A new support and information group for adoptive and potentially-adoptive parents has been formed in southeast Saskatchewan.

"We hope to give people hope and ideas," said co-organizer Linda Rudachyk. John and Val Borgen, and Kevin and Annette Lohse of Weyburn are also organizing the group for families in the Weyburn, Estevan, and Carlyle areas.

The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21. at 7:30 p.m. at the Family Place in Weyburn.

"(The organizers) have all adopted children and people know what we've been through. We all get calls fairly regularly from people looking for help or advice," said Rudachyk in an interview.

She said they hope the group will provide options for people other than the long waiting lists facing them through government adoption. "One group we really want to hear from is the people who can't have birth children." They often feel hopeless when they find out, and start to look at alternatives, she said.

"Maybe we can bring in a lawyer to talk about private adoptions," she said. Or, since one of the organizing couples turned to the international arena for an adoption, experts might be available to talk on those possibilities, she said.

"The group will be participant-driven," she said. "Whatever topics and issues the participants want, we'll try to organize." If people have issues around adopted children finding their birth parents, the group might be able to provide information and support, she said.

No other local organization provides private support and information on adoption right now, but Saskatchewan Social Services does make available an adoption social worker in Weyburn. Rudachyk said the group will work closely with Social Services.