Positive Directions and the Westport Human Services Department are teaming up to offer the

award winning Creating Lasting Family Connections Program to elementary and middle school

parents on Tuesdays or Thursdays beginning March 18 or March 20. Classes will be held at

Positive Directions 420 Post Road West and Westport Town Hall.

Many parents have discovered that their child’s transitions from grade school to middle school

and beyond can be a challenging and sometimes traumatic event for both parent and child.

Children are asked to adapt to a new environment, increased expectations, and develop a new

set of peer relationships. While many succeed effortlessly, most children need the support and

active involvement of a parent to help ease the transition and ensure that they are effectively

coping with the challenges.

Positive Directions’ award-winning parenting program, “Creating Lasting Family Connections,”

has helped parents throughout Fairfield County learn effective approaches to preventing risky

behaviors, raising resilient children and enhancing family relationships during this important

transition in their child’s life.

For the past 12 years, this program has been presented for a variety of parents in Westport and

Wilton with positive responses from participants. A choice of weekday and time is currently

being offered in Westport. Classes are available on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.

for parents of K – 4th

for parents of 5th

facilitators from Positive Directions and Westport Human Services.

graders at Westport’s Town Hall or Thursday afternoons from 1 – 2 p.m.

– 8th

grades at Positive Directions. The workshops are provided by professional

Marty Hauhuth, Executive Director of Positive Directions, says that the workshop has proven to

be effective in providing useful parenting tools for parents. “While each child faces a unique set

of challenges and opportunities, there are tools that can help prevent your child from adopting

or engaging in risky behavior that can have consequences,” says Hauhuth, “Learning effective

communication is a critical component of the workshop.”

Reservations for the Creating Lasting Family Connections workshops are limited and are

expected to fill quickly. The fee for the workshop (including materials) is $200 for registration.

Scholarships are available but limited and requests are confidential.

For more information and/or to register, contact Marty Hauhuth at

mhauhuth@positivedirections.org at 203-227-7644 or Elaine Daignault at

elained@westportct.gov.