Parent Resources - Family Support
Atlanta Parenting Magazine Resources and Recreation services for children with disabilities are on the web at: www.atlantaparent.com
A Parenting Center, Inc., 409 Lanier Street, NW, Atlanta, GA. 30318 provides parenting classes, after school reading tutoring, anger management, individual counseling. There are locations in Cobb, Fulton, Dekalb, and Gwinnett. Outside referrals welcome. 12 classes are $30.00. Got Books Will Read is a program to enhance reading skills for kids ages 7-10. www.Aparentingcenter.com.
Office 678-508-2555 | Toll Free 1-877-744-4474 | Fax 404-755-0304
Families First: provides parenting education, adoption, foster care, counseling and homes for low-income mothers. Located in Midtown, Smyrna, Decatur, Douglassville, Conyers, College Park, Norcross and Fayetteville. Call them at (404) 853-2800 or online at www.familiesfirst.org.
The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Support Group provides education and support. Please call Elizabeth Bedson 770-487-0043 or Sandra Atkinson 678-401-8248 for information about the next meeting.
NOFAS The National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is on the web and provides information at: www.nofas.org.
FOCUS (Families of Children Under Stress): 3050 Presidential Drive, Suite 114 Atlanta, Georgia 30340; (770) 234-9111; www.focus-ga.org . FOCUS offers comfort, information, and programs for children 6 months to 17 years old with disabilities and medical needs AND the family in metro Atlanta and surrounding counties. Services include Saturday respite care, teen social groups, support groups, family activities and summer camps. There is no fee for the Saturday respite care, but they ask for a $5 donation. An application is required and is available on the website.
Georgia Advocacy Office, Inc. www.thegao.org The GAO is a private non-profit corporation working with and for oppressed and vulnerable individuals in Georgia who are labeled as disabled or mentally ill to secure their protection and advocacy. GAO's work is mandated by Congress, and GAO has been designated by Georgia as the agency to implement Protection and Advocacy within the state. 404-885-1234 or 800-537-2329
GA Association of Community Service Boards: Find mental health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases services by county as well as other behavioral health links. www.gacsb.org.
The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities: 2 Peachtree Street, N.W., Ste 26-246 Atlanta GA 30303-3142. Works with citizens, advocacy organizations, and policy makers to influence public policies that improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Provides collaboration through information and advocacy activities, program implementation and funding, and public policy analysis and research. Call 1-888-ASK-GCDD (1-888-275-4233). www.gcdd.org
Georgia Center for Adoption Resources & Support, 2250 North Druid Hills Road, Suite 145, Atlanta GA 30329 is available for information as well as special needs adoption information. There is online library access www.gaadoptionresources.org. (404) 929 0405 or 1-866-A-Parent. Special needs adoption assistance can be requested. This supplement provides financial support and other supportive resources for children with special needs who are being adopted.
GA Office of Developmental Disabilities: search for respite care and many other state developmental disability services by county or city. www.mhddad.dhr.georgia.gov or call (404) 657-2258.
GA Children's Network: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ga-childrensnetwork/. This is a disability list serve in GA that links parents and grandparents of special needs children with other parents, advocates, professionals, service providers and community organizations. E-mail: sadlerpc@prodigy.net
GA Parent Mentors: Provides training to individuals to help support others in getting services for their child with special needs. Parent mentors are moms and dads of 1 or more children with special learning and/or physical needs. They work within the school system by trying to build bridges between home and school. The parent initiative is spearheaded by the Department of Education's Division of Exceptional Students. (404) 656-3963. http://www.doe
Parent Educators: Parents of children with disabilities who know about policies, laws, rules, regulations, transition planning, etc. Website lists names, contact information of parent educator assigned to each county. http://education.gsu.edu/sceis/Parent_Education.htm
Parents Educating Parents and Professionals. Offers parent advocacy training on national legislative projects and resources on local and national events. 3680 Kings Hwy. Douglasville. 770-577-7771. www.peppinc.org.
Parent-to-Parent is a valuable resource that offers multiple supportive services to families with children who have special needs. Services include parent mentoring, support group services, and referrals to community based services. 770-451-5484, 800-229-2038 www.parenttoparentofga.org.
The United Way has an excellent referral system in place. It can be accessed by dialing 211 or 404) 527-7200 in Atlanta, and 478-7454-732 in Macon and they can help with a wide variety of referrals to community organizations for a wide variety of needs. They are on the web at www.unitedway.org. Click on 'our work' and then '211'.