WILLIAMSBURG — The Virginia Foundation For Healthy Youth (VFHY) has awarded Bacon Street Youth and Family Services (Bacon Street) a three-year $150,000 grant to help facilitate the “Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14” (SFP 10-14) throughout the Hampton Roads Peninsula.
Bacon Street was founded in Williamsburg in 1971 and provides counseling, prevention programs, and community education to adolescents, young adults, and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.
SFP 10-14 is a free seven-week class designed to teach families effective ways of communicating while reducing conflict and preventing substance abuse.
The program is open to any families with one or more children ages 10 to 14, though older and younger siblings are welcome too.
During the class, families are taught how to identify challenges in communication. Then families are divided into separate groups of parents and youth. Each group will work on the skills they learned with their peers. At the end of each session, families will reunite and practice what they learned.
“Parents want to protect their children, but it’s challenging. Youth need skills to help them be independent and resist the peer pressure that leads to risky behaviors like smoking or vaping,” said Allison Jarvis, Bacon Street’s Director of Prevention Programs. “By offering SFP 10-14 and teaching communication and conflict resolution at the family level, we can intervene at a pivotal time in kids’ lives.”
Bacon Street will offer SFP 10-14 every Thursday starting on Oct. 14 through Dec. 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Botetourt Elementary School, 6361 Main Street in Gloucester.
To register, visit the Bacon Street website.
