We are excited to inform you about an upcoming opportunity for all Routt County parents Thursday, Nov. 15, at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs. For the past six months, a group of youth-serving professionals in our county have gathered to plan the second annual Parent Connection Summit.

Our goal is to make this an informative, supportive, community-building event. This full-day symposium will provide parents of children of all ages an opportunity to learn and gather tools to support their parenting efforts. The theme for the day is “the value of connecting with yourself, your family and your community.”

We are excited to have local Eddie Konold, MA, LPC, CAC II, be our keynote speaker. We will be offering three dynamic breakout sessions throughout the day from our local professionals. Topics that will be addressed are building relationships, how to talk to your child about drugs and alcohol, how stress affects your child, using positive discipline, understanding individualized education programs and 504 plans, how to help with dyslexia, how to thrive as a parent, setting boundaries and more.

Extensive research shows that effective parenting leads to healthy child development. Children thrive when families provide not only affection but also respectful communication and listening, consistent rules and expectations and safe opportunities that promote independence.

Successful parenting fosters psychological adjustment, helps children succeed in school, encourages curiosity about the world and motivates children to achieve. The Parent Connection Summit aims to address these topics.

Visit youthinroutt.org to check out the schedule, find more information and register for the event. There will be free lunch and free day care provided at Play Garden for children older than 12 months. Email rcyouthservices@gmail.com with further questions.

Elisha Colson is on the executive committee of the Routt County Youth Services Coalition working as an advocate for youth in our community. The mission of the team is to connect youth-serving agencies through collaboration, connection and by filling the gaps in our community.