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Support groups and resources

If you’re coping with a chronic disease — or caring for someone who is — support groups are often the one place where others truly understand what you are experiencing.

The Gerlinger Support Group Room at the Salem Health CHEC provides a comfortable setting for people to gather and share information in groups devoted to everything from cancer support to mental health.

Support groups can provide friendship, compassion, care-giving tips, new ideas — and hope. They also bridge you to local support and resources.

Learn more from the links below. If you can't find the kind of group you're looking for, call the CHEC at 503-814-2432. We'd be happy to help you look for resources.

A group of women meet in a CHEC support group room.

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Support groups by topic and other resources

Bariatric and weight management

Bone, muscle and joint conditions

Cancer

Caregiver

Diabetes and nutrition

Drug and alcohol abuse

Heart and stroke

Mental health

Parenting

Car seat safety
Resources to make sure your child's car seat is installed and used correctly

Car Seat Safety Class
One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is making sure your child is safe when riding in a vehicle. Each year, thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. With so many different seats, many parents find it overwhelming. If you are expectant parents, a grandparent, or a caregiver come join us! This class will give you some good information and tips on how to install a car seat into your car and make sure your child is safe.
Register for the virtual car seat safety class here.

OHSU Tom Sargent Safety Center
A certified child passenger safety technician can meet with you virtually to provide education and technical help on installing and using your child’s car safety seat. For more information, visit ohsu.edu/doernbecher/tom-sargent-safety-center – or call 503-418-5666.

Compass Perinatal Peer Support
In-person support groups in Marion & Yamhill counties, giving new parents opportunities to meet other parents, share the ups and downs of this new life chapter and find resources from trained volunteers. For more information call or text (971) 301-2678 https://compasspps.com/support-groups#6a0809cb-674a-44c6-949f-2365416a8739

Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub, Inc. Visit parentinghub.org

Mom and Me Breastfeeding Support Group (Salem)
Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays (except holidays) from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
939 Oak St. SE, Building D, first floor, classroom 2

For more information, call Salem Health's lactation office at 503-814-4539.

Mom and Me Breastfeeding Support Group (Dallas)
Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
525 SE Washington St. (Use front entrance on Washington St.)

For more information, call Salem Health's lactation office at 503-814-4539.

Postpartum Support International
Support “warmline”: 800-944-4773 or visit postpartum.net

Salem Parents of Multiples
Caring for twins/multiples is an exciting, challenging adventure. Learn from other parents who have been raising these families! Connect with other twin families, give/get advice, set up play-dates, sell/trade items, learn about resources and share experiences. To join the Facebook group, send a friend request to Lyndsay Huebsch or ask to join the T.W.I.N.S. group and she’ll add you. You can also call Lyndsay at 541-760-5444.

Support groups Visit compasspps.org

Other support groups

ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)

The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter's Monthly Support Group Program is an essential tool in helping people living with ALS and their caregivers, families and friends navigate the family’s journey with ALS.

Individuals meet virtually on the third Wednesday of Month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The Caregivers meeting is the first Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. at Broadway Commons, 1300 Broadway St. NE, Salem.

Please contact Mary Rebar for more information at Mary.Rebar@alsoregon.org or 541-990-1246 — and visit the Oregon chapter at alsoregon.org.

Alzheimer’s Association
This group provides a 24/7 hotline. Speak to masters-level experts in Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Call 800-272-3900.

Class offered every third Wednesday, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Salem at Center 50+, or at the Dallas Senior Center every third Monday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Call the help line at 800-272-3900 for more information on location and topics. Visit alz.org/orswwa.

Alzheimer’s Network of Oregon
The Alzheimer's Network of Oregon hosts monthly Memory Café events—welcoming gatherings where individuals with memory loss and their caregivers can connect, share, and build community in Salem and Keizer. Join them!

For more information call 971-720-1652, email memorycafesalem@gmail.com or check their website at Alznet.org.

Amputee and Limb Loss Support

AMPOWER Amputee Peer Support Group

This group consists of a nationwide network of trained peer mentors who have successfully recovered and rehabilitated following an amputation. Mentors are available to speak face-to-face, over the phone, via Skype or Facetime, through e-mail or through a private, password-protected online web community. Sponsored by Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics. Call toll-free at 877-4HANGER, option 1, for more information. Visit EmpoweringAmputees.org.

Amputee Coalition

To learn about the Amputee Coalition, visit amputee-coaltion.org.

Power On with Limb Loss

A support group for amputees, those with limb loss, or limb difference, and people with physical challenges. This group meets the second Wednesday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Community Health Education Center Support Group Room, on the Salem Health campus, Building D, first floor.

If interested, please contact facilitator Paula Free at paula@poweronwithlimbloss.org. For more information, visit poweronwithlimbloss.org.

Aphasia community support group
Learn about stroke and aphasia and meet others with aphasia. Group meets every Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the CHEC Support Group Room at Salem Hospital, Building D, first floor.

For more information, contact Theresa Robinette at 503-371-3948 or robinette867@comcast.net.

Better Breathers
For more information, call Michelle Nugent-Buchanan at 503-814-3105. Also check out the American Lung Association at lung.org.

BlindSkills
Blindskills is a local nonprofit offering resources and support to our blind/visually impaired community, along with their families and friends. Low Vision Life Skills meets the 3rd Friday of each month, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Community Health Education Center at the Salem Health campus, Building D, Support Group Room. We have guest speakers and various topics of discussion, such as the relation of sight loss to balance, and light-your best friend/your worst enemy. There is no cost for this support group, and facilitators are also living with sight loss.

For more information contact Blindskills at 503-581-4224 and visit blindskills.com.

Brain injury support group
Minds In Motion Initiative, offering support for individuals living with acquired brain injury.

Meeting times:

Every fourth Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. Locations vary by activity and discussion (contact Meg Snider for details).
Every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ike Box Café, 299 Cottage St. NE, Salem.
Every Wednesday (Game Day) from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Minds In Motion Initiative office, 744 Capitol St. NE, Salem.

For more information, contact Meg Snider at 971-977-3688 or msnider@oregonminds.org. To learn more, visit oregonminds.org.

CHEC Yourself podcast
CHEC Yourself is a collaborative project put together by the Community Health Education Center. While the content covers a myriad of topics in the health and wellness arena, its broader mission is to help listeners live their best lives. Topics include nutrition, fitness, and emotional resiliency. The intention is not merely to educate, but also to provide tools for listeners who want to create their own vision of a healthy and successful life. Click here for the latest podcast.

Creating Opportunities
A community organization developed for the purpose of supporting families of children with developmental disabilities in Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties.

To learn more, please visit: https://creatingops.org/.

Decoding Dyslexia
Our Mission is to raise dyslexia awareness, empower families to support their children, and improve resources for students with dyslexia in Oregon public schools. In the Mid-Willamette Valley, contact Dawn Tacker at 760-994-5537 or dawntacker09@gmail.com — or visit decodingdyslexiaor.org.

Fibromyalgia (FM) Support Group
Meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m. at Salem Hospital - Building D, first floor, in the Support Group Room located at 939 Oak St SE, Salem, Oregon 97301.

For more information, please contact Theresa at rescuemeeka2009@gmail.com or by phone at 503-586-6303.

Living with Ostomy Support Group
This group is dedicated to improving the quality of life of anyone who has or will have an intestinal or urinary diversion. For more information about the group, contact Vince Faiola at usvf@coloplast.com. Visit ostomy.org.

Parkinson’s Information and Education Group
Meets Second Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Covenant Church, 5020 Liberty Rd. S., Salem. Contact Jayne at 503-930-4239 for more information — and visit parkinsonsresources.org and parkinson.org to learn more.

Please call before attending your first meeting. Family, friends and care partners are welcome. Peer-led, positive and encouraging support for each other.

Salem Multiple Sclerosis Support Group
This support group provides a chance for individuals with MS and their family and friends to share common experiences and concerns, provide and receive emotional support, and get information on various aspects of living well with MS. The group is led by a trained volunteer and is free of charge. The group meets at IKE Box in Salem on the 1^st Tuesday of each month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

For more information, please visit this link or contact the group leader, Sherena, at roxyrxz@icloud.com or 971-406-8787.

For more information about MS, please visit nationalMSsociety.org.

Salem R.O.C.K. — Raising Our Celiac Kids
For more information or resources, call Kristen Klay at 503-581-3884 or kristenklay@yahoo.com, or visit celiac.com and celiac.org.

Scleroderma Foundation
The Scleroderma Foundation is a national non-proﬁt organization that serves the needs of people with scleroderma with a three-fold mission of support, education, and research.

We now have a Salem area support group that will meet on the ﬁrst Saturday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. at Salem Hospital, Building D, CHEC Support Group Room. Parking is available across the street from Building D. For more information, contact Tina Barton at lookatmetlb@aol.com.

Shared Vision: A vision loss support group
Monthly support groups. For more information, please call 503-581-4224 and visit blindskills.com.

Stuttering support group
Meets second Sunday of each month, 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Broadway Coffeehouse, 1300 Broadway St. NE, Salem.

Join other people who stutter, their friends, family members and speech language pathologists for support and to feel less alone. Learn more about stuttering and explore new ways to cope with and accept stuttering in a safe environment. Contact Sarah or Daniel: salemstutters@gmail.com, Rhoads_Daniel@salkeizer.k12.or.us.

Like them on Facebook at Salem Stutters. They are the Salem chapter of National Stuttering Association. Learn more at westutter.org.

Tourette’s Syndrome support group
For families of children who have been diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. Join with others to learn about resources, gain support and connect with other families. For more information, contact Kourtney and Erika at ts.salemor@gmail.com.

Willamette Wanderers
As one of over 300 clubs of the American Volkssports Association, the Willamette Wanderers exist for the love of walking. They participate and plan walking events in and around Salem and Keizer. Contact them at willwander.weebly.com.