Caregiver Connections: Drop-in Family Support

What is a Caregiver?

Caregivers Alberta defines a caregiver as someone who assists a family member or friend with challenges resulting from illness, disability or aging.

Caregivers Connections – Finding Your Balance

Many parents and caregivers may be concerned about their child’s well-being, or may have a difficult time coping with a mental health concern of a child or young adult. Parents and caregivers often wonder how best to parent and provide support. Families impacted by a mental health concern or diagnosis can find it particularly difficult to get the help they need.

We are now able to open attendance up to anyone caring for a person with mental health concerns (including addiction) regardless of the age of the individual you are caring for. If the person you are caring for is not a child or youth, we suggest you call us first to make sure this group meets your needs.

CMHA in Alberta in partnership with the Government of Alberta, Ministry of Children’s Services has developed a peer-to-peer family support program. Caregiver Connections provides parents and caregivers of children or young adults who have a mental health concern, or are concerned with their child’s well-being with a drop-in support group that provides compassionate support, along with specific information and resources.

With the support of trained peers with lived experience, parents and caregivers will learn how to best take care of themselves, ask for help when necessary and learn about the importance of boundaries. It is a safe place to gather together for shared stories, networking, education, resources, and support.

Caregiver Connections operates on a drop-in basis, and parents and caregivers can join the group at any time. There is no fee for this service.

What can a participant expect from the sessions?

Parents and caregivers can drop into this group when they need some extra support. A peer facilitator will guide the conversation according to the needs of the participants. Each week the group will have the opportunity to explore relevant Caregiver Connections materials as well as identify issues and ask questions relevant to their own experience. A CMHA staff member hosting the group will be able to connect people to resources in our community.

Parents and caregivers may attend as many sessions as they like.

When and where does the Caregiver Connection Group at CMHA Central Alberta meet?

• Group time:
  • every 1st  2nd, 3rd and 4th Tuesday, evening of the month from 5:45 PM to 7:30 PM
  • The Caregiver Connections group does not meet on Alberta Statutory Holidays or on the fifth Tuesday of the month

Upcoming Caregiver Connections Support Group Meetings

• Location:

Caregiver Connections Flyer (PDF)

For more information call us at 403-342-2266 and ask for our education staff or use our contact form to connect with us.