Support Groups

Brain injury support groups exist to allow persons with brain injuries and their family members to meet others who are in similar situations, gain valuable emotional support from one another, form friendships, obtain information and resources, and hear speakers discuss a variety of brain injury topics. They are an opportunity for both persons with brain injury and their family members to discuss the difficulties and hardships they are facing, as well as the accomplishments and joys in their lives.

There are now 20 Alliance-affiliated support groups in New Jersey, serving 17 counties.  The Alliance monitors the activities of these groups, the qualifications of their leaders, and provides them with information and resources on a regular basis.

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

Affiliated Support Groups

Listed alphabetically by county

Atlantic County

Atlantic/Cape May Group at Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation
61 W. Jimmie Leeds Road, Pomona, NJ 08240-0723
Contact: Nutan Ravani, 856-589-5797
Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7pm

Bergen County

Bergen Group at Englewood Hospital
Get Directions
350 Engle St., Englewood, NJ 07631
(follow signs to the meeting room)
Contact: Jane & Joe Concato, 201-666-2015
Meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 pm
Passaic/Bergen Group at Rehabilitation Specialists
Get Directions
18-01 Pollitt Drive, Suite 1A, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
Family Contact: Dawn Scala 201-478-4200 ext. 19 & Jennifer Victoria Proano, ext. 31
Voices That Count (Survivors) Contact: Carly Schoener at 201-478-4200, ext. 26
Both groups meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm

Burlington County

Burlington/Camden Group at Community Skills Program, Marlton
Get Directions
5000 Sagemore Dr., #203, Marlton, NJ 08053
Contact: Nutan Ravani, 856-589-5797 or Mark Rader, 856-667-3330
Meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 7 pm
Post Concussion Support Group at Weisman Children’s Hospital
92 Brick Road (3rd fl.), Marlton, NJ 08053
Contact: Andrea VanVreede 856-489-4520 ext. 264
Meets the 4th Monday of each month 6:30-7:30pm
*** This meeting will be held on Monday May 20 in lite of the holiday.
Back to regular schedule for June.
This group will serve 11-19 year olds and their families

Camden County

Burlington/Camden Group at Bancroft
201 South Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Contact: Katie Law, 609-799-8400 or Kristin Lukianovich, 856-616-6433
Meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 7pm

Cape May County

Mild/Moderate TBI Support Group
Cape May Group at Cape Regional Medical Center
Get Directions
2 Stone Harbor Blvd., (1st Floor, Maruchi Room)
Cape May Court House, New Jersey 08210
Contact: Bonnie Kratzer, 609-463-4043
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 1 pm

Cumberland County

Cumberland Group at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Vineland
1237 West Sherman Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360
Contact: Eurgenio Rocksmith M.D. 856-696-7100
Meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7pm

Essex County

Essex Group at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052
Contact: Betty Collins, 973-414-4743
Meets the second and last Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm

Gloucester County

Gloucester Group at Moss Rehab/Drucker Brain Injury Center
135 South Broad Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096
Contact: Dayna Scott, 856-853-9900
This group meets the last Tuesday of each month at 3pm. (Beginning March 26, 2013)

Hudson County

N/A
Currently no affiliated support groups available in this county. We will add new groups as they are created.

Hunterdon County

N/A
Currently no affiliated support groups available in this county. We will add new groups as they are created.

Mercer County

Mercer Group at St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Hospital
Get Directions
Conference Room 117
2381 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Contact: David Searles 609-896-9500 ext. 2244
Meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm

Middlesex County

Adolescent & Parent Support Groups at Children’s Specialized Hospital, New Brunswick
200 Somerset St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Adolescent Group: Auditorium 2
Parent Group: Auditorium 1
Adolescent Contact: Deborah Brown, 856-229-3065 Parent Contact: Doreen Bridgman, 732-977-7381
Both groups meet the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7pm
College Students with Brain Injury Group at Rutgers, New Brunswick
(This group is open to all college students with brain injury)
Rutgers Campus, Lucy Stone Hall, A-Wing, Suite A145, 54 Joyce Kilmer Ave, Piscataway
Township, NJ 08854
Contact: Kathy Loder-Murphy, 848-445-4428
MEETS EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH at 6:30-8pm.
(Jan 27, Feb 24, March 24 and April 28)
Middlesex Group at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Center for Head Injuries
Hartwyck at Oak Tree, 2048 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ
Contact: Sabrina Lueth 732-906-2640 ext 42656
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6pm

Monmouth County

Monmouth Group at Dorbrook Park Recreation Area
Route 537, Colts Neck, NJ
Contact: BIANJ Office, 732-745-0200
Meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7pm

Morris County

Morris Group at the DAWN Center for Independent Living
Get Directions
30 Broad St., Suite 5, Denville, NJ 07834
Contact: Carmela Slivinski, 973-625-1940
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6 pm
Morris Group at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation at Chester Campus
Pleasant Hill Road, Chester, NJ 07930
Contact: Denise Holderied 973-252-6375
the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6pm

Ocean County

Ocean Group at Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West, Toms River, NJ 08755
Contact: Vicky Hardy, 732-557-8000, ext. 10226 & Pam Lightfoot, ext. 11547
Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6pm

Passaic County

N/A
Currently no affiliated support groups available in this county. We will add new groups as they are created.

Salem County

Salem Group at Ware Agriculture Complex
51 Cheney Road
Woodstown, NJ 08098
Contact: Diane Lynn Robbins at 609-202-9902
Meets the last Monday of each month.

Somerset County

Union/Somerset Group at Community Skills Program
776 Mountain Blvd, Suite #102, Watchung, NJ 07069
Contact: Nina Geier, 908-753-1595
Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6 pm
Note: This is a new group. The first meeting is scheduled for September 8, 2011.

Sussex County

Sussex Group at Redeemer Lutheran Church
37 Newton Sparta Road, Newton, NJ 07860
Contact: Vince D'Orio, 703-297-7726
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of month at 7pm (Beginning in March)

Somerset County

N/A
Currently no affiliated support groups available in this county. We will add new groups as they are created.

Union County

N/A
Currently no affiliated support groups available in this county. We will add new groups as they are created.

Warren County

N/A
Currently no affiliated support groups available in this county. We will add new groups as they are created.

Unaffiliated Support Groups

Listed alphabetically by county

Atlantic County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Bergen County

Hackensack University Medical Center - Epilepsy Support Group
20 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ - Main Conference Room, Suite 800
Contact Lorna Myers
Meets the third Thursday of every month from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Note: These meetings are held for people with epilepsy and their caregivers
Hackensack University Medical Center
Grupo de Apoyo para pacientes con epilepsia y los que los cuidan
20 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ – Salon de Conferencia, Suite 800
Primer martes de cada mes – 6 pm

Burlington County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Camden County

Katz Jewish Community Center
Stroke Support Group
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Contact: Lisa Silverman, 856-424-1333 x1186
We are now meeting alternating Mondays from 10:15 to 11:30am (the second and fourth Mondays of the month).
Attendees must be a member of the Katz Jewish Community Center, but scholarships are available and members can be of any faith.

Cape May County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Cumberland County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Essex County

Opportunity Project
60 East Willow Street, Millburn, NJ 07041
Contact: Bob Marlin, 973-887-0818
Meetings are held one evening a month, from 6:30-8:30 pm. The date of the meeting varies from month to month; please call the contact for specific meeting dates.
NOTE: This is a young men’s brain injury support group, ages ranging from 19-49.
UMDNJ – Brain Tumor Support Group
UMDNJ DOC Building, Suite 8100, 90 Bergen St, Newark, NJ 07103
Contact: LaDawn McClamb, 973-972-1164
Meets every 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:00 – 6:30 pm.
This group is for survivors of brain tumors and caregivers.

Gloucester County

Southern NJ Apostles’ Lutheran Church
4401 Black Horse Pike (Route 42) Turnersville, NJ 08012
Contact: Theresa May, 856-629-8487
Directions 856-629-4228 (church office) or call Theresa at above number.
Meetings: Every Wednesday night
NOTE: This is a “clubhouse” model group for recreation/networking.
Gloucester Group at Moss Rehab/Drucker Brain Injury Center
135 South Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096
Contact: Carl Bradford 856-853-9000 ext. 204.
Meets the 4th Monday of each month at 5:30pm

Hudson County

Jersey City Medical Center - Epilepsy Support Group
355 Grand St, Jersey City, NJ, Conference Room 5
Contact Lorna Myers
Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 6 pm
Note: These meetings are for people with epilepsy and their caregivers.

Hudson County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Hunterdon County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Mercer County

Capital Health System - Stroke Support Group
Mercer Campus, 446 Bellevue Avenue, Conference Room A, Trenton, NJ
Contact: LouAnn McGinty, RN, MSN Neuroscience Nurse Coordinator (609) 394-6000 or Reverend Berlinda Love, Coordinator (609) 882-1378 for information or to register.
Meet the second Saturday of every month at 10 am
NOTE: These meetings are for stroke patients, caretaker/family member involved in their care.

Middlesex County

Central NJ Brain Tumor Support & Resource Center
St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church, 300 Clinton Ave., North Plainfield, NJ 07060 website: njbt.org
Contact: Patty Anthony, 732-321-7000, ext. 68998 or Virginia/Stan Shrodo, 908-685-0917
Meets the first Thursday of every month from 7-8:30 pm
Brain Aneurysm and AVM Support Group
NJ Neuroscience Institute, Conference Room, 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08818
Contact: Nancy DePinto, 732 321-7000, extension 68973
Meets the last Wednesday of the month at 7 pm
The NJ Chapter Support Group for Benign Brain Tumor Survivors
Contact: Beth Rosenthal, 732-767-0019 or 732-371-5338.
Meets the 2nd Monday of every month at 7:30 pm at Panera Bread, 1551 Rt. 1, Edison

Monmouth County

Monmouth and Ocean County Brain Tumor Support Group
Wall Township Branch of Monmouth County Library
2700 Allaire Road, Wall, NJ
Contact: Ilene and David Lewis, 732-615-9220
Meets the first Saturday of the month 3-4:45, except in summer.
During summer, (July and August), meets second Thursday of month, 7-8:30 pm.

Morris County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Ocean County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Passaic County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Salem County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Somerset County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Sussex County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Somerset County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Union County

Stroke Club at RW Johnson University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
Contact: Rehabilitation Department, 732-499-6012
Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month from 12:30 to 2 pm.
Registration required.
Overlook Hospital - Epilepsy Support Group
99 Beauvoir Avenue, Summit, NJ, 5th Floor, Neuroscience Conference Center
Contact Lorna Myers
Meets the third Thursday of every month at noon
Note: These meetings are for people with epilepsy and their caregivers.

Warren County

N/A
Currently no unaffiliated support groups available in this county. If you know of one please contact us and let us know!

Out of State Support Groups

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa 19104-4399
Support Group for Parents & Caregivers of Children with Brain Injury
Contact: Maureen Sullivan, MSW, 215-590-7645
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
Please call to RSVP.
Support Group for Teens & Young Adults with Brain Injury (Ages 13-21)
Contact: Dr. Gayle Chesley, 267-426-7388
Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
Please call to RSVP.
Magee Rehabilitation Hospital
Support group for individuals with TBI/ABI and family members.
1513 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Contact: Dr. Emily Askin, Ph.D., 215-587-3411 or Jennifer Salomon, 215-587-3411
Meets the 4th Monday of every month from 6:00 to 7:30 pm., 4th floor family lounge.