AUTOIMMUNE INFORMATION NETWORK offers a support group for those with any type of autoimmune disease. Meetings are at 1 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month at Ocean Medical Center, Conference Room C. Call Barbara at (732) 262-0450.
BEREAVEMENT GROUP: A group for the newly bereaved or those still experiencing the pain from the loss of a loved one meets 7:30-9 p.m. the first and third Tuesday at Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation, 415 Jack Martin Blvd. Call (732) 206-8340.
BEREAVEMENT GROUP: A senior bereavement group meets 1:30-3 p.m. the second and fourth Friday at St. Dominic's Church, Van Zile Road. Call (732) 840-1410.
BREAST CANCER: A support group for people with breast cancer and their families meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the cafeteria at Ocean Medical Center, 425 Jack Martin Blvd. Call (732) 206-8340.
COPING WITH CANCER: Cancer patients and family members meet at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month in the Oncology Conference Room at Ocean Medical Center, 425 Jack Martin Blvd. Call (732) 206-8340.
DIVORCE CARE: Christian support and group counseling for people going through divorce is available at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 714 Herbertsville Road. Call (732) 775-9016 or (732) 451-1938.
FAMILY SUPPORT: Helping Hands of the Epilepsy Foundation of NJ is seeking families with children with special needs who would benefit from weekly visits from a Helping Hands volunteer. The program targets children from birth to 12 years old, providing fun and educational activities while giving parents a break. Volunteers may accompany the family to doctor visits, outings or school performances. Call the Helping Hands coordinator at (732) 262-8020.
GROW, a mutual-help support group for people suffering from depression or anxiety of dealing with other stressful situations, meets at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Brick Presbyterian Church, Drum Point Road. Meetings are confidential and nondenominational. Call (732) 785-9502.
HEP-C SUPPORT: MOCHCCI-Hepatitis C support group meets 7-9 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month in the lower-level conference room at Ocean Medical Center, 425 Jack Martin Blvd. Visit mochcci.org or call (732) 974-5797.
LA LECHE LEAGUE: La Leche League support group for breastfeeding meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Ocean Medical Center, 425 Jack Martin Blvd. Call (732) 295-2536.
LUPUS SUPPORT: The Ocean County Support Group of the Lupus Foundation of America meets every other month at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Ocean Medical Center. Call the foundation office for details at (800) 322-5816.
MOMS CLUB: Moms Offering Moms Support meets during the day and allows mothers to bring their children with them. Call (732) 202-0689.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, Mid-Jersey Chapter, meets 10:30 a.m.-noon the last Monday of each month at the Ocean Medical Center, 425 Jack Martin Blvd. Call (732) 701-1593 or (732) 270-3459.
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS: A support group meets at 1 p.m. the third Sunday of each month at Ocean Medical Center in the Community Classroom; food and refreshments. Call Barbara Yodice at (732) 262-1526.
RAINBOWS: St. Dominic's Church offers Rainbows, a peer support group for schoolchildren who have experienced significant loss in their lives through death, divorce or other painful transitions. Another group, Prism, is available for single parents, stepparents and parents whose children are in Rainbows. Call Karen Voorhees at (732) 840-1410.
STRESS SUPPORT: Stress Central, a support group to help control stress, meets at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Worthington assisted-living community, 458 Jack Martin Blvd. Call (732) 785-1081 or (732) 477-2859.
SURVIVORS TALK: The Center for Behavioral Health Services sponsors a recovery program for survivors of abuse and assault. Individual, confidential services are available, and women's and children's therapeutic support groups are being formed. Call (732) 920-7933.
TRANSPLANT GROUP: A support group for pre- and post-transplant patients, donors, family and friends meets once a month at Ocean Medical Center. Call Kathleen Strittmatter at (732) 262-0959.
VIETNAM VETS: Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 200 of Ocean County, sponsors a support group for the spouses and companions of Vietnam veterans. The group meets at 7:30 p.m. every third Friday of each month at the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20, 1810 Lanes Mill Road. Call (609) 693-7574 or (732) 269-0230.
WOMEN IN RELATIONSHIPS: This group focuses on establishing and maintaining healthy relationship boundaries with parents, family, a spouse, children and significant others. Group participants will examine beliefs that limit healthy boundaries and learn ways to develop healthy relationships in a safe, group environment at Catholic Charities, 35 Beaverson Blvd., Building 12. Cost is $15 per session, $10 fee for book purchase at first session.
HOWELL
HELP FOR PARENTS: The Holy Family Support Group for struggling parents meets 8-9:30 p.m. every Friday in St. Veronica's Rectory, Route 9 North. This is a 12-step recovery program. Call (732) 928-2476.
SINGLE, AGAIN: St. Veronica's Support Group for Separated, Divorced or Widowed meets at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night in St. Veronica's Church rectory basement, Route 9. A separate widowed group meets the first Tuesday of each month, same time and place. Call (732) 577-6964 days or (732) 431-0446 evenings or (732) 364-0729.
TOUGH LOVE: Tough Love, a parent support group for those troubled by their child's behavior, meets at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Church of the Master, 110 Salem Hill Road. Call Susan at (732) 431-1740 or Ruth at (732) 536-9324.
JACKSON
ALZHEIMER'S: The Seasons, Bella Terra's memory care program, holds a monthly support group for families dealing with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The group meets 10-11:30 a.m. the last Tuesday of every month at 2 Kathleen Drive, off County Line Road. Call Paula Douglas at (732) 730-9500.
HERPES SIMPLEX: Central New Jersey Help, an affiliation of American Social Health Association Herpes Simplex Virus support group, meets 7:30-9 p.m. on the third Friday of the month at St. Aloysius Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road. Contact Gina or Mike at (732) 270-4680.
STROKE SUPPORT: The CentraState Healthcare System-sponsored stroke support group offers educational programs and supportive interaction for those dealing with events and lifestyle changes associated with stroke. The group meets at 2 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Westlake Community Clubhouse in Jackson. Call (732) 780-3013.
LAKEWOOD
BEREAVEMENT GROUP: Jewish Family and Children's Service of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County sponsors a bereavement group for those who have recently encountered a loss 9:30-11 a.m. on Wednesdays at 301 Madison Ave. Call (732) 363-8010.
CANCER SUPPORT: A cancer support group meets 12:30-2 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at the Lighthouse, 198 Prospect St. Call (732) 370-9667.
CAREGIVERS: This support group, provided by Kimball Medical Center, is for anyone caring for a person living in Ocean County age 60 years and older (not necessarily living in the same house). The group meets 12:45-2:15 each Tuesday at the Center for Healthy Living, 198 Prospect St. The group is facilitated by two social workers. The group is free, but registration is required by calling (732) 730-9112.
DIABETES SUPPORT: Kimball Medical Center diabetes support group meets monthly at the Center for Healthy Living, 198 Prospect St. Call for meeting time and to register at (888) 724-7123.
HEMANGIOMA SUPPORT: Parents of children with hemangiomas, benign tumors formed by a cluster of blood vessels, are invited to join a support group to exchange information and associate with others who are concerned with this affliction. Beatrice Coulter of Howell and Clare Connolly of Jackson, both of whose daughters have problems caused by hemangiomas, founded the group, which meets at Early Intervention of Ocean County in Lakewood. Anyone who is interested in joining the group should send their name, address and telephone number to Hemangioma Help, P.O. Box 1401, Jackson, NJ 08527-9998.
JEWISH SENIORS: Jewish Federation of Ocean County holds a senior support group 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 301 Madison Ave. Call (732) 363-8010.
JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE'S Caregiver Group, providing support for those involved with caring for a loved one, meets 10-11:30 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Wellsprings Adult Social Day Care, 525 Route 70. Call (732) 363-8010.
NEW BEGINNINGS offers support to those suffering from cancer as well as to their family and friends. Meetings are held 6:30-9:30 each Wednesday at Leisure Park, 1400 Route 70 East, Lakewood. Call (732) 255-5940.
NEW DAWN: This support group for parents who have lost a child meets at 8 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the Northern Ocean Professional Plaza, 525 Route 70, Suite A-3. Call (732) 928-2565.
PAAVE: Parents for Autism, Autoimmune and Vaccine Education holds its monthly meeting on first Wednesday of the month at The Arc of Ocean County. Call Ellen Sweeney (732) 451-1073.
TOUGH LOVE, a support group for parents coping with out-of-control behavior, meets at 7:15 p.m. Mondays at First Presbyterian Church, Third Street. Call (732) 928-4125 or (732) 280-7594.
WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY is a non-12-step based, nonreligious recovery program meeting the needs of women by striving to build self-esteem and empowerment to overcome addition. The group meets 7-8 p.m. each Wednesday at the Center at Kimball Medical Center, 198 Prospect St. Call (732) 370-5586.
MONMOUTH/ OCEAN COUNTY
9/11 SUPPORT: Anyone affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001, can get help through Project Phoenix, a FEMA-funded outreach program. Project counselors meet individually or in groups, provide education and assist in referrals. People who lost family, relatives, friends, or co-workers or who witnessed the event in person, worked in lower Manhattan at the time, assisted in rescue or recovery operations and those who have had difficulty coping with the disaster are eligible for the program. Visit www.projectphoenixnj.com or call (877) 294-HELP.
BENIGN ESSENTIAL BLEPHAROSPASM: A support group for this rare eye disease has been formed. Contact Bonnie O'Rourke at (732) 922-4429 or at tombor@worldnet.att.net.
CHILD SUPPORT: The Monmouth-Ocean Chapter of ACES, the Association for Children for Enforcement of Support, assists custodial parents struggling to collect support for children. E-mail monmouthaces1@aol.com or visit www.childsupport-aces.org.
CONTACT OCEAN COUNTY is a 24-hour, seven-day hot line serving Monmouth and Ocean counties, providing help to people in crisis or having difficulty handling their everyday lives. Call (732) 240-6100 or (609) 693-5834.
FAMILIES OF ADDICTS, NAR-ANON: A support group for families and friends of drug addicts meets 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sundays in CentraState Medical Center, Route 537 and West Main Street, Freehold Township; 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sundays at Kimball Medical Center, Route 9, Lakewood; and 7:30-9 p.m. Mondays at the Presbyterian Church, Hooper Avenue, Dover Township. Call (800) 322-5525 or (800) 255-0196.
HEARING-IMPAIRED TEENS: The mother of an oral deaf 15-year-old daughter is looking to form a social group for like teens. Call (732) 286-1711.
HOT LINES: Self-Help Clearinghouse maintains a database of more than 4,000 support groups in New Jersey, plus 200 help lines/hot lines. Call (800) 367-6274 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
MENDED HEARTS helps cardiac patients and their families. This group meets at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune; Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank; and Ocean Medical Center, Brick. Call (800) 560-9990, Prompt 3.
PARENTS OF ADDICTS: Help Mothers and Fathers is a support group for parents trying to cope with addictions in adolescent and adult children. Meetings are in Old Bridge, Fair Haven, Toms River and Long Branch. Call (973) 736-3344.
TOURETTE SYNDROME: A new Monmouth/Ocean County Tourette Syndrome family support group has been formed and meets 7-8:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month (except July and August) at the Wellness Center of Jersey Shore University Medical Center, second floor classroom, 2020 Route 33, Neptune. Visit www.tsanj.org or call (908) 575-7350.
WEIGHT HELP: Overeaters Anonymous has a hot line with information about meeting times and places. Call (609) 698-0244.
OCEAN COUNTY
ALZHEIMER'S CARE and related dementias support group, sponsored by the Ocean County Board of Social Services, meets 1-3 p.m. the third Friday of the month at The Gables at Brick on Jack Martin Boulevard and 1-3 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Manchester Manor, Route 70, Manchester. Call Ellen Vidal at (732) 505-3754 or Anna Smith at (732) 286-5975. In Toms River, Princeton Biomedical Research is offering a free Alzheimer's disease caregivers support group 11 a.m.-noon every other Friday. Call (732) 240-5775.
ALZHEIMER'S RESPITE CARE: People with Alzheimer's disease may be helped by the Alzheimer's Respite Care Program started by Caregivers of Central Ocean County Inc. and Caregivers of Lakewood Inc. Call (732) 505-0031.
MOTHERS WITHOUT CUSTODY meets 2-4 p.m. the third Saturday in Lacey. Call Kathleen Pitman at (609) 971-1684.
PANIC RELIEF INC. offers panic, anxiety and phobia workshops and support groups in Point Pleasant and Toms River. Call (732) 940-9658.
SURVIVOR SUPPORT: The Sexual Abuse and Assault Program of St. Francis Counseling Service helps anyone who has been raped or sexually abused. Its 24-hour rape hot line has experienced counselors for crisis intervention and support. In northern Ocean County, call (732) 370-4010. In southern Ocean County, call (609) 494-1090. St. Francis also offers free counseling services at 10 sites in the county.
VETERANS' FAMILIES: A self-help group is organizing for veterans' families and friends who are trying to cope with their veteran's combat post-traumatic stress disorder. The group follows a 12-step format. A meeting date and location will be determined. Call Chris Woolnough at (732) 928-7027 or e-mail cwoolno1@aol.com.
POINT PLEASANT
EYE OPENERS, a support group for the visually impaired and blind, meets at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month in the Presbyterian Church education building. Call George Brown at (732) 892-5117 or Fran Grecco at (732) 458-7181.
POINT PLEASANT BEACH
CANCER CONCERN: Cancer Concern Center, 1101 Richmond Ave., offers support groups for people living with cancer. Meetings are 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. A men's support group meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Call (732) 701-0250 or (732) 701-0750.
Support group meetings are subject to change, please call before heading to a meeting. New support groups that meet in a public place may submit their information to Community Support Groups, c/o the Asbury Park Press, 3601 Route 66, Box 1550, Neptune, NJ 07754, fax to (732) 643-4015 or e-mail to community@app.com. Existing groups that would like to amend or update their information should call (732) 643-4206.
