North Reading CIT Offers Free Parenting Workshops

This spring, the Guiding Good Choices parenting program will again be offered as a free workshop series to the North Reading Community. Through a grant provided by Winchester Hospital, the Community Impact Team’s Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition is hosting this interactive program open to all parents, grandparents, and caregivers of children.

“Caregivers matter to kids,” said Drug-Free Communities Director Amy Luckiewicz. “The stronger the caregiver skills the caregivers are, the stronger the kids are. Science shows us it matters.” According to research by Dr. J. David Hawkins and Dr. Richard F. Catalano of the University of Washington, research has shown that when children are bonded to their caregivers, peers, and schools in safe and supportive ways, they are less likely to initiate substance use and other high-risk behaviors.

Program Coordinator Christie Perrone explained, “The workshops focus on open and honest discussions. The facilitators really strive to provide a confidential atmosphere.” Participants will learn specific strategies to help their children avoid substance use and other high-risk behaviors, how to set clear family boundaries, practice skills to strengthen family bonds, help their children develop healthy behaviors, and increase protective factors. Professional guest speakers provide targeted education in youth substance use trends.

The series topics include:

March 30th Workshop 1: Family Fundamentals and Values

April 6th Workshop 2: Facing Family Conflicts and Risk Management

April 13th Workshop 3: Setting Your Family Up for Success

April 27th Workshop 4: Youth Substance Use and Mental Health 101

The program is facilitated by North Reading Youth Services Director Jennifer Ford and Youth Services Committee Member Jason Slattery who have been trained in the curriculum as well as led previous workshops. The four-part series will be hosted at the Flint Memorial Library Activity room and will include dinner and a gift card raffle to all participants each week. Attending all four workshops is recommended to maximize learning.

To register for the introductory webinar or any of the program workshops, please visit www.northreadingma.gov/CIT and click on EVENTS. Please contact Christie Perrone at northreadingCIT@gmail.com, or call (978)357-5054 with any questions.