The OI Foundation offers several resources for connecting with individuals with OI and OI families. All of the resources listed below allow participants to ask questions, share information, and offer mutual support to others.
OI Foundation Official Facebook Page
“Like” the OI Foundation on Facebook to receive important announcements and updates from the OI Foundation.
OI Community Forum Facebook Group
Join the OI Community Facebook Forum discussion page for the OI community. Please note: In order to view and participate in Facebook groups, you will need an active Facebook account.
OI FOUNDATION SUPPORT GROUPS
About the OI Support Group Program
The OI Foundation recognizes the value of creating a space where members of the OI community can share their personal experiences, and both receive and provide support. For many years, OI Support Groups met in person, but with advancements in technology, some of the groups have chosen to meet virtually in recent years. The OIF is now expanding this important program to ensure that everyone in the US has the opportunity to connect either by geography or by interest.
The goal of the OI Support Group Program is to provide a space for sharing, educating, and socializing.
- Sharing allows participants to talk about their experiences and feelings and offer each other mutual support and encouragement.
- Education occurs when group members receive new information on topics of interest.
- Social time provides unstructured opportunity for members to enjoy each other’s company.
The OI Support Group Program is divided into five Regional Groups (Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, and West) and OI Affinity Groups. With support from OIF staff, each OI Support Group is led by an OI community member.
The Regional Support Groupsaim to connect and foster a sense of community among OI community members in a specific region of the United States and to provide national and local resources.
Affinity Support Groups offer individuals who share a common identifying characteristic or interest with a place to connect and share resources
Below is a list of Support Group contacts by state. Support Group Leaders and contact information will be shared here when available.
State/Area | Contact | Phone numbers | |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Shellie Gruenwald Dana Busby | oipac8@yahoo.com | (850) 496-2626 (334) 216-2259 |
Arizona | Barbara Hicks Lauri Alexander | oifromaz@gmail.com lauri@digitalswirl.com | |
California (Northern) | Bill Scarberry Anastasia Scarberry Beth Gero | ncoisg@yahoo.com abgero@sbcglobal.net | (916) 955-0978 (916) 474-9073 (925) 516-6439 |
California (Southern) | Michelle Hofhine | mahofhine@gmail.com | (805) 484-8723 |
Connecticut | Sharon Werner | sharonlwerner@yahoo.com | (860) 647-8095 |
Colorado | Christina Carney | christinalcarney@gmail.com | (970) 964-4250 |
Florida (Tampa) | Susie Wilson - support group leader Gail Bunker - support group leader Shellie Gruenwald - contact | oislw@aol.com gbunker1@aol.com | (239) 482-6892 (813) 657-0049 (850) 969-0006 |
Florida (Southern) | Missy Monokian | missymonokianministries@comcast.net | (305) 528-2336 |
Florida (Broward and Palm Beach County) | Michele Burka Amie Ludwig | Mishib69@gmail.com amieludwig1@yahoo.com | 954-547-2344 (214) 334-9683 |
Georgia | Anne Smith Lindsey van der Klei Sharon Mutnick Aimee Strickland | annesmithrn@aol.com lindslang@gmail.com aimeestrcklnd@yahoo.com | (770) 715-3051 (770) 296-9391 |
Idaho | Trisha Taylor | (208) 969-0791 | |
Illinois | Jean Grys Mary Rozema | grysmom@yahoo.com merozema@comcast.net | (309) 353-4988 (815) 463-0687 |
Iowa | Joan Jacobs Sola Moffett Robin and Jerome Hawco Kyle Thompson | jfjacobs48@hotmail.com dsc3moff@yahoo.com jhawco@rogers.com suevankt@gmail.com | (641) 777-7055 (641) 590-5265 (641) 903-6393 (641)-420-8050 |
Kentucky | Cheryl Pena Angie Skaggs | Calli1980@aol.com yorkiemom.aws.@gmail.com | (859) 744-3679 (270) 860-7746 |
Kansas | Susie Gibson Stephanie Guin | svgibson1@mybluelight.com guinsteph@yahoo.com | (816) 650-6344 (913) 486-9080 |
Massachusetts (South Shore) | Cheryl Manduca | disneyfanatic4eva@gmail.com | (508) 292-0562 |
Michigan | Kim Peck | creativekim1117@comcast.net | (517) 881-3240 |
Minnesota | Erin DeBlieck | erinchad@myclearwave.net | (507) 931-3454 |
Missouri | Susan Wright Jennifer Fischer Stephanie Guin | sewright03@yahoo.com jlfischer@live.com guinsteph@yahoo.com | (636) 931-5607 (417) 845-8105 (417) 592-3117(cell) (913) 541-4770 |
Montana | Karrie Levanen | klevanen@gmail.com | (406) 471-4605 |
New Jersey | Ricky Britner Jr. JoAnn Berkenbush | oirickybritnerjr@gmail.com jbcowoi@juno.com | (304) 261-9199 |
New Mexico | Curtiss Wilson | oiersofnm@gmail.com | (505) 750-8207 |
North Carolina | Ray Rogers Naveen KV Muralidharan | ray@capefear.net naveenspec@gmail.com | (910) 392-7778 (919) 534-5078 |
Ohio | Renee Riegel Cyndi Ashland Rena Sorensen-Burnworth | bzymomma4@aol.com cyndiashland@aol.com rsburnworth@yahoo.com | (937) 830-2020 (513) 467-9588 (513) 673-3878 |
Ohio (Northern) | Les & Erin Szavuly | eszavuly@lourdes.edu | (419) 824-3685 |
Ohio (SE) | Cassandra Gililland | cassi777@gmail.com | (304) 840-9660 |
Oregon | Shannon Parker Julie Schlafle | shannonfinleyparker@gmail.com jschlafle@yahoo.com | (503) 881-6240 (503) 285-2283 |
PA (Pittsburgh) | Chaz Kellem Nikki Watson | chazkellem@yahoo.com Info@nikkiwatson.love | (412) 913-6357 |
Rhode Island | Diana Johnson Sue Kortick | strongertogether.oi.connected@gmail.com Skortick@lifespan.org | (401) 444-5794 |
Texas (Central) Texas (Wise County) Texas (Houston) | Debbie Wiederhold Courtney Arant Lauren Miller Jocelyn Gomez | deb.wiederhold@gmail.com oigroupofwisecountytexas@gmail.com lauren.houstonOI@gmail.com | (512) 791-2292 (713) 562-5227 |
Texas (Dallas) | Molly Lyke Elise Russell | mollylyke@hotmail.com | (214) 733-3288 (817) 577-0056 |
Utah | Angie Livingston | (801) 536-3649 | |
Virginia - Tidewater | John Crandley | john@pwcattorneys.com | (757) 477-6023 |
Washington | Diane Wysocki | wysocki.diane@hotmail.com | (206) 713-7208 |
West Virginia | Wendy Barb | wendyshiflett@hotmail.com | |
Wisconsin | Jennifer Reese Kathy Shine Daniel Shine | thereeses@wi.rr.com | (262) 646-3887 (414) 383-4777 (414) 383-4777 |