the public, for parents and concerned adults of children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges. Meets the 2nd Thursday each month, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Pre-registration is required. To register, or for more information, please call or email Chris Bdown at 401-432-1205 or email cbrown@lifespan.org with your name and email address. All welcome!
The Village for RI Foster & Adoptive Families Support Groups
All Village Support and Socialization groups provide an opportunity for all parents to get out and meet other foster and adoptive parents and to relax, and share freely in a non-judgmental zone. Experienced Village foster parents will be on-hand to provide support and answer questions. The Village generally offers childcare for all in person support groups (currently on hold due to COVID-19)! It is a great opportunity for kids to socialize with others just like them! For planning purposes, registration is required at least 24 hours in advance.
Wave Clinic Parent Group
This group is for parents of teens who use substances. In the 10 weekly sessions, held via video conference, parents will learn how to support their child through the stages of change and how to encourage positive behaviors.
E-Unstuck and On Target is an evidence based online intervention program (Kenworthy, 2018) for caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and difficulty with executive function. Online learning modules teach caregivers how to support children’s executive function and behavior regulation. Learn more about E-Unstuck and On Target (PDF). To register, please call 401-432-1119. A phone intake interview will determine program eligibility.
Parent Training for Disruptive Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
The Verrecchia Clinic offers a parent training group for caregivers of school-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who exhibit challenging, disruptive behaviors. This six-week abbreviated program introduces behavior modification techniques to help parents/caregivers learn effective ways for managing and reducing disruptive behavior in their children. Groups are offered in the fall, winter, and summer. Please contact Gina M. Marini at 401-432-1119 for more information.
Asperger/Autism Network, Rhode Island Chapter, Parent Support Group
This support group is for parent of adults or older children with Asperger’s Syndrome. It is free and meets the second Monday of each month during the school year. The group may cancel on holidays or in bad weather. Please call for more information and to verify the meeting date and time. Pre-registration required. For more information visit www.aane.org. Meeting Time: Second Monday of each month during the school year, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Contact: Toby Liebowitz, 401-762-1763.
Incredible Years: Positive Parenting for Challenging Kids
Incredible Years is a skill-building course for parents to learn effective ways to help children with behavior challenges to calm down, follow directions and get along with others.
Books
This is How it Always Is, by Laurie Frankel
Laurie Frankel’s This Is How It Always Is is a novel about revelations, transformations, fairy tales, and family. And it’s about the ways this is how it always is: Change is always hard and miraculous and hard again, parenting is always a leap into the unknown with crossed fingers and full hearts, children grow but not always according to plan. And families with secrets don’t get to keep them forever.
Two Spirits, One Heart: A Mother, Her Transgender Son, and Their Journey to Love and Acceptance
This book contains 32 essays written by mothers of transgender or gender variant children. Each of the stories convey the underlying theme of the book: love your child unconditionally, whether they conform to society’s (and your) expectations or not. The stories give the reader great insight into ways parents manage this often unforeseen life event through their open, frank, and honest retelling of their journeys. This book is an excellent resource for parents of trans people who have just come out, or for trans people who are worried about coming out to their parents.
Transitions of the Heart: Stories of Love, Struggle and Acceptance by Mothers of Transgender and Gender Variant Children
This book contains 32 essays written by mothers of transgender or gender variant children. Each of the stories convey the underlying theme of the book: love your child unconditionally, whether they conform to society’s (and your) expectations or not. The stories give the reader great insight into ways parents manage this often unforeseen life event through their open, frank, and honest retelling of their journeys. This book is an excellent resource for parents of trans people who have just come out, or for trans people who are worried about coming out to their parents.
The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes
This book gives gender creative children and their parents information and support and provides professionals a solid approach to supporting gender creative clients. Psychological, medical and anecdotal stories are woven together into an affirmative and loving celebration of gender creative children and their families to provide a thorough view of all the elements of raising or otherwise supporting a gender creative child. This is a wonderful resource for parents of gender creative kids and others seeking information.
Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family
This heartwarming story of an ordinary family fighting to make a safer world for their transgender daughter is both engaging and informative. The Maines family’s journey includes conflict with the schools, a landmark court case, the kids’ growing up, Nicole’s transition, and Wayne’s finally coming to terms with having a transgender daughter. It’s an inspiring story and it’s likely to make you think about gender in ways you haven’t before.
The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals
Combining research and personal stories from parents, family members, and transgender people themselves, the authors provide an accessible resource that will prove itself indispensable not only for parents and families of transgender children, but also for anyone who works with young people. It includes extensive lists of websites, fiction and non-fiction books, and organizations to help parents, teachers, and family members navigate these waters.
The Transgender Teen: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Teens
Separated into easily digestible sections, complete with callouts, questions, and bullets that break down the larger issues, this is a very well-organized book that can be read cover to cover, but is also useful for quick reference needs. It directly addresses the fears and concerns of parents to help enable them to take an active role in being a supportive influence. Overall, this book is a wonderful resource for parents of trans, non-binary, and gender questioning youth.
Raising the Transgender Child: A Complete Guide for Parents, Families, and Caregivers
Addressing the biological, psychological, medical, social, legal, and spiritual aspects of gender identity and expression, this book answers the many questions families have when a child explores gender expression. It dedicates considerable space to resources including websites, faith groups, legal and medical resources, recommended transgender fiction and much more. This is a must-read for every person who has a trans child or teen in their life.
Ways to Support Your LGBTQ+ Child
Articles
Queer RI 