Parent Support Circles

What are Parent Support Circles?
Parent Support Circles are free, confidential, anonymous, weekly meetings of parents who wish to learn new ways to nurture and protect their children.

Currently Parent Support Services operates about 50 Parent Support Circles in communities throughout BC.

What will happen when I call about a Parent Support Circle?
When you call, you will speak with an employee of Parent Support Services, the group that administers Parent Support Circles all over British Columbia or, if you call the local number provided on this website, you may speak with a community-services or crisis agency.

Whomever you talk to will ask for your first name, how many children you have, their ages, your home phone number, and a convenient time for a group facilitator to call back.

A Circle facilitator will call and tell you more about the program and ask more about you. The two of you may arrange to meet and talk further before the next meeting, or you may simply be invited to the next meeting.

But the most important thing you need to know is that the person on the other end of the phone will appreciate the courage it has taken for you to pick up the phone and say, "I think I need help."

What will happen when I attend a Parent Support Circle?
All Parent Support Circles follow a similar plan but the details for each meeting vary from one Circle to another.

Many Circles open with each parent saying how they are and how their week with their children has been. Participants discuss parenting concerns in the supportive setting provided.

One of the most important things about Parent Support Circles is that they respond to the needs expressed by the parents who attend them.

What else do I need to know about Parent Support Circles?
In some communities circles operate in Cantonese, Filipino, Hindi/Punjabi, and Spanish. There are Circles just for Aboriginal parents and special interest groups such as, stepparents and grandparents. Parent Support Services ensures that anyone parenting children under 12 years old will be comfortable joining a Parent Support Circle.

Parent Support Services can help parents pay for chid care or transportation when needed. Our objective is to remove the financial obstacles that might prevent a parent from attending a Support Circle.

Parents of Teens circle runs on Wednesday evenings in Victoria.


To Start a Parent Suport Circle (PDF)
Request for Parent Support Circle (PDF)

Information about Filipino Parent Support Circles (PDF)
Information about Latin American Parent Support Circles (PDF)
Information about Cantonese/Mandarin Parent Support Circles (PDF)
Information about Korean Parent Support Circles (PDF)
Information about Parent Support Circles In Your Area (PDF)
To become a Volunteer Facilitator for Parent Support Circles (PDF)

Other Programs
Parent Support Circles
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support
Parent Education Classes and Community Workshops