Please note that upcoming meeting or activity dates are listed in the right column of our home page.

Our family meetings are held the 2nd Sunday of most months between 5-7pm at St. James United Methodist Church. St. James is located on Bruce B. Downs, south of I-75 and north of Tampa Palms  (at the blinking light behind the fire station)
16202 Bruce B Downs Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33647
As you turn off of Bruce B Downs, the drive will take you back and then to the right. You will first see the main church building (do not go here), then a fenced in playground, then the 2nd and 3rd buildings close to each other. Enter at either the entrance to the 2nd or 3rd building (they connect once you are inside and it varies which door will be unlocked; sometimes it is a side door that is unlocked).
We will try to have a sign on the door that is unlocked.

There are 2 rooms (across from each other), 1 for parents/adult caregivers and 1 for children - this allows adults to speak freely, and we also hope it allows families to come without worrying about getting a babysitter for their non-infant/toddler children..

Children will work on an activity or community service project, followed by clean-up time. They usually have a small snack. If time allows, they may play outside for a bit. If your child needs to use the restroom during meeting time, you will need to step out of the meeting to take them.

If you have a teen who needs community service hours, please contact us. It has always been our vision that the children's room can be a fantastic opportunity for teens to shine! By helping the younger children with the activities and community service projects, they can feel a sense of pride and incrased self-esteem.

Meetings will follow the following format (with flexibility when needed):

• 5:00-5:15 Arrival and getting settled - If you have a specific concern or question you would like to put before the group and would prefer not bringing up on your own, blank paper will be available for you to write your concern or question. The meeting facilitator can open up this topic for discussion. We want to make sure no one leaves without having their concern discussed, even if someone is not comfortable asking verbally within the group.
• 5:15-5:20 Welcome from a board member/officer
• 5:20-5:30 Introductions - Everyone will have a chance to say an introduction. Introduction may simply be your name, but feel free to briefly tell your children's ages, or something you are dealing with right now. Introduction time is not for discussion, but we do all want to get to know each other.
  
• 5:30-6:15 Discussion - We will start with any topics that have been turned in on paper. Time can go quickly, so if there is something you are wanting to ask or discuss, please make sure you write it down and hand it to the meeting faciliator.
  Please note: Meetings are designed for support, information and to connect with others. Though there may be health care professionals present, discussion is for information and support and is not intended to replace the care your child or teen receives through their treatment team.
• 6:15-7:00 Connect! Often in meetings someone says something that really stood out to you - you want to talk more with that person! This is the time to do it. We want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to talk and chit chat outside the more formal format of the group circle. We do need to be out of the room at 7 pm so you may see us cleaning up during some of this time - please do not feel like we are rushing you.

If you are interested in donating items that will help our meetings run smoothly, please click here to see our wish list!