MIND Institute Resources
Support Groups and Family Advocacy
Family Navigator Program
The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and UC Davis MIND Institute’s Family Navigator program is a no-cost program that provides families with peer-to-peer support following a diagnosis of autism or another neurodevelopmental condition. Peer mentors provide support to families navigating service systems and help reduce feelings of stigma and social isolation. Peer mentors include family members of children or adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and self-advocates.
Family Navigator Virtual Parent Support Group
The Family Navigator virtual support group is run by parent mentors. Groups discuss navigating complex service systems and advocating for their loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to meet, learn, and network with each other. Parent support groups are offered once a month.
To receive your Zoom link, please register now.
For more information, please email the Family Navigator Program at hs-mindfnp@ucdavis.edu or visit the UC Davis MIND Institute Events page.
Family Navigator “Get Mindful” Series
The Get Mindful virtual educational series is a mindfulness-based training series designed to help parents manage everyday stress and the challenges that exist alongside supporting loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information, please email hs-mindfnp@ucdavis.edu.
Family Navigator “Parents of Adult Children and Teens” Group
Our Parents of Adult Children and Teens (PACT) virtual group supports and educates caregivers of teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Group members meet in a virtual format and are encouraged to bring questions and share their experiences. Ongoing participation is welcome. For more information, please email hs-mindfnp@ucdavis.edu or visit the UC Davis MIND Institute Events page.
Padres Para Padres (Parents for Parents) Series
The Padres para Padres virtual support and education series is conducted entirely in Spanish by bilingual Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities team members. This ongoing parent group is for parents or family members caring for a loved one with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Sacramento County. It is an opportunity for the parents to share their feelings in a supportive, confidential, and culturally appropriate environment. Meetings are held on the First Tuesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. via Zoom. To register, please call 916-734-1812 or send an email to ccorral@ucdavis.edu. Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
Sankofa Parent Support and Advocacy Group (PDF)
Sankofa is a caregiver support and education group designed to meet the unique needs of Black families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The mission and purpose of Sankofa is to provide education, advocacy, and resources, and support the needs of parents.
Dinner and childcare will be provided. For more information about Sankofa or contact bjcshaw@ucdavis.edu. These meetings are co-sponsored by the UC Davis Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Warmline Family Resource and Parent Training and Information Center.
In-person and Virtual Sibling Groups
Sibling groups are regular meet-up sessions that give school-age siblings of children with disabilities a chance to get support from their peers and education about disabilities while doing fun activities. Siblings connect with similar-aged peers to share their experiences and learn from one another. Most session leaders are bi-lingual/bi-cultural (English and Spanish), and most have a family member with a developmental disability.
To register for our Virtual Sibling Group please contact us at hs-mindchildlife@ucdavis.edu or visit the UC Davis MIND Institute Events page.
Developmental Screening and Resources at the Mexican Consulate (Spanish)
Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities staff offer free in-person early developmental screenings to children from birth to 5 years old monthly at the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento, CA. The screenings help to identify any delays or developmental concerns. If a child may have a delay, CEDD can connect families with resources for more evaluation and early intervention.
They also host a monthly resource fair at the consulate. The resource fair provides information and community connections for families of children with developmental disabilities. For more information, please contact Cecilia Corral at ccorral@ucdavis.edu or call 916-734-1812.
WarmLine Family Resource Center
WarmLine provides resources, support, training and consultation to families of children with special needs birth to age 26 in 26 counties of Northern California. WarmLine is staffed by parents who share the common experience of parenting a child with special needs.
WarmLine’s listing of support groups in Northern California
Family Resource Centers Network of California (FRCNCA)
California’s 47 Family Resource Centers are staffed by families of children with special needs and offer parent-to-parent support and help parents, families, and children locate and use needed services. They offer support services and resources in many languages, which may include newsletters, resource libraries, websites, parent-to-parent groups, sibling support groups, warm lines, and information and referral for parents and professionals.