For Families

1. Individual and family support is one of the primary ways we accomplish our mission. We offer information and support for new parents through our new parent packet.	Parent Community support groups We serve a wide geographic area of greater St. Louis and surrounding counties from Springfield, IL to Springfield, MO. Heartland Group (Cape Girardeau Mo., SE Missouri/So Illinois) We meet montlhy at the Saint Francis Health & Wellness Center in Cape Girardeau. The week and meeting room vary, so please call Claire at 573-334-5685, or email her at heartlanddsa@msn.com to check dates. Also see for meeting dates and information:                  http://thebuzz.semissourian.com/main.wsi?group_id=331 Jefferson County, Mo. Down Syndrome Parents Support Meeting Parents, are you interested in finding other parents to talk to about your child with Down Syndrome? Here it is; a parents group guided by your requests. Bring any questions you may have about Down Syndrome. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call Heather Stamer @ (314) 452-0486 or email her at: heatherstamer@sbcglobal.net . Kirkwood/Webster Mo.  Mothers "Moms Night Out" networking “coffee” group. Meets 3rd Thursday of the month at various locations. Contact Julie at 314-965-1022 or email her at jonesjulie@mindspring.com. Rural Missouri Friends (Kirksville, Mo/Northern Mo.) The Kirksville Support group usually meets bi-monthly at Washington Street Java Company in downtown Kirksville.  E-mails are sent with details.  To be notified of events, email Becky Pike at stevenandbecky@yahoo.com or call her at 660-627-7453 in Kirksville; or email Kathy in Brookfiled at kmcurry@shighway.com or call her at 660-258-7204. Lake Area--Jefferson City, Mo Down Syndrome Association: Quarterly family gatherings. Monthly meetings under consideration. To be placed on the mailing list, contact Susie at (573) 619-4361 or email her at kensus@socket.net North St Louis City & County Usually meets the 2nd Sunday of the month.  Snacks and free childcare typically available.  Call Anita Minor at 314-831-8602, or email her at aminor1@aol.com for details. Saint Charles County Mo/West (St Louis) County:  This group is reforming with Adrienne Bievenue.  Contact her at 636-240-0720 or email her at:  mommyof3oneds@yahoo.com .  The group meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6 pm at United Services in St. Peters, 4140 Old Mill Parkway.   Saint Louis Area Preschool and Baby Playgroup   This monthly  playgroup is open to all families with preschoolers or younger!  This is a play group for little ones with Down Syndrome and their siblings!  The next three play groups are typically scheduled at the KECC Discovery Room.  The next play group meeting is scheduled for Friday, 8-22-08  from 9:30-11:00.  (Click below for directions.)http://www.kirkwoodschools.org/kecc/contactus/mapdirections.php         If you have any questions you can email Julie Missey at jsmissey@sbcglobal.net or call her at 314-832-6626. South St Louis City & County  email Ellie Downs at ellie_downs@sbcglobal.net or call the DSA office at 314-962-2504 Southern Illinois Please call or email Cris Byrd for more information at 618-687-2626, crisbyrd@hotmail.com or Julie Anderson at 618-922-5846. If there is enough interest, we meet on a monthly basis. El Grupo de Apoyo en Espanol se junta cada segundo Martes de cada mes en el edificio de United Services que esta en St Peters, MO a las 6:30 de la noche.  4140 Old Mill Parkway.  Mi celular es 314-941-5923 Yas Watson, M.D  yasmira111@aol.com West St Louis County Contact Dennis Parr at 314-212-7828 or dennis_parr@hotmail.com. West St. Louis County Playgroup  Jody Lohse is a mom of 3 young children.  She is re-energizing this group.  If you are interested, please call Jody at 636-220-7122 or email her at jllohse1@charter.net  Playgroup Calendar Younger Parents Group  This group is for parents who are age 27 or younger when they give birth to their little bundles of joy. The group typically meets quarterly in University City.  Contact Darlene Martin at dymartin3@yahoo.com or call the office for more information. NEIGHBORING GROUPS:   DS Group of the Ozarks -(Springfield, MO.)  Monthly meetings typically held the second Monday of each month.  Dads meeth the 3rd Monday of the month.  For more information, please contact Lynn Neidigh at (417) 885-9905 or 888-655-5173 or dlneidigh@att.net or visit our website at www.ozarksdsg.org Riverbend (SW Illinois) Madison & St. Clair counties. Call Tamara Rampold at 618-667-8771 for details or if you would like to receive the newsletter. Also, go to their website: http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/  Lincolnland DSS (Springfield, IL) E-mail lldss@insightbb.com for more information, or call Tim at 217-622-1992.
   New Parent Information
   PARENT TO PARENT
   Parent-to-parent support is one parent helping another. It gives parents whose children have been diagnosed with Down syndrome the chance to meet with another parent who understands from experience. Our goal is to help you gain confidence and knowledge by sharing experiences with other parents. A parent coordinator matches each family with a helping hand family. This Helping Parent has participated in training sponsored by the DSAGSL and MPACT in order to be of assistance to families in need. Our Parent Coordinator will match you with a Helping Parent, who has participated in training sponsored by the DSA and MPACT. To make the best match, we will consider medical concerns you are facing, age of the child and where you live. You can reach us by calling the office of the DSA at (314) 961-2504. Please leave your name and telephone number. Our Parent Coordinator will telephone you to talk about your needs and answer any questions you might have about our program. We will also provide training to any parent who would like to volunteer to be a Helping Parent. Just call us!