Community Groups

Virtual Community Groups

NOW ENROLLING: VIRTUAL CAREGIVER GROUP

The Ackerman Institute for the Family’s Gender & Family Project is now offering VIRTUAL community groups to gender expansive folks and their loved ones across the United States and beyond!

Virtual Caregiver Group

• For parents & Guardians of transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive youth

• Wednesdays from 7:00-9:00pm ET, starting Wednesday, October 22nd

• Each group has TEN available spots. You will be added to a waitlist once our ten spots are filled. Pending capacity, we may offer an additional group on Tuesdays or Saturdays; please note your interest during your intake.

Virtual Young Adult Group

• For Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Adults Ages 18-24

• Please fill out our Interest Form if you are interested in attending

TO ENROLL IN VIRTUAL CAREGIVER GROUP:

1. Email Sanniel Sanabia at ssanabia@ackerman.org to set up a brief screening call and schedule your intake. All families who enroll will be asked to complete an intake, but families who have been active in GFP in the last 12 months can receive an intake at half-price.

2. Once you have scheduled your intake, your spot for the group will be “reserved”. Once we’ve received 10 reservations, the group will be considered “full” and we will put additional caregivers on a waitlist.

3. Intakes should be completed at least 48 hours prior to group. If you have not completed your intake by Monday, October 20th we will open up your spot to caregivers on the waitlist.

4. Please mention in your intake if you are interested in a Tuesday or Saturday meeting time.

In future months, we will send out an RSVP form to families who have already done their virtual group intake. This is how you will “reserve” your spot for future groups.

Fees:

• Groups -- $10-100 sliding scale based on household income

• Intakes -- $10-150 sliding scale based on household income

Your group fee covers up to 3 caregivers attending the same group! The intake is a one-time requirement and the fee covers all family members participating in the intake. Please note that no family will be turned away due to lack of funds. We will explain the sliding scale during your screening call and allow you to choose the level that works best for your family.

Caregivers will not be required to complete a new intake if:

• They have completed a GFP intake in the last 6 months
• They have attended a GFP in-person group in the last 6 months
• They have attended family or individual therapy with a GFP clinician in the last 6 month.

In place of a new intake, these caregivers will be asked to complete a brief check-in call before attending virtual groups. This will be required to maintain the security of our virtual space.

Families who have been active with GFP in the last 18 months receive a 50% discount on their intake fee.

For Gender Creative Kids

ages 5-10

The Gender Creative Kids group is open to all gender-expansive and transgender children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. The group provides children with an affirming space where they can socialize, play and engage in creative activities with other children expressing comparable ranges of gender fluidity.

It is especially designed to run concurrently with the parents group and conveniently allows parents to meet while their children are having supervised fun in the same building.

All in-person community groups are offered monthly on every second Friday of the month (with the exception of August and December) for 2 hours, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET.

For Gender Expansive and Transgender Tweens

ages 10-14

Group starts with names, pronouns, and a fun check-in question. Activities include prompts for art and journaling connected to a topic as well as viewing short videos for discussion. Activities and discussion center on topics such as navigating disclosure among family and peers, connecting to LGBTQ history, and supporting each other.

It is especially designed to run concurrently with the parents group and conveniently allows parents to meet while their children are meeting in the same building.

All in-person community groups are offered monthly on every second Friday of the month (with the exception of August and December) for 2 hours, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET.

For Gender Expansive and Transgender Teenagers

age 14-18

This community group welcomes adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 years old. The group provides teens with a safe space where they can share experiences around transition, socialization and other challenges. It is an interactive and empowering space that also emphasizes resilience and mutual support.

It is especially designed to run concurrently with the parents group and conveniently allows parents to meet while their children are meeting in the same building.

All in-person community groups are offered monthly on every second Friday of the month (with the exception of August and December) for 2 hours, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET.

For Siblings (currently on pause)

While most siblings are accepting and understanding of their gender-expansive and transgender family member, siblings face specific challenges that require attention and support. They too need to navigate the issues of disclosure to friends and peers in school. They might worry about their sibling or want to be more involved in the meaningful conversation their family is having about gender development.

It is especially designed to run concurrently with the parents group and conveniently allows parents to meet while their children are meeting in the same building.

All in-person community groups are offered monthly on every second Friday of the month (with the exception of August and December) for 2 hours, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET.

For Caregivers and Parents

An additional Spanish-speaking caregiver group is currently in development.

Many parents and caregivers feel concerned and uncertain about how to handle their child’s gender expression or identity when the identity does not align with social expectations of the child’s sex assigned at birth. While caregivers can access information online, they might feel isolated and struggle to find other caregivers who can understand their dilemmas or appreciate their family’s accomplishments. While some caregivers find it easier to embrace gender-expansiveness, other caregivers find themselves uncertain about how best to protect and nurture a child with gender fluidity. Many parents find comfort in having a community of peers where they can share their struggles, doubts, and achievements, and be understood by other parents navigating similar questions. Issues of disclosure to family members and friends, psychosocial and medical treatment, advocacy in schools, faith communities and other institutions are addressed.

In addition, parenting transgender adolescents who are entering, or are well into puberty, can confront parents with dilemmas specific to that developmental phase, such as whether or not to undertake hormonal therapy and/or gender affirming surgeries, navigating medical insurance and providers, finding affirmative high schools and colleges, addressing dating, sexuality, and more.

It is especially designed to run concurrently with the childrens' groups and conveniently allows parents to meet while their children are meeting in the same building.

All in-person community groups are offered monthly on every second Friday of the month (with the exception of August and December) for 2 hours, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET.