Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 to be offered in Fairfield this fall

This fall, the Fairfield Middle School and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Jefferson County are partnering to offer Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth ages 10-14. This research-based program can help families learn to manage emotions, set goals, avoid peer pressure, make better decisions, and create better relationships. Parents want to protect their children, but it’s challenging. Youth need skills to help them resist the peer pressure that leads to risky behaviors. Research shows that protective parenting improves family relationships and decreases the level of family conflict, contributing to lower levels of substance use.

This program is being offered at Fairfield Middle School on Mondays from October 13 to November 24 at no cost to families. A meal is provided each week at 5:30 p.m., with the program from 6-8 PM. During the first hour of the program, parents and caregivers will meet separately from the youth to watch videos and have group discussions. They will learn how to show love while setting limits, how to listen to their child, and how to help family members show appreciation to each other. The youth will meet for the first hour to play interactive learning games and participate in hands-on activities. During the second hour of the program, parents and youth will meet together for activities that reflect on their learning and discussion from the first hour of the program to increase family bonding, build positive communication skills, and solve problems together.

If your family is interested in participating in this program, please contact either Jay Thompson jay.thompson@fairfieldsfuture.org or Bethany LaRose bethany.larose@fairfieldsfuture.org at Fairfield Middle School or Courtney Burkhalter at the Extension Office at 641-472-4166 or cburk@iastate.edu. Please also reach out to them with any questions you may have. This program is brought to you by Fairfield Middle School, Jefferson County Extension, and Jefferson County Opioid Funding.

All families have strengths. This program will help your family become even stronger!