How We Choose What To Include
Caregiver Connection is not a directory of everything related to substance use in Pennsylvania. It's a curated collection of resources focused on one thing: support for caregivers and family members.
What we include
Every resource on this site is reviewed by our team before it's listed. To be included, a resource must:
Support family members directly — parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, and other family members navigating a loved one's substance use. This includes support groups, peer networks, grief programs, educational resources, trainings, and community organizations.
Be relevant to Pennsylvania — either based in the state or specifically serving Pennsylvania families. The Resource Catalogue also includes national and virtual options, because not every community has something local.
Be currently active and accessible — operating, reachable, and providing the services described. We prioritize resources that are free or low-cost and don't require referrals or complicated enrollment.
We do not accept paid placements. Inclusion on this site is not an endorsement.
What we don't include
Comprehensive treatment listings. This site is about support for you, not treatment directories for your loved one. For that, see Shatterproof Treatment Atlas or SAMHSA's National Helpline.
For-profit intervention or mediation firms. We can't independently verify their practices, and families have reported negative experiences with predatory providers.
General grief or mental illness support groups. Groups not specific to substance use loss are generally not in our Resource Catalogue. Research — including interviews with Pennsylvania families — shows that families grieving an overdose or addiction-related death can face stigma in general grief settings. For more information on general grief groups, see Grief Share and National Alliance of Mental Illness for virtual or local support.
Help us keep this accurate
Resources change. Organizations close, shift schedules, or expand services. We update this site regularly, but we also welcome feedback from those who use this site to help us stay current.
If you need immediate help
This site does not provide crisis support. If you or someone you know needs help now, please reach out using the information below.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 — free, confidential, available 24/7.
PA Get Help Now Hotline
Call 1-800-662-4357 — free, confidential, bilingual (English/Spanish).
Medical Emergency
Call 911.