Support Groups
Adoption support groups can help a family by connecting them with other adoptive families. This allows them to share experiences and learn from others who are in a similar situation. To find a support group in your area, browse the appropriate region listed below or view the statewide services listed at the bottom of this page.
Chicago and Outlying Area
Adoptees, Birthparents and Adoptive Parents Together
Calvary Church
9 S. 200 State Rt. 59
Rm. 104
Naperville, IL 60564
Contact: Jody Moreen
630-778-0636
E-mail: adoption@wideopenwest.com
Meets every 3rd Thursday from 7:00pm-9:00pm
(Contact Jody at the e-mail above to check locations and times)
For map of the location/directions: www.calvarynaperville.org
"Support group for the whole adoption triad"
*Adoptive Families Today
P. O. Box 1726
Barrington, IL 60011-1726
Contact: Juli Dunsing
847-382-0858
www.adoptivefamiliestoday.org
Counties served: Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage and Kane
"Support group for adoptive families, birth parents and adopted persons"
CHASI: Adoption Guardians Support Group
100 N. Western Ave.
Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60612
Contact: Kirsten Ahlberg
312-455-5200
County served: Cook and surrounding areas
Chicago Area Families for Adoption (CAFFA)
PMB 108
1212 S. Naper Blvd.
Ste. 119
Naperville, IL 60540-8360
Contact: Shila M. Khan
708-792-3678
www.caffa.org
E-mail: membership@caffa.org
Counties served: Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, Lake, Kendall and McHenry
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Initiative
1500 S. Keeler
Chicago, IL 60623
Contact: Wendy Byrd
Fax: 773-542-8634
E-mail: wsafechild@sbcglobal.net
Counties Served: Cook (primarily the North Lawndale and Austin neighborhoods of Chicago, but won't turn away any families)
IL Parents for Black Adoption
7930 S. Colfax Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
Contact: Drucilla Fair
773-734-2305
County served: Cook
"Provides educational support"
Just Between Us
398 Fox Bend Circle
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Contact: Tonette Alexander
630-759-7404
Counties served: Cook, DuPage and Will
Meets every 3rd Saturday at Fire Station #4 (across the street from Target)
"Support group for foster/adopted teenage girls or teen girls that have adopted siblings, but all teens are invited"
*LSSI: Adoptive Parent Support Group
Augustana Open Arms Church
10 W. 35th St.
Chicago, IL 60616
Contact Tessa Schneider
312-949-4340
Counties served: Cook and surrounding areas
Meets quarterly
PFFC We Care Parent Support Group
3333 W. Arthington
Ste. 150
Chicago, IL 60624
Contact: Sandra Glenn
773-863-5694
www.pffc.blogspot.com
E-mail: pffcsg@aol.com
County served: Cook
Has a "referral corner" for adoptive and foster care informational resources
*Stars of David International, Inc.
Chicago Area Chapter
3175 Commercial Ave.
Ste. #100
Northbrook, IL 60062-1915
Contact: Elyse Flack
800-STAR-349 or
773-274-1527 (phone and fax)
www.starsofdavid.org
E-mail: starsdavid@aol.com
Counties served: Cook and Lake
The Cradle: Post Adoption Support Group
2049 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
Contact: Nina Friedman
847-733-3239
www.cradle.org
County served: Cook and surrounding areas
Meets every 2nd Monday from 7:00pm-8:30pm
*Includes families who have adopted internationally
Northern Illinois
*DeKalb Area Adoptive Families
246 Rolfe Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115-3148
Contact: Diane DeMers
815-756-3874
E-mail: ballantine@aol.com
Counties served: DeKalb and neighboring counties
CHASI: Adoptive Families Together
910 Second Ave.
Rockford, IL 61104
815-962-1043
www.childrenshomeandaid.org
*Includes families who have adopted internationally
Central Illinois
*LSSI: Adoptive Parent Support Group
4709 44th St.
Ste. 1
Rock Island, IL 61201
Contact: Susan Goble
309-786-6400
Counties served: Rock Island and surrounding counties
Meets every 3rd Thursday from 6:00pm-7:30pm
*LSSI: Adoptive Parent Support Group
103 S. County Fair Dr.
Champaign, IL 61821
Contact: Judie Watson
217-398-3011
County served: Champaign and surrounding counties
Meets every 3rd Thursday from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Project Success - Family Tree Adoption Connections
101 W. North St.
Danville, IL 61832
Contact: Michael Courtwright
217-446-3200
E-mail: MichaelCourtwright@yahoo.com
Counties Served: Vermillion
South Central Illinois Adoptive Parents Association (SCIAPA)
5004 Manhattan Dr.
Springfield, IL 62711
Contact: Karen DeCastro
217-793-9646
Counties served: Sangamon, Christian, Macon, Montgomery, Morgan and Menard
*Includes families who have adopted internationally
Southern Illinois
*All-Dopt
654 Bauer Rd.
Troy, IL 62294
Contact: Susan Koniak
618-667-2493
Counties served: Madison, St. Clair and Monroe
Meets Quarterly
"This group focuses on the whole adoptive family, not just parents"
*LSSI: Adoptive Parent Support Group
1616 W. Main St.
Marion, IL 62959
Contact: Beth Richardson
618-997-9196
Counties served: All 28 southern counties
Meets every 2nd Thursday from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Matthews and Associates
109 Lou Ann Dr.
Herrin, IL 62948-3733
618-988-1330, ext. 103
www.matthewsandassociates.net
Contact: Julie Fritzler
- Herrin, IL Group
Counties served: Perry, Jackson, Franklin, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, White, Hamilton, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Massac, Pulaski and Alexander
Meets every 3rd Thursday from 6:00pm-8:00pm - Effingham Group
Counties served: Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, and northern parts of Marion and Clay
Meets every 3rd Tuesday from 6:00pm-8:00pm - Olney Group
Counties served: Richland, Lawrence, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, and southern parts of Marion and Clay
Meets every 1st Tuesday from 6:00pm-7:30pm
"Adoptive Family Fun Night" includes dinner and child care
*Includes families who have adopted internationally
Statewide Services
*Families of Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA-IL)
P.O. Box 2944
Merrifield, VA 22116
Contact: Cheryl Krueger
703-560-6184
www.frua.org
E-mail: ca_krueger@msn.com
Membership Fee: $35 annually
For upcoming events and meetings, visit www.orgsites.com/il/frua-il
*Hands Around the World (HATW)
1417 E. Miner St.
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Contact: Gail C. Walton
847-255-8309
www.handsaroundtheworld.com
Our Chinese Daughters Foundation
109 W. Monroe St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
Contact: Gloria Berry
309-829-8202
www.ocdf.org
*Includes families who have adopted internationally
