Support groups provide safe spaces for families who have children with disabilities or other special health care needs to connect and share information and resources. While face-to-face support groups are beneficial, many groups are finding virtual options to be more convenient and practical. It is important to weigh the benefits and possible downsides of virtual support groups, as well as your needs, before you start or join one.

Benefits of Virtual Groups

This format can:

• • • Encourage more frequent and flexible participation because no travel is needed
    • Bring people together from a wider geographic area
    • Connect families who have children with rare conditions or diagnoses, other shared identities or experiences
    • Offer an increased level of privacy

Potential Downsides of Virtual Groups¹ 

As with any online communication, there are still areas where virtual support groups require extra caution.

• • • It may be difficult for members to connect if they haven’t met in person, especially for groups that only use audio or texts because they don’t have the benefit of seeing one another’s reactions or bodylanguage.
    • Anonymity can give a place to voice inappropriate or disrespectful comments or behaviors.
    • Scams, spoofs or taking advantage of others can happen in virtual groups.
    • Virtual or text conversations can lead to misunderstandings about the meanings of communications among members.

Tips for Managing Healthy and Effective Support Groups

Thoughtful planning before the first meeting is the best way to ensure success for a new support group. Steps to a healthy support group include:

Establish Ground Rules

Like in-person support groups, it’s important that your group’s members understand the rules to maintain a positive atmosphere. These might include:

• • • Keep the information shared at the meetings confidential, unless what is shared will place someone in danger.
    • Members’ private contact information should not be shared, unless that person has given permission.
    • Every participant should be treated with respect.
    • Avoid judgment – Allow members to share personal information in a trusting and caring environment. 

Assign a Facilitator or Group Leader

Make sure that the attendees know who the meeting facilitator is. The facilitator’s job includes:

• • • Reminding members of the ground rules.
    • Encouraging healthy dialogue and ensuring everyone has time to speak.
    • Keeping the group on topic.

Choose the Right Technology for Your Virtual Support Group

There are many options available for hosting virtual support groups and they’re getting easier to use and more accessible all the time. You can try one format and then try something different to see which works best for your group members. Often, a member who is familiar with one platform can teach others who may not be as comfortable with the technology.

Live Video Meetings

Meet live at a date and time decided by the group using applications like Zoom, Google Meet, Facetime or What’s App. Setting up an account on most of these is free or low cost. If your group has a sponsor like a school, clinic or hospital, that organization is likely to have video conferencing capabilities.

Phone Only Meetings

if bandwidth is a problem in your area, your group may prefer audio only. There are telephone conferencing options like FreeConferenceCall.com. Keep in mind that an audio-only group provides more privacy and anonymity, but some might miss making those visual, personal connections.

Online Only Meetings 

Support groups can be held in an online format using chat rooms like Google Hangout or Yahoo Messenger. Setting up an email list like a Google Group is another way to have online chats. This format allows members to share ideas and resources at any time.

Social Media 

Set up a private group on a social media platform. This type of virtual group also lets members communicate any day or at any time. If you choose social media, you may also want to add email lists and/or live meetings to bridge the conversation between meetings.

Learn More

• • • managementhelp.org/groups/support/select-technologies.htm
    • mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/support-groups/art-20044655
    • headstart.gov/parenting/article/leading-online-parent-meetings-groups

¹Mayo Clinic, mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/support-groups/art-20044655

INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children’s Resource Network, 877-WiscWay (877-947-2929): Wisconsin Wayfinder offers families one name and phone number to find services for children with special health care needs. Wayfinder connects you to a resource guide at one of the five Children’s Resource Centers in your area.

If you need this fact sheet as a pdf or other format contact Lynn at lynn@fvofwi.org.