"Life is hard and so is parenting," said Ashley Joiner, who has two teens in the Elizabethtown Area School District. "We don't have to do this alone."

With that in mind, Joiner has created It Takes a Village, a support group for parents of struggling teens. The group will hold its first meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The Lodge at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 121 Mechanics Alley, Elizabethtown.

Joiner got the idea for the support group as a participant in a self-expression and leadership program. "Part of the program is we are to create a community project that we are passionate about and enroll our community members into participating and ultimately becoming leaders in the project," she said. "I have two teenagers in my home, one of whom has struggled tremendously with mental health. It's been a rough road for our family. I wanted a support group so badly, and there was nothing locally."

Joiner said she understands where parents of struggling teens are coming from and believes everyone can benefit from support. "I don't want other parents to suffer alone," she noted. "I isolated myself and was somewhat fearful to share with some family and friends what was happening out of shame, like I did something wrong. We were not created to do life alone, and we need community."

Each meeting of the support group will be peer-led with occasional guest speakers or professionals to guide the conversation, Joiner said. "The intent is that this will be a place where parents can be together in person to talk about what is happening in their lives, a safe space to give and receive support," she explained. "Research shows that support groups provide healthy parenting skills, an increased sense of empowerment and a feeling of belonging."

Joiner said it's important for parents to know they have an outlet. "Our world stops when our kids are struggling," she stated. "We isolate ourselves, and if you don't take care of yourself, you can't properly take care of your kids. A support group like this is another form of self-care. You can breathe here. You can say what's on your mind or you can sit back and listen. ... Navigating adolescence is tricky, so equipping myself and other parents in our community with support and resources to be able to guide our kids on how to safely navigate all the heaviness in their worlds is really the ultimate goal here."

The Feb. 9 meeting will feature the Elizabethtown Middle and High School response counselor as the guest facilitator. Other upcoming meeting dates are Thursdays, Feb. 23 and March 9. For additional meeting dates and updates, visit http://www.facebook.com/ittakesavillageetown. For more information or to help with the support group, contact Joiner at 717-809-8281 or ittakesavillageetown@gmail.com.