Local Partners
PTK Mission: Our mission is to establish a safe, non-judgmental space for parents of transgender and gender-expansive children to share information, resources, and life experiences.
In addition to providing support to parents, PTK provides advocacy and education to the community about the needs of the transgender/gender-expansive community.
Support group meetings are held via Zoom and in-person (except in summer - - in-person only) in both Sussex County and New Castle County – see below for dates, times, and locations. Meeting attendance is limited exclusively to parents, grandparents, or caregivers of transgender/gender-expansive youth. During (and between) support group meetings, parents will be able to network with other families that are going through similar experiences while raising a transgender or gender-expansive child. The goal of the group is to provide parents with a safe space where they can discuss issues that are important to them. They will have the chance to raise questions, share resources, network, and listen to the experiences of other parents whose children are gender diverse. Issues explored will include school, legal matters, privacy, siblings, extended family, and medical.
Meeting Schedule:
Three meetings each month:
1st Thursday of each month, 7:00 - 8:30 PM via Zoom (Suspended in summertime.) To register, email ptkdelaware@gmail.com
2nd Thursday of each month, 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Adults/caregivers meet in one room; youth meet in a separate room. Sussex County at the Lewes Library (111 Adams St., Lewes 19958)
3rd Thursday of each month, 7:00 - 8:30 PM , Westminster Presbyterian Church (1502 West 13th ST. Wilmington, DE 19806). Adults/caregivers meet in one room; youth meet in a separate room. Email PTKDelaware@gmail.com for the Zoom meeting link.
RSVP: If you are attending a meeting for the first time, please email PTKDelaware@gmail.com and include both the age of your child and the person who referred you.
LGBTQ Youth Support Group Meeting
Welcome back!!!! We are delighted that the youth group has restarted, under the able direction of a licensed professional counselor, Barbara P. Conrad, MS & certified in Gestalt Therapy, & Sharon Zimmer, MS in Educational Counseling. Sharon & Barbara facilitated a similar group several years ago and are looking forward to working with this group of youngsters.
This is an open group and all denominations are welcomed. We have determined that an age group of 12 to 18 will be best. There is no other such group in our area; the only support groups are available if their schools have a GSA program. The coming out process is tough enough and it will be great to have a place our LGBTQ youth can turn to for help and support.
The group meets monthly (see "summer schedule" below) at the Jewish Family Services Building, 99 Passmore Road, Wilmington, DE 19803. (The meeting building is just off route 202, north of Silverside Road; driving north on 202, take the 1st left just after Ashley Furniture. JFS is directly behind Ashley Furniture). Meetings are from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, with a "hangout session: until 1:30 PM for those who can stay.
Summer schedule: Contact Sharon Zimmer (cztwins@hotmail.com) for the summer events schedule.
You MUST confirm attendance 2 days prior to the meeting by texting Sharon Zimmer, at 302-438-1545 or emailing: cztwins@hotmail.com.
Please help spread the word throughout the area and we THANK Sharon & Barbara for their work on this project.
Jewish Family Services
Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS) provides meeting space for the LGBTQ+ youth group ("ASK"). They provide a network of support for everyone in the family – children, youth, adults, and seniors. Their therapists can help you address a range of issues including family and relationship problems, substance abuse, ADHD, anxiety, and depression, or life transitions. No matter your struggle, you don’t have to face it alone. They can help you identify, build, and use your own strengths and skills – so you can better manage your mental health. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.JFSDelaware.org or call their Wilmington or Newark offices at (302) 478-9411 or the Lewes office at (302) 827-6040.
West End Neighborhood House
West End Neighborhood House, based mostly in the Little Italy section of Wilmington, has been serving Delaware youth and their families since the late 19th century. Their Life Lines III program includes housing for qualifying LGBTQ+ youth. In addition, their Home Base/Drop-In Center (1708 W sth St.) helps unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness with basic services. This is the only facility of its kind in Delaware. To learn more about this project and how you can support it, click here.
United Way Pride Council
Working to improve the lives of LGBTQ Youth and Adults
The United Way DE PRIDE Council's mission is to organize community resources, including corporate, education, health, government and religious organizations, to improve the lives of Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth and adults in Delaware. Approaches it uses to accomplish its mission include:
• Forming and enhancing Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in middle and high schools throughout Delaware to provide a critical support system for LGBTQ youth
• Fostering a mentoring program through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware
• Hosting a statewide annual Anti-Bullying/Gay Straight Alliance Summit
Visit their website for more information at http://uwde.org/?/affinity-groups/pride-council
Facebook Group – UWDPRIDE
PFLAG Rehoboth & CAMP Rehoboth
Hosts new groups for Parents of Transgender Youth & Transgender Youth. For more info please contact Salvatore Seeley, LCSW at 302-227-5620. Meetings will be held at CAMP Rehoboth in Rehoboth.
Delaware Renaissance Group - Rehoboth
Please join us for the inaugural meeting of the Rehoboth area's Delaware Renaissance Group. We welcome anyone who identifies anywhere on the transgender, gender nonconforming, or gender conforming spectrum as long as you are willing to accept and support anyone else anywhere else on the spectrum; yes this means families and allies are welcome too. The only thing on the agenda for this meeting will be planning what we want from the group going forward. The meeting will be from 8 pm until 10 pm on the 4th Saturday of each month at the Tunnell Cancer Center, 8941 John J Williams Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 in the McCurry Conference Room. Enter at the rear of the Tunnell Cancer Center through the entrance marked as the Medical Arts Pavilion. For more info please email: amandaw@delren.org
Big Brothers & Big Sisters Mentoring Program for LGBT Youth
According to youth surveys, more than 10% of Delaware youth identify as LGBTQ+. Many of these young people face a variety of challenges, and report they don’t have a positive adult to go to for support or advice. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware and the United Way of Delaware have put together a Youth Mentoring program to help fill that gap for Delaware youth.
In the Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Mentoring Initiative, parents can sign up their child to be matched one-on-one with a positive adult mentor.
After completing the BBBS screening process & background checks, Mentors meet with their assigned Little Brother or Sister 2-4 times a month, either after school or on the weekends for a period of at least one school year. Volunteers may also mentor in group settings.
For more details go to https://bbbsde.org/mentoring
The Travel Company
The Travel Company is owned and operated by Sheila N Batty and the late Jim Batty, both charter members of PFLAG Wilmington. Jim dedicated his life to Equality for All. We have been consistently supportive of all legislation for equality for the LGBT community. Since our son came out to us in 1991, it has become extremely personal to the both of us. Jim’s spirit will be with me as I continue to support all future endeavors for equality.
Visit their website for more information: http://www.travelcompany.ws/Page/Home