I think the idea of a support group is a good idea. But I think managing it in small steps is very important. Many people are intimidated by a support group because there are other people there. So possibly incorporating the telephone support in there as a start might be good, or use of the internet like through DS.

I think a personal friend, to help them get out, go shopping, and walking around with, then eventually meet up with another couple (another personal friend and shy person) and go out together doing things and then work up to a group of six then just the 3 shy people together, and then get together with other shy people who went through the same thing. then maybe the original shy people can help someone, and it can just keep continuing

I like the support group idea a lot but I was on another board and they were talking about sponors( you know one person that you could always count) I love that idea
Telephone support would great but expensive unless you formed a group and got a 1-800 number that all the members helped pay for or could get a company to sponor the group