Thrive Programming

Building community, one connection at a time.

Support for Families Raising Children with Complex Needs

About Thrive

Our story: Founded in 2018 with a simple mission: to create space for foster and adoptive families in Charlottesville and surrounding counties to find connection and support. What started as a few small support groups has since grown into a broader network of care, now including families raising children with a variety of disabilities and offering both virtual and in-person gatherings.

Today: We are fine tuning our programs to better reflect the needs of our families and community. Greater emphasis is being placed on programs that offer child care and caregiver support and our support groups are updated for a more inclusive approach, by bringing together caregivers of children who have complex needs—whether through foster care, adoption, or disability.

Our Support Services

  • Inclusive Support Groups

    Peer-led, community-based support groups for foster, adoptive, and disability families and caregivers—because we’re stronger together.

    In-Person & Virtual Options
    Accessible support, no matter your location or schedule

    Current schedule:

    When/Where: Currently have two options, depending on what works best for your family! Please feel free to attend one or both!

    Virtual: 2x/month Wednesday evenings from 8:00- 9:00pm over Google Meet

    In-Person: 2x/month Friday mornings from 9:00 - 10:30am in Charlottesville (near IX park). This group includes also includes skilled childcare.

    The goal of both groups is to provide a space for families to come as they are, share their highs and lows and find your community!

  • Caregiver Relief Programs

    Respite Care and Parents Night Out
    Child care and fun engaging actviities included during these programs so caregivers can breathe and recharge.

    Respite: Providing brief break for care givers with child care. We are diligently working to expand our team and meet the ever-present need for respite.

    Parents Night Out (PNO): A three hour event where parent’s can drop their children off with our skilled care providers and get a few hours to run errands, go to dinner, or just catch their breath a bit. These nights are either community outings to places like the VA Discover Museum, Smith Aquatic Center, or Camp Holiday Trails. Or activity driven like kids science experiments with UVA LEADS chemistry club, Empowered Players, or the Free Book Bus.

  • In Home Care

    This can include recurring weekly care and one-off care.

    Recurring care: Caregivers are matched with a family based on compatibility and availability. Families are matched at the beginning of each season for scheduling alignment.

    In crisis: should a family enter crisis in the middle of a season with respite care needs, the RHI team supports however possible.

Support Group Intake Form
“Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
— Helen Keller