Southern California Support Groups
Support Groups provide a forum to share feelings, concerns, information, as well as a place to offer peer support and encouragement. Solicitations or research projects are not conducted at support group meetings.
Support groups often feature speakers specializing in scleroderma or related topics. To find out information about upcoming speakers or meeting topics, please contact the support group leader or chapter office.
These schedules are subject to change. Before attending a group for the first time, please call to verify date and time. Groups are free of charge and open to everyone, including patients, caregivers, family and friends.
Click a link to jump below to view more information about one or our support groups:
Bakersfield/Kern
County | Camarillo/Ventura County | Central Coast | Crescenta Valley/Pasadena
Imperial County/El Centro | Inland Empire/San Bernardino | Los Angeles | Orange
County
Palm Desert | San Diego/Encinitas | San Diego/Mission Valley | San Fernando
Valley/Sherman Oaks
Santa Barbara | Whittier/San Gabriel | San Gabriel Valley
Support Group Announcements and Updates
Please visit our Facebook page for announcements, changes, alerts, etc. www.facebook.com/sclerodermasocal
Bakersfield
Kern County Support Group
Meetings are on Saturdays, 10:00am to 12:00pm, Every other Month (no meeting
in July)
Location: The Office of Timothy M. Osborn at: 2200 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Contact: Stephen Elrod
Phone: 661-201-1759
Email: stephenelrod168@yahoo.com
2019 Schedule:
Jan12
Mar 23 -Speaker - Andrew Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern California
Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina Burger, our Patient Services Director, return
to share the results of their 2018 support group visits and the ideas that grew
from it. Come hear their vision and goals and give them our ideas about how
THEY can help YOU!
May 18
Jul 27
Sep 7
Nov 9
Camarillo/Ventura County
Ventura County Support Group
Saturday, 10:00am to 12:00pm.
Location: ACE Charter High School (at Camarillo Airport)
570 Airport Way
Camarillo, CA 93010
Contact: Robin D'Angelo
Phone: 805-701-9467
Email: robind318@gmail.com
or
Contact: Arline Wetter
Phone: 805-987-8236
Email: ajwetter@msn.com
2019 Schedule:
Jan 12 - Speaker- Andrew Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern
California Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina Burger, our Patient Services
Director, return to share the results of their 2018 support group visits and
the ideas that grew from it. Come hear their vision and goals and give them our
ideas about how THEY can help YOU!
Mar 9 - Santa Barbara Stepping Out To Cure Scleroderma
May 11
Sep 14
Nov 9
Central Coast
Central Coast Support Group
(Servicing Northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County)
Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm -Every
other Month-
Location: Saint John's Lutheran
Church
959
Valley Rd, Arroyo Grande, CA
Contact: Jennifer
Wood
Phone: 805-878-6261
Email: sclerodermawarrior2021@yahoo.com
or
Contact: Pat Muran (
Habla Español)
Phone: 805-459-2362
Email: pat.ccssg@gmail.com
2019 Schedule:
Mar 16 - Terri Bledsoe, MSCC will be discussing "How to Cope With Living With a Chronic Disease".
May 18 - Keith Harband from NewEnamel will educate us on "Your Teeth and and Auto-immune Disease: Where dry mouth results in significant, on-going decay issues and what you can do to treat these symptoms effectively".
Sep 21
Nov 16 - Speaker: Dr. Daniel Furst will give a talk on: "GI Involvement in Scleroderma and What to Do About it"
Crescenta Valley/Pasadena
Crescenta Valley Support Group
Saturday, 10 am to 12pm (see schedule below)
Location: USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, 1812 Verdugo
Blvd, Glendale, CA, 91208
Council Room C/D, 4th floor, behind the gift shop
The hospital is on a hill. Drive up
hill from traffic light entrance, past the Emergency, go up hill a small way
and turn
right into public parking lot. Enter from parking level. You will be on the 4
th floor. Go past reception. Room in corridor
on the right.
Contact: Alejandra Serrano
Phone: 213-245-7439
Email: sclerowarrior18@gmail.com
2019 Schedule:
Mar 16 - Speaker- Andrew Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern
California Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina Burger, our Patient Services
Director, return to share the results of their 2018 support group visits and
the ideas that grew from it. Come hear their vision and goals and give them our
ideas about how THEY can help YOU!
May 11 - Keith Harband from NewEnamel will educate us on "Your Teeth and and Auto-immune Disease: Where dry mouth results in significant, on-going decay issues and what you can do to treat these symptoms effectively".
July 13 -
Sep 14 - Speaker- Lisa Carver from Healthy Hemp will educate us on the medical benefits and use of Hemp/CBD oil in people living with autoimmune diseases.
Nov 9
Imperial County/El Centro
Imperial County Support Group
Call for next meeting date and location
Contact: Debi Gray
Phone: 760-554-4942
Email: ivsclerogroup2017@yahoo.com.
Inland Empire/San Bernardino
Riverside Support Group
10am to 12pm
Location: Arthritis Center of Riverside, 11725 Slate Ave. #100, Riverside,
CA 92505
Contact: Lisa Parks
Phone: 951-288-0728
Contact: Christine Haddad
Phone: 909-754-5934
Email: iesclerogroup@gmail.com
2019 Schedule:
Jan 19
Mar 16
April 20 - Come join us for a Potluck at Christine's home, with great food and even greater company! Bring you favorite dish! Location: (29848 Live Oak Canyon Rd, Redlands, CA 92373)
May18 - Andrew Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern California
Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina Burger, our Patient Services Director, return
to share the results of their 2018 support group visits and the ideas that grew
from it. Come hear their vision and goals and give them our ideas about how
THEY can help YOU! Location: (Arthritis Center of Riverside, 11725 Slate Ave. #100, Riverside, CA 92505)
Summer Break
(August Scleroderma Patient Education Day at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
in San Bernardino)
Sep 21 - **NEW** Location: The Canyon Club 36189 Champion Drive, Beaumont, Ca, 92223)
Nov 16
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Support Group
10am – 12pm
Location: Scleroderma Foundation SoCal Office
8929 S Sepulveda Blvd Suite 412, Los Angeles, CA, 90045
Contact: Valerie
Goodman
Phone: 310-890-2616
Email: daleval@aol.com
Contact:
Tina Burger
Phone: 310-699-7290
Email: tburger@scleroderma.org
2019
Schedule:
Apr 13
- Speaker - Andrew Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern California
Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina Burger, our Patient Services Director, return
to share the results of their 2018 support group visits and the ideas that grew
from it. Come hear their vision and goals and give them our ideas about how
THEY can help YOU!
June 8 - Speaker- Lisa Carver from Healthy Hemp will educate us on the medical benefits and use of Hemp/CBD oil in people living with autoimmune diseases.
Summer Break (August Scleroderma Patient Education Day at
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center)
Oct 19
Dec 14
Orange County
The Orange County Scleroderma Support
Group
Meetings are held on the SECOND Saturday of alternate
months, 11:30am to 2pm,
Location: Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, 17100 Euclid
Ave, Fountain Valley.
We're meeting in the Saltzer Room.
Park on the Euclid Avenue side and enter under the big canopy marked
“Emergency.” Ask the guard or receptionist for directions to the Saltzer Room.
Contact: Bonnie Copeland
Phone: 714-606- 6059
Email: bonmail@pacbell.net
Contact: Roberta Hines
Phone: 562-745-8075
Email: hines.roberta50@gmail.com
2019 Schedule:
Jan 12 - Nourishment in
Scleroderma. Janelle Smith, R.N., R.D., of the UCLA Scleroderma Center
discuss how to eat, but with special understanding and emphasis on the unique
needs of Scleroderma patients.
Mar 9 - Meditation, Stress
Relief and Chronic Conditions. Learn how mediation can help improve
your outlook and your health! Join Vince McCullough, longtime Mediation, Yoga
and Tai Chi instructor for a participative workshop.
May 11 - Andrew Emmett,
Executive Director of the Southern California Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina
Burger, our Patient Services Manager, return to share the results of their 2018
support group visits and the ideas that grew from it. Come hear their vision
and goals and give them our ideas about how THEY can help YOU!
Jul 13 - Elizabeth Volkmann, M.D. of the UCLA Scleroderma Clinic will tell us about her research on gut bacteria and diet...and play “Ask the Doctor” with us. Bring your questions!
Sep 14 - What’s New in Scleroderma? Bonnie, Roberta and other members who attended the National Patient Education Conference in Chicago report on lots of news and good swag they collected from vendors.
Scleroderma Journeys – Roberta speaks about her experiences with GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease, really bad heartburn), how it affected her lungs and quality of life, and what she did about it. She’ll discuss (Fundoplication, the surgery she had years ago, how she researched and qualified the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure she recently underwent and the doctor who performed it, the lessons she learned by listening to her doctors and her body, and her next steps. Spoiler alert!!! She feels MUCH better since the surgery!
Nov 9 – Elaine Furst, R.N. will lead an interactive session on How to “Train” Your Doctor.Come hear how a real professional handles medical interactions and share the techniques, ideas, suggestions, formats or anything else that help you get along with doctors and obtain the best medical care.
Dec 7 – Tentative date of our Annual Year-End Celebration with the Whittier/San Gabriel and Los Angeles Support Groups. Last year’s event at the Four Seasons Las Vegas Style Buffet in Cerritos was so successful that we anticipate having it there again! Family, friends, support people and everyone else are welcome for an afternoon of great food, fun, gifts, prizes, networking and companionship!
Palm Desert
Desert Area Support Group
We are looking for a new support group leader. If you are interested in
leading a support group in this area, please contact Tina Burger tburger@scleroderma.org. No experience
needed; we will help train and get things started.
Contact: Tina Burger
Phone: 424-227-6475
Email: tburger@scleroderma.org
San Diego/Encinitas
Encinitas Support Group
Saturday, 10:00am to 12:00pm, Every other month
Location: Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park
Drive, Encinitas, 92024
Contact: Kelly Clemeshaw
Phone: 760-855-3449
Email: kclemeshaw@gmail.com
2019 Schedule:
Feb 2
Apr 6
Jun 1 - Speaker- Andrew Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern
California Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina Burger, our Patient Services
Director, return to share the results of their 2018 support group visits and
the ideas that grew from it. Come hear their vision and goals and give them our
ideas about how THEY can help YOU!
Aug 3
Oct 5
Dec 7 - Joint Party with Mission
Valley
San Diego/Mission Valley
Mission Valley Support Group
Saturday, 10:00am to 12:00pm, Every
other month
Location: Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway, San Diego, 92108
Contact: Susan Okuno
Phone: 619-246-9393
Email: sokuno1@yahoo.com
2019 Schedule:
Jan 5
Mar 2
May 4 - Speaker- Andrew
Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern California Scleroderma Foundation,
and Tina Burger, our Patient Services Director, return to share the results of
their 2018 support group visits and the ideas that grew from it. Come hear
their vision and goals and give them our ideas about how THEY can help YOU!
July 6 - Picnic
Sep 7
Nov 2
Dec 7 - Party
San Fernando
Valley/Sherman Oaks
San Fernando Valley Support Group
Sunday, 11:00am to 1pm,
Every other Month (2nd Sunday)
Location: Sherman Oaks Hospital, Doctors Conference Room
4929 Van Nuys Blvd, Sherman Oaks 91403
Map and directions
Contact: Kelly Ryan
Phone: 818-974-2428
Email: Kelly@kellycryan.com
2019
Schedule:
Jan 13 - Video
Screening: Dr. Maureen Mayes Responds to Your Frequently Asked Questions -
Maureen D. Mates, M.D., M.P.H./ Followed By Open Discussion
Mar 10 - Speaker- Andrew Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern
California Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina Burger, our Patient Services
Director, return to share the results of their 2018 support group visits and
the ideas that grew from it. Come hear their vision and goals and give them our
ideas about how THEY can help YOU!
May 5 - Pre-Mother's Day Celebration- Pot Luck/ Open Talk - Topic or Theme / Finger & Hand Mobility Crafts
May 12 -Cancelled
Jul 14
Sep 8 - Video Screening: Dry Eyes, Dry Mouth: Sicca Syndrome versus
Sjogren's Syndrome- Dr. Philip Clements, M.D., M.P.H.
Nov 10 - Thanksgiving Celebration- Pot Luck/ Guest Speaker
Santa
Barbara
Santa Barbara Support Group
Meetings are on Saturdays, 10:00am to 12pm
Location: Beneflex Insurance Office, 101 W. Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, 93101
(corner of Anapamu and Chapala)
Contact: Elizabeth Duprey
Phone: 408-829-2718
Email:dupreyeliz@yahoo.com
Contact: Cindy
Cattaneo
Phone: (805)895-7384
Email: ccattaneo123@gmail.com
2019
Schedule:
Oct 12
Dec 7 - Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Sager, Pulmonogist
2020 Schedule:
Apr 4
Jun 6
Whittier/San Gabriel
Whittier/San Gabriel Support Group
10:00am to 12pm
Location: Presbyterian Intercommunity
Hospital
12401 Washington Blvd.
Whittier, CA 90602
Contact: Penni LaVoot
Phone: 714-871-8580
Email:plavoot@gmail.com
2019 Schedule:
Jan 12 - Medical
Marijuana. Kandice Hawes of NORML, the National Organization to
Reform Marijuana Laws, and Kent Crowley, a Doctor of Pharmacy with postgraduate
credentials in metabolism and functional medicine, will talk about marijuana’s
medical uses, delivery methods, and legal environment, with special
emphasis on patients with Scleroderma and other autoimmune diseases.
Apr 13 - How to use the computer when your hands don't work! speaker:
Kevin Daughery, Rehabilitation Engineer
Aug 10 - Speaker- Andrew Emmett, Executive Director of the Southern
California Scleroderma Foundation, and Tina Burger, our Patient Services
Director, return to share the results of their 2018 support group visits and
the ideas that grew from it. Come hear their vision and goals and give them our
ideas about how THEY can help YOU!
Oct 12 - TBD
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San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley Peer Support Group
10:00am
to 12pm
Location: Please call for meeting dates and location.
Contact: Catherine Baca
Phone: 626-232-8449
Email: MyLivingSpecialist@gmail.com
2019
Schedule:
TBA
