Future Fund Awards Grant to Contact

The Future Fund of Central New York has awarded a $5,000 grant to Contact Community Services for "Living with Teens," a parenting education and support program.

"Living with Teens" will bring parents/caregivers together to learn about:

• teen health and disease prevention
• mental and emotional health issues
• adolescent development
• communication, conflict resolution and relationship skills.

The four-session workshop will be offered four times a year at a central location. It will be open to the public as well as on a referral basis from the Probation Department’s Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) program.

According to Alis Sefick, parenting support trainer for Contact, "We believe that parent education is a key component. By educating and supporting parents, we are strengthening families and helping youth succeed."

There are no other local programs that offer ongoing support and education to parents of teen, according to Alis. She says it is also one of only a few local parent support and education programs that are collaborative efforts. Agencies involved in "Living with Teens" include the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth, The Onondaga County Probation Department, the Prevention Partners for Youth Development, Contact Community Services and the Syracuse YMCA . Participants will receive free trial memberships to the YMCA.

The Future Fund is a "giving circle" founded by young professionals in the Central New York area. Giving circles provide members with an opportunity to pool their charitable gifts and collaborate to have a greater impact with their giving. It is a program of the Central New York Community Foundation.