Westford Parent Connection

Events

The Westford Parent Connection brings speakers to town throughout the year to address a variety of topics relevant to children's social and emotional development.

Basic event information: All Westford Parent Connection events begin at 7:00 p.m., unless indicated otherwise. Tickets are available in advance at the Roudenbush Community Center, 65 Main Street, until noon the day of each event. After 12:00 p.m., tickets must be purchased at the door. If school is closed the day of the event due to snow, then the event will be cancelled/rescheduled.

2009– 2010

Wednesday,
March 17
Blanchard Middle School Auditorium

Building Resilience: Giving Children Roots And Wings

Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg; in partnership with the Westford Board of Health, Westford Against Substance Abuse, Emerson Hospital, and Lowell General Hospital

Tuesday, March 23
Stony Brook Middle School Auditorium

Dealing With Depression

Come watch Breaking Free From Depression, a 30-minute documentary focusing on teens struggling with depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. Sue Hanly, RN, her daughter Caroline, and Dianne Walsh, LICSW, will share their experiences and expertise.

Tuesday,
April 6
Blanchard Middle School Auditorium

The Parents We Mean To Be

Dr. Richard Weissbourd

**NEW DATE**
Wednesday,
April 15
Stony Brook Middle School Auditorium

Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive In A Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World

Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Ed.D.

Here is a brief look at the events the WPC has brought to Westford in the past:

2009– 2010

Helping Kids Thrive: Bullying Prevention

Lisa Sjostrom, Ed.M., founder and director of Helping Kids Thrive, returned to Westford to present Helping Kids Thrive: Bullying Prevention. Download the handouts.

Pressured Parents, Stressed-Out Kids: Dealing With Competition While Raising Kids

Wendy Grolnick, Ph.D.

Nutrition: Fostering A Healthy Relationship With Food

Margaret Wandrey, clinical nutrition manager, Lowell General Hospital; Dr. Joan Eagan, pediatrician, Pediatrics West; and Kim Humphrey, health and wellness teacher, Blanchard Middle School.

Mad...Sad...Bad! Helping Young Children Deal With Strong Feelings

Deborah Weinstock-Savoy, Ph.D. returned to discuss a major developmental challenge for toddlers and preschoolers.

Patch Adams - What Parents And Children Can Do Together To Heal Our Healthcare System

The Good Doctor, founder of the Gesundheit Institute, and leading light in the field of healthcare shares his powerful message of the importance of caring.

Responding vs. Reacting To Your Kids: Key Principles and Techniques For Effective Strength-Based Parenting

Charlie Appelstein, MSW; discussed ways for parents to keep their cool and respond appropriately to their children.

Cyber Safety

Talking To Your Kids About Sex

Sally Fogel, M.Ed., AASECT-certified sexuality educator. Ms. Fogel gave parents the tools they need to have an ongoing conversation about sexuality, relationships, values, and more.

Adolescent Psychology - The Parent Version

Joani Geltman, a therapist, parenting consultant, and coach for more than 30 years, is an expert in child development and parent-teen relationships. Her presentation covered the physical, cognitive, and social/emotional changes that occur in adolescence. She shared her extensive experience with helpful advice, practical techniques, and a refreshing sense of humor.

Double Jeopardy: Underage Drinking And Marijuana

Marilyn Belmonte, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist and Drug Abuse Recognition Specialist demonstrated just how prevalent alcohol and marijuana use are in young people, and why kids turn to drugs, what the warning signs are, and what parents can do to keep the lines of communication open and keep their kids safe.

Dealing With Depression

Join Sue Hanly, RN, NCSN, and other members of the the Westford Mental Health Collaborative featured a 30-minute documentary, Breaking Free From Depression, which showcased real teens who have struggled with depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. In addition, a short video explaining the SOS (Signs Of Suicide) Program was shown.

2008– 2009

Raising Financially Responsible Kids

Kathleen Dollard, certified financial planner with Nashoba Financial Planning, gave parents the tools they need to ensure that their children are financially responsible.

Birth Order And Its Impact On Parenting

Jack Agati has more than 25 years experience as a speaker and trainer, in both personal and professional development.

Get Educated About Keeping Your Children Safe

This one-hour dynamic presentation included facts on strangers, abusive relationships, acquaintance rape, and pedophiles, common misconceptions about who is at risk and from whom. Parents learned techniques for sharing the vital information that they learn with their children. For more information, please contact Debbie Carter at dbrcarter@comcast.net.

Enjoy Your College-Bound Adolescent!

Kathyrn Yamartino, Ph.D., has practical, compassionate advice on how to balance the necessity of letting go with the desire to stay connected in an appropriate way.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Results Forum

The community was invited to discuss the results of this school year’s survey.

Anger Management For Parents

Donna Shea, director of the Peter Pan Center in Harvard, MA, focused on parents’ anger and the need to manage our own anger appropriately.

Parenting As A Team: That’s Not How I was Raised!

Deborah Weinstock-Savoy, Ph.D., presented a look at how couples’ approaches to parenting can be very different.

Social Adjustments In Middle School

Guidance counselors from Blanchard and Stony Brook were on hand to lead informal discussions regarding social issues in middle school.

Parenting Strategies For Children With Weak Executive Functioning

Dr. Ann Helmus, clinical neuropsychologist; download the presentation.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: Let's Talk About It

Producer Jeanne Blake, former WBZ-TV medical reporter, led an informative discussion addressing depression, anxiety, and stress among young people.

Study Skills

Liz Benstead, M.Ed., academic support coach at Blanchard Middle School, outlined strategies to help parents help their children be more organized and learn vital homework and study skills.

2007– 2008

The Pressured Child

Dr. Michael Thompson
www.michaelthompson-phd.com/

Social Smart Kids

Nadine Briggs of socialsmartkids.com

Raising Resilient, Self-Reliant Kids
Sara Lane

www.parentsprepare.com

Anger Management

Donna Shea

Friend Or Foe? Sibling Rivalry
Deborah Weinstock-Savoy

This event was for parents of elementary students.

Health Curriculum Overview, John Lyons

www.westford.mec.edu/wa/health/

I Never Would Have Talked To My Parents That Way

Dr. Anthony Wolf

Helping Kids Thrive: Bullying Prevention

Lisa Sjostrom
www.helpingkidsthrive.org/

Generation RX

Marilyn Belmonte
www.drugabuserecognition.com

Playful Parenting

Dr. Lawrence Cohen
www.playfulparenting.com

Study Strategies and Homework Help

Joan Finger, an educational consultant and tutor in Bolton.

2006 – 2007

Social Adjustments In Middle School

Blanchard and Stony Brook guidance counselors

Internet Safety And Families

Beth Fredericks, Families First

Bully Out!

Doug Wilhelm, Author Of The Revealers

Teens And Depression: A Panel Discussion

Dr. Joan Eagan, Pediatrician, Pediatrics West
Dr. Kayoko Kifuji, Medical Director, Psychiatry, Tufts-NEMC
Mark Lucey, Director, WA Guidance Department
Molly Salans, LICSW, Transitions Counseling Center

Too Sexy, Too Soon: Sexualization in the Media

Diane Levin, professor at Wheelock College and expert on the negative impact of the media on children

Perpetrators And Pedophiles:
Recognizing And Preventing Child Abuse

Meredith Trueblood, education director of the Rape Crisis Center of Greater Lowell

Too Much Of A Good Thing:
Raising Kids Of Character In An Indulgent Age

Dr. Dan Kindlon

2005 – 2006

Recognizing And Preventing Child Abuse

Meredith Trueblood, Rape Crisis Center of Greater Lowell

Discipline With Respect

Jodi Wilinski Hill, Parenting Resource Associates

Social Adjustments In Middle School