Mutual support for mothers providing activities including park play-days, playgroups, member directed activity groups, and other daytime entertainment for mothers and children (generally 0-5 years).  There are some activities for older siblings as well.  Consult all 3 of the following sites to learn about local groups since the lists seem to offer difference views of each area:
 

Charlotte Parent (drop down the Resources Menu and click on Support Groups)

International MOMS Club (NC)

International MOMS Club (SC)

(Click for overview of Parenting resources)

UCP Kindergarten is now both for children with any special need and those without special needs.  This meets-as-it-needs-or-wants-to group consists of parents reflecting that mixed population.   The children are generally 18 months to 5 years of age.  The parents have banded together to share resources and to have a good time.  Call Easter Seals/United Cerebral Palsy Kindergarten at 704/522-9912 weekdays 9-5 for more information; ask for Mary Jane (the social worker who is most familiar with the program).

An active organization for mothers, fathers, and children ages 0-5 years with activities almost every day of the week.  These include play groups, park days, excursions, mom's and dad's only activities, mom's weekends away, and lots of other stuff.  They concentrate on having fun. For more info, click here to visit their web site or click here to e-mail their membership director.  If you do not have internet access, contact SupportWorks at 704/331-9500 Monday through Thursday morning to talk with Joal.   (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

An active social group of mothers (working outside the home or not) who gather to have lots of fun, support each other, and communicate via their web site.  Click here to see their web site for Charlotte, and click here for information for the rest of the USA and parts of Canada. (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

An active group for mothers of color providing a weekly support group, a playgroup, periodic speakers on a variety of topics, moms-only and whole family events, and a great deal of fun.  Our multiple e-mails were not returned so we suggest that you click here to visit their local web site, and/or click here to visit their national website.  (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

A group for grandparents raising their grandchildren or other caring people caring for children other than their own.  They meet to share and also get together just to do things for fun.  Supervised care for children of 17 years and younger.  Please call before attending your first meeting.  For details, contact a leader of the group at 704/336-8520 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

This group is sponsored by Presbyterian Hospital for new mothers of children from birth to age 12 months.  They give participants the chance to share common issues, concerns, and successes.  For details about the meetings in Matthews, call 384-7510 weekdays 9-4. (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

This organization sponsors a variety of groups which change as they need.  As of this update, there was a group for expectant mothers, a fathers' group, a couples' group (mostly for unmarried partners), and a Spanish group.  These groups provide emotional support and useful information for parents in high risk situations.  All members must be clients of the Crisis Pregnancy Care organization.  Call 704/372-5981 weekdays 9-4 for more information. (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

This group provides a safe environment focusing on family support and social activity for all single parents and their children of any age.  It is co-sponsored by the Harris Y and Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, but you don't have to be a member of either organization.  They meet regularly for special events and useful classes.  For an update on their current miraculous wonders, click here.  To talk with one of the leaders, call Larry at 844-8858 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

This group provides an opportunity for parents of children with reactive attachment disorer and/or other attachment issues to meet, share strategies and support, and do whatever seems appropriate at the moment.  For details about their monthly Sunday afternoon meetings in Davidson, call their phone at 704/892-6334 anytime any day.   (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

CMOMs serves nearly 500 women in the greater Charlotte area who are mothers, or expectant mothers, of twins, triplets or more. Services include parental support programs, information and equipment exchanges, social support networks, educational opportunities and scholarship programs. This group also supports expectant mothers who are confined to the hospital or are on bed rest during pregnancy. Additionally, CMOMs connects women who have experienced the loss of one or more of their multiples.  For details click here to visit their detailed web site or call their information line at 704/341-9979 any time any day.  (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

An active grouop of stay at home fathers who do play activities and fathers-only get-togethers.  Their activities are publicized via a Yahoo e-group so internet access is required.  Please click here to see the site and if you wish register.  (Click for overview of Parenting resources)

A confidential, professionally-facilitated group for women who have been victims of domestic violence or other abuse OR whose child(ren) have been abused.  These structured meetings cover a new topic every week.  For details, call the Shelter at 704/332-2513 anytime anyday. (Click for overview of Domestic Violence resources)

Active Moms of the Carolina (2003) (1636)
Club MOM (1997)  (1215)
FEMALE (2006) (same as Mothers&More)
GrandCare (2004)  (1382)
Lake Wylie Play Group (1999) (1489)
MOPS (Pineville Nazarene Church) (2004)  (1467)
Mothers & More (Charlotte & Lake Norman) (2006)  (1454,1456)
The Mother's Center (1999) (122,743)
Mothers & More (Cabarrus County chapter only) (1658, 743)
New Horizoins (support program) (2007)  (1382)
Parenting for Spouses of Inmates (2003)  (1557, 743)
Playgroup 2000  (1494, 743)

This service provides comprehensive data and referral assistance for nonprofit and government resources in the NC counties of Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, and Anson counties and in or near the city of Mooresville, NC.  If you are calling on a landline or residential phone in one of those counties, dial 2-1-1.  If that fails, if you are calling on a cell phone, or if you are calling from anywhere else in NC, call 866/744-7778.  For calls from out of NC, use their local number of 704/377-1100. Although they are open 24 hours a day, you may wish to call weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for non-emergency questions.

The friendly staff at this full service library can help you research any medical topic using their up-to-date computers, databases, journals and books.  No previous research experience or medical knowledge is required. Click here for details or call them at 704-384-6393.

MedLinePlus

This service of the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health is one of the better one-stop shops for beginning your search on the internet for medical information.  For those of you who live in Mecklenburg and Union counties in NC, we recommend that you contact the Health Library for more personal assistance from the experts there in searching for reliable medical information. Click here for their details.

Click to link to any of these lists of national groups: 

The Self-Help Sourcebook OnLine Index
The Genetic Alliance
NORD (National Organization for Rare Diseases) Database

Click here to branch to the American Self-Help Clearinghouse listing of toll-free phone numbers for a wide variety of topics.