Waiouru social worker sets up support groups

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 294, 11 July 1989, Page 5

Waiouru social worker sets up support groups

by

Philippa

French

The next meeting of the Waiouru adult adoption support group is to be held 20 July at 7pm at the Community Health Rooms.

The group was set up at the end of last year by Kathy Frater, Waiouru's Social Worker. Kathy says as well as the support from monthly meetings, members can exchange home phone numbers so they can support each other if they need to talk with someone with the common expe-

rience of adoption. The group is for adoptees and birth parents and adopting parents. Kathy says it is very positive having people from all three sides of adoption together as they can help others to see all aspects and different views. People are welcome to join the group even

if they don't intend to find their adopted children or birth parents. The speed at which people work at finding their children or birth parents is entirely up to the individual, some people take years to complete their search whereas others may take only a couple of months. Another support group which Kathy is about to set up is AlAnon' which is family and friends of problem drinkers and recovering problem drinkers. The

group is designed to meet the needs of family and friends of these pepple and to offer a support. Kathy would like to hear from anyone interested in this group. The group will be holding weekly meetings at the Health Rooms. Other services co-or-dinated by Kathy are the 'Budget Advisory Service', 'family counseling' and 'individual counseling.' Kathy can be contacted on 56-111 ext 517 or 56-369 in the evenings.