Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting on the Main UC Irvine Campus.
Open Meetings are for Faculty, Staff, Students and community members.

Dates: Meetings will be daily Monday through Friday
Time: Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Room G319 in the Student Health Education Center on the main UC Irvine campus
Information: Contact Donna Blue for more information dblue@uci.edu or 949.824.1451.

Art for the Soul Support Group
Creative techniques to foster better health while coping with cancer. No art experience required.

Dates: Meetings will be the first, third, & fifth Thursday every month. 
Feb 16, Mar 1, Mar 15, Mar 29
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Location: UC Irvine Patient and Family Resource Center, 1st floor Chao Cancer Center
Information: 714.456.5235

Bariatric Surgery Support Group
Offers support for those planning laparoscopic surgery and patients after surgery. Family and support people are welcome to attend. A guest speaker is provided every other month.

Meetings provide peer support, allow you to learn about the surgery firsthand from others who have had obesity surgery and allow patients to share their experiences.

Dates: The meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of every month.
Feb 21, Mar 20, Arp 17
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Separate agendas for new patients and post-surgery patients.
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. New and post-surgery group session
Location: UC Irvine Manchester Pavilion, 200 S. Manchester Ave, 2nd Floor. Rooms 210 & 211, Orange, CA 92868. Parking and disabled parking is available in front of the building.
Information: 888.717.4463 or 714.456.6185.

Brain Tumor Education/Support Group
This group is for individuals diagnosed with a brain tumor and those who support them. The focus of the group will be both education and support. Some meetings will include a speaker; others an opportunity to share with each other. Meetings will

Dates: Meetings will be held on the second Monday of every month
Feb 13, Mar 12, Apr 9
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4th floor conference room
Information and reservations: Donna Baker, LCSW, 714.456.8609

Burn Survivors Support Group
Dates: Meetings will be held the third Thursday of the month.
Feb 16, Mar 15, Apr 19, May 17
Time: Noon to 1:30 pm.
Location: UC Irvine Douglas Hospital, 5th floor, conference room 5843
Information: 714.456.7437

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
Reservations required
Dates: Meetings will be held the second Wednesday of the month.
Mar 14, Apr 11
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Child Development Center, 19722 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine
Information: 949.824.8372or www.cdc.uci.edu/chadd.shtml.

For more information about the CHADD Organization, go to http://www.chadd.org.

Kids Konnected
A non-profit organization providing friendship, understanding, education and support to kids who have a parent with cancer or lost a parent to cancer.
Dates: Second and fourth Monday every month
Feb 13, Feb 27, Mar 12, Mar 26
Updated - Time: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Neuropsychiatric Center, Room 101
Information: Please call Yilin Chiou, MSW, PPS 714.914.1688 or yilin.chiou@gmail.com for more information or visit http://kidskonnected.org/

Epilogue
The Epilogue Group is a social/educational support group for adults with Epilepsy. The Epilepsy Alliance of Orange County has collaborated with the Epilepsy Center at UC Irvine Medical Center to form this group which was the single most important program request by adults with epilepsy.
Join us to meet other adults with epilepsy who share the same concerns and work through the same issues. The Epilogue group hosts monthly speakers who specialize in epilepsy and related concerns.

Dates: Third Friday of every month
Feb 17, Mar 16, Apr 20, Jun 15
Time: 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Neuropsychiatric Center, Room 101
Information: Please call Jill Cabanillas, Executive Director, Epilepsy Alliance of Orange County at 714.557.0202 for more information or visit www.EpilepsyAlliance.org

IBD Support Group
An ongoing support group for individuals with the diagnosis of Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. Topics may include: stress management, coping strategies, alternative medicine, dating/relationships and more.

First Wednesday every month
Mar 7, Apr 4, May 2
Time: 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m.
Location: Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2nd Floor conference room
Information: Kristin McMaster 714.456.7057

Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Support Group
Open to pre-dialysis, dialysis, pre- and post- transplant patients, family members, and friends.
Dates: First Friday every month
Mar 2, Apr 6, May 4
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Manchester Pavilion, 200 S. Manchester Ave., 8th Flr., Classroom B
Information: Robin Worker, LCSW, PsyD 714.456.8342

Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Support Group - Spanish Speaking Support Group
Open to pre-dialysis, dialysis, pre- and post- transplant patients, family members, and friends.
Dates: First Friday every month
Mar 2, Apr 6, May 4
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Manchester Pavilion, 200 S. Manchester Ave., 8th Flr., Classroom B
Information: Robin Worker, LCSW, PsyD 714.456.8342

Korean Women’s Share and Care Group
Help and support for Korean-speaking women with cancer.
Dates: Second Thursday every month
Feb 9, Mar 8, Apr 12
Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4th floor conference room
Information: 714.456.5057

Look Good, Feel Better
Ssupport group for women with cancer that teaches beauty techniques to help enhance appearance and self-image during treatment.

Dates: Fourth Monday of every other month
Mar 26, May 28
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Location: UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4th floor conference room
Information: Donna Baker at 714.456.8609

Multiple Myeloma Support Group
Dates: Meetings will be on the first Thursday of the month
Mar 1, Apr 5, May 3
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Neuropsychiatric Center, Room 101
Information: 800.452.2873 extension 233

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Dates: Meetings will be on the first and Third Tuesday of the month
Location: UC Irvine Neuropsychiatric Center, check in at lobby reception desk
Feb 21, Mar 6, Mar 20, Apr 3, Apr 17
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Neuropsychiatric Center, check in at lobby reception desk
Information: 714.456.5801

Husbands (Partners) of Women with Cancer Support Group
UC Irvine hosts a support group for men whose spouse or significant other has been diagnosed with cancer.
Web based support group.
See http://www.cancer.uci.edu/ and click on support group calendar for more information.
Information: 714.456.5235

Spinal Cord Support Group
This group is for patients recovering from spinal cord injuries, their families, caregivers and other interested parties.
Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month, except on holidays.
Dates: Feb 21, Mar 20, Apr 17
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Acute Rehab Unit, Room 135
Facilitator: Jerry Teixeira, Ph.D.
Information: 714.456.6628 or pkikukaw@uci.edu

Super Sibs Klub
Super Sibs Klub is a monthly workshop designed for siblings of children with special needs including, medical, developmental or cognitive issues, ages 8-12. Fun-filled activities focus on one or more of the following topics: tough transitions, self-esteem, fears/worries, anger management, teasing/bullying, isolation.

English and Spanish speakers welcome.
Dates: Meetings will be quarterly on Saturdays.
Apr, Jul, Oct - Call for meeting dates
Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon
Information & location: Prior registration is required for participation.
Contact: Erica Magnuson at 714.456.8391

Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancers (SPOHNC-UC Irvine-ORANGE)
NOTE: New Location
Open to those diagnosed with head and neck cancers and those who support them.

Dates: Meetings will be on the first Monday every month.
Mar 5, Apr 2, May 7
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Breast Health Center, 3rd Floor Cancer Center
Information: Jennifer Higgins, MSW, 714.456.5235

Trigeminal Neuralgia Association Support Group
Provides information, education, and support for patients and their families living with TN and related facial pain conditions. Guest speaker at every meeting.

Dates: Meetings will be the fourth Saturday every other month starting in January
Mar 24, May 26
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Medical Center - Medical Library, Second Floor
Information: 714.730.1600

Women’s Share and Care Group
Provides support and education for women with cancer.

Dates: Meetings will be on the second and fourth Tuesday every month. There will be a speaker on the 4th Tuesday.
Feb 14, Feb 28, Mar 13, Mar 27
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4th floor conference room
Information: Donna Baker, 714.456.8609

Women with Gynecological Cancers - Spanish Speaking Support Group
Support group for patients with gynecological cancers. Participants will receive educational information and networking opportunities.

Dates: Meetings will be on the third Tuesday of the month.
Feb 21, Mar 20, Apr 17
Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1st floor resource center
Information: 714.456.5235

Young Women's Thriving and Surviving Support Group
Started by two young women who have overcome breast cancer, this educational group is for women 18 to 45 surviving any type of cancer.

Updated - Dates: Meetings will be on the third Wednesday of the month.
Feb 15, Mar 21, Apr 18, May 16
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 4th floor conference room
Information: 714.456.7057