Parent Café will help build relationships

SPOONER? Small intimate conversations around building a stronger relationship with one's child will be the focus of a Parent Café from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23.

The event will be held at Washburn County Head Start, 851 Northland Dr. in Spooner.

"Feel free to bring a friend!" organizers said. "Free supper and child care provided with pre-registration."

Research from the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) and Strengthening Families of Illinois shows that when Protective Factors are present in a family, that family is stronger and those children are safer. Through Parent Cafés, parents are working to build those Protective Factors in their families.

Over the course of three evening sessions (monthly, from January through March, parents will discuss three separate themes:

Taking Care of Yourself

Being a Strong Parent

Building Strong Relationships with Your Children

The themes incorporate the Protective Factors and provide a framework for parents to relate them to their own lives.

Parents gather in small groups at individual tables to explore questions and have a discussion, which is facilitated by a Parent Host. Parent Cafés are unique in that every parent's voice is heard. The Parent Cafés are an avenue for parents to come together to talk, to listen, and to support others with stressors, worries, and challenges that many have struggled with alone.

The Parent Cafés support parents in building friendships and a strong network of families who help each other stay strong.

The Five Protective Factors include:

Be strong and flexible.

Parents need friends.

Being a great parent is part natural and part learned.

We all need help sometimes.

Parent need to help their children communicate.

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