Support Groups in Georgia

Shepherd Center Sat. training 4.6.13 with Tana Hall
Shepherd Center Sat. training 4.6.13

Support Groups in Georgia

Support Group information is subject to change. Please contact the support group before you attend a meeting for the first time or if you have not attended recently.

NOTE: People with ALL TYPES of brain injuries are invited (traumatic, acquired, stroke, tumors, aneurysms, anoxia, disease, bleed, etc.)

Family members are welcome to most groups.

BIBB COUNTY

Macon

Macon Support Group
Central Georgia Rehab Hospital
3351 Northside Dr.
Macon, GA 31210

Meetings:

3rd Tuesday of every month @ 6 p.m.
Bring a dish to share . . . we eat first!

Contact:

Rachael DeVito
rdevito100@windstream.net

CATOOSA/WALKER COUNTIES

Rock Spring

North Georgia Brain Injury Support Group
Jimmy Simpson Foundation Group

9558 N. Hwy 27
Suite B
Rock Spring, GA 30739
www.safehavenjsf.org

Meetings:

2nd Tuesday of every month @ 6 p.m.

Contact:

Tina Lovern
(706) 375-9530
tlovern@safehavenjsf.org

CHATHAM COUNTY

Savannah

Advance Acquired Brain Injury Program
Goodwill Industries
7220 Sallie Mood Dr.
Savannah, GA 31406
www.goodwillsavannahga.org

Meetings:

2nd Thursday of every month @ 6-8 p.m.

Contact:

Paula Ruehling
(912) 354-6611
pruehling@goodwillsavannahga.org


Grey Matters
Rehab Institute @ Memorial Medical Center
4600 Waters Ave.
Savannah, GA 31404

Meetings:

3rd Thursday of every month @ 5 p.m.

Contact:

Jennifer Jolley
(912) 350-7274
jolleje1@memorialhealth.com

CLARKE COUNTY

Athens

Saint Mary’s Hospital
1230 Baxter Street
Athens, GA 30606
(Meeting location is on the 5th floor, ADL room)

Meetings:

3rd Monday of every month @ 7 p.m.

Contact:

Floretta Johnson
(706) 353-1892 or (706) 389-3550
fbjohnson0521@att.net

Janice Ward
(706) 548-4397
jward180@charter.net

CLAYTON COUNTY

Riverdale

Miracles Happen
Southern Regional Medical Center
11 Upper Riverdale Rd.
Riverdale, GA 30274

Meetings:

2nd Tuesday of every month @ 7 p.m.

Contact:

Pat Buice
(678) 773-4930
superhope@msn.com

COBB COUNTY

Marietta

Unlimited Possibilities
Kennestone Hospital
Outpatient Rehab Center
100 Lacy St.
Marietta, GA 30060
Visit us on Facebook!

Meetings:

1st Tuesday of every month @ 7 p.m.

Contact:

Kelly Campbell
(678) 677-2589
kellyc620@yahoo.com


Whistle Stop Support Group
Steak & Shake
825 Ernest W Barrett Parkway, NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Meetings:

Every Friday @ 10 a.m.

Contact:

Bruce Allen
(404) 345-1786
brucea1025@comcast.net

DEKALB COUNTY

Atlanta/Emory

Emory Rehabilitation Hospital
1441 Clifton Road
2nd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30322

Meetings:

2nd Tuesday of every month @ 6:30 p.m.
Meetings are in a new room on the SECOND FLOOR. There is free parking behind the building. Go in the back door and you should see the elevator to your right. The new room is across from the elevator on the second floor.

Contact:

Carl Griffith (Support Group leader)
(404) 409-9339
carlg1008acg@gmail.com

Pat Gartrell
(404) 401-3295
gar216@bellsouth.net

Esther Connor
(404) 861-1215
no1uno9@hotmail.com


Emory Stroke Survivors’ Club by Emory Center for Rehab Medicine
1441 Clifton Road
Cafeteria
Atlanta, GA 30030

Meetings:

4th Thursday of every month @ 10-11 a.m.
For stroke survivors, friends, family members, and caregivers.

Contact:

(404) 712-5512


Emory Synapse
1602 Fishburne Dr.
Room 108 in the Rich Building
Atlanta, GA 30307
emorysynapse.wixsite.com/emorysynapse

Meetings:

Every other Saturday (Sep 8, Sep 22, Oct 6, etc.) @ 1:30–3 p.m.
There is free parking in a parking structure as well as limited handicapped parking.
Read our agenda here (PDF).

Contact:

(404) 919-5753
emorysynapse@gmail.com

Visit us on Facebook!


Atlanta/VA Hospital

VA/TBI Support Group
Atlanta VA Clinic
250 North Arcadia Road
Decatur, GA 30030
Note: The group is only open to Veterans.

Meetings:

2nd Monday of every month @ 1 p.m.
If the 2nd Monday falls on a holiday, the group will meet the following Monday.

Contact:

Dr. Inge Thomas
(404) 329-4654
Inge.Thomas@va.gov

DOUGHERTY COUNTY

There is currently no support group in Dougherty County.

Meeting info:

South Georgia Support Group Steering Committee
c/o Vickie Gibson
(229) 224-1680

FANNIN COUNTY

Blue Ridge

United Community Bank of Fannin County
4000 Appalachian Highway
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Bank is located next to the Burger King.
Call Carolyn Stepp for directions.

Meetings:

2nd Tuesday of every month @ 6 p.m.

Contact:

Carolyn Stepp
(706) 492-5308
carolynstepp@etcmail.com

FLOYD COUNTY

Rome

Floyd Behavioral Health
Windwood main level conference room
306 Shorter Ave.
Rome, GA 30165

Meetings:

3rd Thursday of every month @ 6 p.m.

Contact:

Stayce Van Gorp, PT
(770) 731-2526
Svangorp@floyd.org

Molly Burrows
(706) 509-6608
moburrows@floyd.org

FORSYTH COUNTY

Cumming

Peace of Mind Brain Injury Support Group
Northside Hospital – Forsyth
Bennett Education Center Bldg
Meeting Room B
1400 Northside Forsyth Drive
Cumming, GA  30041

Meetings:

2nd Thursday of every month @ 6 p.m.

Contact:

Cassie Palmer
(678) 822-3529
C58862@bellsouth.net

Alicia Anderson
chloesconnections@gmail.com

FULTON COUNTY

Atlanta

BrainSignal Peer Support Meetings
Georgia State University

Virtual Meetings:

Every other Saturday @ 12:30-2:30 p.m.
through Google Meet (meet.google.com/azz-rdpk-bbo)

Contact:

Isabella Paredes
Isabellaparedes99@gmail.com


Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
Inpatient Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit (CIRU)
1001 Johnson Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30342

Meetings:

Call contact for meeting info.

Contact:

Reverend Niyoka Nelson
(470) 565-6914
Niyoka.nelson@choa.org


Stroke Support Group
Grady Memorial Hospital
8th Floor Family Waiting Room
80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30303

Meetings:

Every Wednesday @ 2-3 p.m.

Contact:

Jessica Wasserman
(404) 616-5052
jmcclung@gmh.edu


Stroke Support Group
Northside/Alpharetta Medical Campus
3400 Old Milton Parkway
Building C
Alpharetta, GA 30005

Meetings:

Call the contact number for meeting dates and times.

Contact:

(404) 845-5265
(Groups are facilitated by a registered nurse and a licensed clinical social worker.)


Young Stroke Survivors Group – The Young and the Restless
Emory University School of Medicine – Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
James B. Williams Medical Education Building
650 Means Drive
Room 153 A
Atlanta, GA 30329

Dr. Shilpa Krishnan, PT, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Meetings:

3rd Thursday of every month @ 6:30 p.m. (remote or in-person)

Contact:

Roger L. Brathwaite
(678) 804-5995
roger.brathwaite@mac.com


Atlanta/Buckhead

Shepherd Center Peer Support Dinner and Meeting
2020 Peachtree Road, NW
7th Floor Auditorium – Marcus Building
Atlanta, GA 30309

Meetings:

4th Thursday of every month @ 6 p.m.
(with the exception of November and December: 3rd Thursday, due to holidays)

Free parking is available in the parking deck.
Dinner is casual, 6-7 p.m., no need to RSVP.
Separate Caregiver, Brain Injury Survivor, and Spinal Cord Injury Survivor Groups are held 7-8 p.m.

Contact:

Claire Holley (Brain Injury Peer Support Coordinator)
(404) 603-4252
claire.holley@shepherd.org

For brain injury resources, information, and the most up-to-date dinner information each month, please visit their Facebook page:
Shepherd BI Peers


Mild Brain Injury Support Group
Peachtree Presbyterian Church
3434 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
www.mildbraininjurysupport.org

Meetings:

2nd Thursday of every month @ 7 p.m.

Contact:

Jean Kropa
(770) 612-0612
jean.kropa@gmail.com

Art Fuller
(678) 612-6353
art_full@yahoo.com


Alpharetta

Stroke Support Group
Northside Alpharetta Medical Campus
3400 Old Milton Parkway
Building C, Classroom A
Alpharetta, GA 30005

Meetings:

1st Monday of every month @ 6:30 p.m.

Contact:

(404) 845-5265


Roswell

Wellstar North Fulton Hospital Stroke Support Group
North Fulton Hospital
3000 Hospital Blvd.
Roswell, GA 30076

Meetings:

Last Wednesday of every month @ 6:30-7:30 p.m., currently virtual due to the COVID pandemic.

Contact:

Virginia (Ginny) Cunningham
(770) 751-2649
virginia.cunningham@wellstar.org


The Seminole Spirit – A Speech/Language Brain Injury Support Group
(A national speech virtual group with its own speech therapist helping in post-brain injury recovery)

Meetings:

Meetings are all held virtually. Contact Mark Halvorsen for details.

Read The Seminole Spirit’s Mission Statement and purpose.

Contact:

Mark Halvorsen
(404) 434-7452
halvorsenmark9@gmail.com


North River Support Group
North River Baptist Church
12090 Hardscrabble Road
Roswell, GA 30075
www.northrivercaregivers.com

Meetings:

3rd Thursday of every month @ 7 p.m.

Contact:

Lynda deMore
(770) 928-5834
northrivercaregivers@gmail.com

GLYNN COUNTY

Brunswick/Golden Isles

“brainREconnect” Brain Injury Support Group (ABI/TBI)

Outpatient Rehabilitation Care Center
Conference Room
2600 Wildwood Drive
Brunswick, GA  31520

Meetings:

4th Wednesday of every  month @ 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Contact:

Paul Trumbull
(912) 466-5399
Paul.trumbull@sghs.org

GORDON COUNTY

There is currently no support group in Gordon County.

GWINNETT COUNTY

Duluth

Stroke Support Group
Glancy Campus
Diabetes & Nutrition Education Center
Kiwi Room
3215 McClure Bridge Road
Duluth, GA  30096

Meetings:

3rd Wednesday of every month @ 1:30 p.m.
For both survivors and caregivers.

Contact:

Kelly Dunham or Michelle Graves
(678) 312-6167
mgraves@gwinnettmedicalcenter.org


Suwanee

New Beginnings Brain Injury Support Group
Annandale Village
Patricia M. Brown Center for Programs
3500 Annandale Lane
Suwanee, GA 30024

Meetings:

1st Friday of every month @ 1:30-3 p.m. and
3rd Saturday of every month @ 10-11:30 a.m.

Contacts:

Vickie Thomas
(770) 945-8381
vickie.thomas@annandale.org

HABERSHAM COUNTY

Demorest

Stroke Support Group
Habersham Medical Center
487 North Historic Highway
Demorest, GA 30535

Meetings:

2nd Tuesday of every other month @ 1:30 p.m.

Contact:

Beth Hester
(706) 754-3113, ext 2042

HALL COUNTY

Gainesville

Northeast Georgia Medical Center Stroke Support Group
NGMC Gainesville Auxiliary Conference Room
743 Spring Street NE
Gainesville, GA 30501

Directions to the conference room:
Park in front of the Women and Children’s pavilion and walk on the sidewalk to the far left side of the pavilion (heading to the dog park). This sidewalk leads directly to the door of the conference room.

Meetings:

2nd Tuesday of every month @ 6-7 p.m.

Contact:

Denise Filush
StrokeProgram@nghs.com

LOWNDES COUNTY

Valdosta

Brain Injury Advocate Services of Georgia (BIAS)
(Both Military & Non-Military survivors and their families are welcome)
biasofga.org

Meetings:

3rd Tuesday of every month @ 6 p.m.
Meeting locations vary. Contact Alan Carter for locations of individual meetings.

Contact:

Alan Carter
(229) 375-8476
biasofga@bellsouth.net


Head Injury and Stroke Support Group
South Georgia Medical Center
2501 North Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31602

Meetings:

2nd Tuesday of every month @ 6-7 p.m.
NOTE: Meetings are held next to the hospital at 209 Pendleton Drive.

Contact:

Tina Miller
(229) 259-4292
Tina.miller@sgmc.org

MUSCOGEE COUNTY

Columbus

Columbus Area Brain Injury Support Group
Northside Medical Center (old Hughston Hospital)
100 First Court
Columbus, GA 31909

Meetings:

Every Sunday (except holidays) @ 3-4 p.m.
2nd Floor of Medical Center – in the Varsity Room.

Contact:

Kay Jones (McCoy)
(H) (706) 565-9298 (C) (706) 325-2386
kaymccoy3@hotmail.com

NEWTON/ROCKDALE COUNTIES

Conyers

The Disabled Adults and Caregivers Fellowship (DAAC)
Conyers Presbyterian Church
911 Main Street
Conyers, GA  30012

Meetings:

3rd Monday of every month @ 7 p.m.
Program @ 7:30 p.m.

Contact:

Delores McDonald
Cell (404) 985-3156 or (770) 981-8424
dbdjill@comcast.net

RICHMOND COUNTY

Augusta

The Brain Injury Support Group
NeuroRestorative of GA
2501 Center West Parkway
Augusta, GA 30909

Meetings:

2nd Thursday of every month @ 6 p.m.

Contact:

Patty Goolsby
(706) 829-0370
pattyg@wrh.org

Les Paul Morgan
(803) 279-9611 or (803) 426-6356
mycometpatrol@bellsouth.net

Note: Les also leads a group in North Augusta, SC. Contact him for info.

THOMAS COUNTY

Thomasville

“Hope” Southwest GA TBI Support Group
Boston Community Center
Boston, GA 31626

Meetings:

2nd Monday of every month.
Covered dish @ 6:30 p.m., meeting @ 7:30 p.m.

Contact:

Vickie Gipson
(229) 224-1680
Vickiegipson35@yahoo.com

Rick Gipson
(229) 224-2852
Rickygipson54@yahoo.com

TOOMBS COUNTY

There is currently no support group in Toombs County.

OTHER SPECIALIZED GROUPS

ANEURYSM:

Emory Hospital

Aneurysm Support Group
Emory Clinic Building B
Neurosurgery Suite B2200
1365 Clifton Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30322

Meetings:

1st Tuesday of every month

Contact:

Regina Carder
(404) 712-5795
Regina.Carder@emoryhealthcare.org

APHASIA:

Kennestone Wellstar Hospital

Aphasia Support Group
Kennestone Outpatient Rehab Center
100 Lacy St
Building 220
Marietta, GA 30060

Meetings:

3rd Monday of every month @ 6 p.m.

Contact:

Tiffany Woodall McCusker
(770) 793-7600
tiffany.woodall@wellstar.org

BRAIN TUMOR:

Cobb County

Emory Neurosciences Brain Tumor Support Group
Kennestone Hospital
677 Church Street
Marietta, GA 30060
www.neurosurgery.emory.edu/BTSG

Meetings:

3rd Tuesday of every month @ 6 p.m.

Contact:

Tosha Usher
TECKennestone@emoryhealthcare.org

EMPLOYMENT:

Stone Mountain

Side by Side Clubhouse
“A unique clubhouse for fostering growth, employment, job search skills, etc.”

1001 Main St.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
www.sidebysideclubhouse.org

Meetings:

Clubhouse Hours: Monday-Friday @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Contact:

Cindi Johnson
(404) 378-1139
Fax: (404) 378-1164
info@sidebysideclubhouse.org

greta@sidebysideclubhouse.org

SPEECH:

The Seminole Spirit – A Speech/Language Brain Injury Support Group
(A national speech virtual group with its own speech therapist helping in post-brain injury recovery)

Meetings:

Meetings are all held virtually. Contact Mark Halvorsen for details.

Read The Seminole Spirit’s Mission Statement and purpose.

Contact:

Mark Halvorsen
(404) 434-7452
halvorsenmark9@gmail.com

YOUTH/ADOLESCENT GROUPS:

Decatur

Empowering Our Youth (EOY)
“For young adults with disabilities between 14 and 30 years old (or thereabouts!)”

disABILITY LINK
1901 Montreal Road
Decatur, GA 30084

Meetings:

Saturdays @ 2-4 p.m.

Contact:

(404) 687-8890


Atlanta

Young Stroke Survivors Group – The Young and the Restless
Interchange Building
4th Floor Location
5780 Peachtree Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30342

Meetings:

3rd Thursday of every month

Contact:

Roger Brathwaite
(678) 804-5995
roger.brathwaite@mac.com