The fall season is an exciting time for both parents and children. A new school year launches, which means new teachers, new expectations, and—if they’re making the leap from middle to high school—a different school.
Kids can experience a lot of mixed emotions when a new school year begins. Excitement blends with nervousness and trepidation—a potent mixture that can lead to poor decision-making.
Andrea Schulz-Ward and Dibby Olson of Chaffee County Family & Youth Initiatives present $7,500 in grant awards from the 2021 Chaffee County Youth Alliance positive youth development grant program. Representatives from grant recipients (l to r) Salida Circus, Ramps and Alleys Clubhouse, Boys and Girls Club of Chaffee County, Full Circle Restorative Justice, and elevateHER joined together in Riverside Park on April 30, 2021.
For the past two years, families have been in the midst of managing the COVID-19 pandemic and student’s education. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to keep the lines of communication open and without judgment.
Here in Chaffee County, Family and Youth Initiatives (FYI) builds strengths and reduces risks for youth, families, and neighborhoods by providing evidence-based programs to build a strong community.
FYI Program Manager Andrea Schulz-Ward has begun a series of monthly newsletters intended to keep families informed of programs and resources available. This month the highlights are:
Parent Workshops
Part of the FYI Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP), Parent Workshops begin with a meal before engaging in activities to foster parenting skills, like discussions, role-playing, and facilitator-led lessons and activities.
Parent Workshops run Tuesdays from October through November, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The current workshop focuses on Caregivers and their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Register here.
For more information about the parent workshops, Email or call Caroline Brackmann at 719-530-2535.
Forward Together
For teens starting middle school, school doesn’t just mark the start of a new school year. It’s a whole new phase of life, one filled with unexpected mental, emotional and physical changes.
To prepare, Schulz-Ward recommends this post from the team at Forward Together with suggestions for resources and advice centered on remaining open, gaining perspective, and developing better communication skills.
Chaffee FYI Mentor Program
For residents who sign up to become youth mentors, you’re not just signing up to help a child in need of support and guidance. You’re also strengthening your own active listening skills, building your own sense of community, and gaining a new, enriched perspective on life.
To learn more about the FYI Mentor Program follow this link.
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