Family Empowerment Network

FEN Workshops & Classes

We happily welcome all caregivers and parents of youth who are currently or have been part of Hillside to join our classes and workshops!

Any Caregiver who resides in the following counties may also attend these groups: Chautauqua, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (no affiliation to Hillside required)

Register for Workshops and Classes

by filling out the “sign up” form at the bottom of the page

or by emailing fen@hillside.com

March & April 2026 FEN Workshops & Classes

Classes

Tuesdays- Evening Class, In Progress                                                                     

Active Parenting: 4:30-6:30 pm via Zoom or in person at our Syracuse (215 Wyoming St). Class dates 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 & 3/31. Sharpen your parenting skills and tackle today’s world’s problems with strategies that work.  Participants completing all 6 sessions will receive a certificate.

Wednesdays- Evening Class, In Progress                                                              

Parenting the Love and Logic Way: 6:00-8:00pm via Zoom. Class dates 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4 & 3/11. This class is six sessions designed to help parents equip kids with character, this parenting program will give you practical skills that can be used immediately! Certificates available for caregivers completing all 6 classes.

Monday, Evening Class, In Progress                                                                        

Crisis Response Training; 4:00-6:00pm via Zoom. Class dates 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23 & 3/30. When crisis occurs, we need more than instincts; we need tools! This workshop is designed to help caregivers stay calm, respond with confidence, and support themselves and their children through moments of crisis. You will learn practical strategies to de-escalate intense situations, effectively communicate during emotional overload, and guide your child back to safety and connection.

Wednesdays- Evening Class, NEW                                                                            RSVP 5 days prior to class

Protective Factors Instrument: Building Stronger Families 3:00-4:30pm via Zoom or in Person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester. Class dates 3/18, 3/25, 4/1. This three-session class introduces parents and caregivers to the Protective Factors Framework, a strengths-based approach to supporting family well-being. Participants will explore the five key protective factors that help families thrive: parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete support in times of need, and social and emotional competence of children. Each session will focus on practical ways to identify and build these protective factors within the home and community. Through discussion, reflection, and interactive activities, participants will gain tools to strengthen their families, enhance relationships, and promote positive outcomes for children.

Tuesdays- Morning Class, NEW                                                                            RSVP 5 days prior to class starting 

Parenting the Love and Logic Way: 10:00am- 12:00pm via Zoom or in person at 1 Mustard St. Family Opportunity Center, Room 166. Class dates: 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12 & 5/19. This class is six sessions designed to help parents equip kids with character, this parenting program will give you practical skills that can be used immediately! Certificates available for caregivers completing all 6 classes.

March Workshops

Wednesday, March 4

Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse (215 Wyoming St.) and Rochester (1 Mustard St.) Family Opportunity Centers. This workshop occurs every Wednesday. What’s stressing you out? Come talk about it over Coffee. This group is an opportunity for reflective discussion, personal improvement, to strengthen one’s resilience & to connect with peers in a safe space to explore whatever is concerning or bothering you. Have your coffee & snacks ready if you are on zoom, if you’re in person in Syracuse then come enjoy a warm drink and snacks.

Tuesday, March 10

It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group: 5:30- 7:30pm via Zoom or-In Person at Patterson Library, 40 S. Portage Rd. Westfield.  A group of caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children. This group will connect through sharing experiences, resources, compassion, empowerment, and encouragement.

Monday, March 16

Residential Family Support Group: Parenting on Empty 6:00- 7:30pm via Zoom. Having a child in residential can be filled with heartbreak, guilt, confusion, and exhaustion – all well trying to keep life going at home.  You may find yourself feeling like you have nothing left to give. If this is true for you, join us as we support each other in exploring ways to fill our cup.

Wednesday, March 18

Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse (215 Wyoming St.) and Rochester (1 Mustard St.) Family Opportunity Centers. This workshop occurs every Wednesday. What’s stressing you out? Come talk about it over Coffee. This group is an opportunity for reflective discussion, personal improvement, to strengthen one’s resilience & to connect with peers in a safe space to explore whatever is concerning or bothering you. Have your coffee & snacks ready if you are on zoom, if you’re in person in Syracuse then come enjoy a warm drink and snacks.

Family First: Communication and Connection: 5:30pm-7:00pm via Zoom or in person at the. 305 E. Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood, NY.  Strengthen your family’s connection through active listening, effective communicating, and family relationships. In this first session participants will learn active listening skills and strategies and the importance of active listening to our kids to build a better relationship. We will role play, and give examples of how to use active listening skills with our children.

Thursday, March 19

Parenting from the Heart: 10:00-11:30am via Zoom or in person at 305 E Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY, to discuss and learn about the impact that a meaningful, strength based, loving relationship can have between you and your child. Participants will learn the importance that skills such as boundaries, communication, forgiveness, trust, and others are to maintaining healthy and strong relationships. Trusting relationships motivate change and are vital to the success of families as a whole.

Friday, March 20

Spanish Support Group: 12:30-1:30pm via Zoom or in person at 1 Mustard St. Room 166–Family Opportunity Center in Rochester.

Feeling of the Day

Sentimiento del Día:

How are you feeling today?

¿Cómo te sientes hoy?

We invite you to share some of the challenges you are currently facing. This space is designed for listening, mutual support, and learning from one another.

Te invitamos a compartir algunos de los desafíos que estás enfrentando actualmente. Este espacio está diseñado para escucharnos, apoyarnos mutuamente y aprender unos de otros.

How can the group support you at this time?

¿Cómo puede el grupo apoyarte en este momento?

Together, we can identify strategies, resources, and words of encouragement that strengthen each participant.

Juntos podemos identificar estrategias, recursos y palabras de ánimo que fortalezcan a cada participante.

Tuesday, March 24

It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group: 5:30-7:30pm via Zoom or-In Person at James Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY 14701. A group of caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children. This group will connect through sharing experiences, resources, compassion, empowerment, and encouragement.

Thursday, March 26

Men’s Connections: 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom or in person at 1 Mustard St. in Rochester. This group provides a safe and supportive space for men to openly share their experiences, challenges, and successes. Through guided discussions and peer connection, participants will explore healthy ways to manage stress, strengthen relationships, and build positive coping strategies. The goal is to foster connection, understanding, and empowerment among men in our community.

April Workshops

Wednesday, April 1

Coffee Hour: 11:00am- 12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse (215 Wyoming St.) and Rochester (1 Mustard St.) Family Opportunity Centers. This workshop occurs every Wednesday. What’s stressing you out? Come talk about it over Coffee. This group is an opportunity for reflective discussion, personal improvement, to strengthen one’s resilience & to connect with peers in a safe space to explore whatever is concerning or bothering you. Have your coffee & snacks ready if you are on Zoom, if you’re in person in Syracuse then come enjoy a warm drink and snacks.

Thursday, April 2

Coffee Chat with Dr. Faith: ADHD: 5:30- 6:30pm via Zoom via Zoom or in person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester.  A light dinner and coffee will be provided at Mustard street. Join us to hear from Dr. Faith about the brain biology and treatment options, including medication management. Open for teens and adults. Dr. Faith Carini is a doctorally prepared Psychiatric Nurse. In addition to working in the Hillside Y-Act and Halpern day treatment program, runs a small private practice. Faith is passionate about holistic care and psychiatric crisis management.

Thursday, April 9

Lunch with the Advocates: Overview of OPWDD 12:00- 1:00pm via Zoom or in person at James Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY 14701. Kristi Moscato, Community Relations Manager for Person Centered Services will provide an overview of Person-Centered Services referral process, OPWDD eligibility, health home care coordination, and services and supports. Kristi has navigated the system on behalf of her child and is a wealth of knowledge. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.

Tuesday, April 14

It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group: 5:30- 7:30pm via Zoom or in person at Patterson Library, 40 S. Portage Rd. Westfield.  A group of caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children. This group will connect through sharing experiences, resources, compassion, empowerment, and encouragement.

Wednesday, April 15

Coffee Hour: 11:00am- 12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse (215 Wyoming St.) and Rochester (1 Mustard St.) Family Opportunity Centers. This workshop occurs every Wednesday. What’s stressing you out? Come talk about it over Coffee. This group is an opportunity for reflective discussion, personal improvement, to strengthen one’s resilience & to connect with peers in a safe space to explore whatever is concerning or bothering you. Have your coffee & snacks ready if you are on zoom, if you’re in person in Syracuse then come enjoy a warm drink and snacks.

Caregiver-Child Teamwork Group: 1:00- 2:00pm via Zoom or in person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester. Caregivers, come and learn children’s perspectives and how to communicate with them in an effective way.

Thursday, April 16

Voices, Connections, and Partnerships: Building Trust Between Families and Schools 5:30- 6:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester. A Welcoming Group for parents and caregivers to connect learn and grow together. This group helps families build trust and positive relationships with schools through open communications, shared support and practical strategies that benefit students’ families alike.

Monday, April 20

Residential Family Support Group: Staying connected to my child 6:00- 7:30pm via Zoom. What was their day like? How was school? What are they looking forward to this evening? Everyday questions, yet can be challenging for a parent in residential to know. How do we stay connected around the little things when our child is in care?

Wednesday, April 22

Building Mindfulness: 1:00- 2:00pm via Zoom or in person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester. Mindfulness is the practice of paying full attention in the present moment and aims to help you become more self-aware, feel calmer, less stressed, cope with difficult or unhelpful

thoughts, and be kinder towards yourself. Those who come to Mustard street will be given a Building Mindfulness journal. The journal can be sent in the mail to participants who join via zoom, before or after group depending on sign up time.

Thursday, April 23

Coffee Chat with Dr. Faith: Borderline Personality Disorder vs. Bipolar Disorder: 5:30- 6:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester. Light dinner and coffee will be provided for those at Mustard Street. Join us to hear from Dr. Faith about these two diagnosis, including how they are different and overlap. Information will be provided on treatment options for both conditions. Teens and caregivers welcome! Dr. Faith Carini is a doctorally prepared Psychiatric Nurse. In addition to working in the Hillside Y-Act and Halpern day treatment program, runs a

small private practice. Faith is passionate about holistic care and psychiatric crisis management.

Friday, April 24

CSE/IEP Support: 11:00am- 12:00pm via Zoom or in person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester. Informational group regarding CSE/IEP meetings. In this workshop parents will learn how to prepare for their child CSE/IEP meeting- covering qualification for an IEP- and more.

Monday, April 27

Men’s Connection Group: 1:00- 2:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester. This monthly men’s group provides a safe and supportive space for men to come together, build meaningful connections, and engage in open discussions on a variety of topics.  The group focuses on personal growth, skill development, and shared learning while fostering fellowship, mutual support, and accountability among men in a respectful and welcoming environment.

Tuesday, April 28

It Takes a Village- Caregiver Support Group: Summer Camps Info and how to register 5:30-7:30pm via Zoom or in person at James Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY 14701. A group of caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children. This group will connect through sharing experiences, resources, compassion, empowerment, and encouragement.

Wednesday, April 29

Journey through Grief- Support & Education: (Week 1) Understanding the dynamics of grief, bereavement & mourning: 10:30am- 12:00pm via Zoom. This week we will discuss the differences between grief, bereavement & mourning. We will also discuss some of the myths and misconceptions of grief. Keeping in mind that grief is not a problem to be solved, but a process to be honored! Join us via Zoom for this 4-part series on Understanding Grief.

Cultivating Hope Through Gratitude: 1:00- 2:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Family Opportunity Center, 1 Mustard St., Rochester. This workshop explores how practicing gratitude can nurture hope, even during challenging times.  Through simple reflection and practical exercises, participants will learn ways to notice what’s sustaining them and use gratitude as a foundation for renewed optimism and resilience.

Thursday, April 30

Lunch with the Advocates: Legislative Advocacy; update on the NYS Budget: 12:00- 1:00pm via Zoom or in person at James Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY 14701. Brad Hansen, Public Policy Director for Families Together in New York State, will provide an update on the NYS Budget as it pertains to issues that affect children and families. Join Hillside family advocates and learn how you can make a difference.

Class & Workshop Sign Up

Please fill out this form to join one or more Workshops or Classes on this page. A Hillside team member will contact you and help you register. Please note that RSVP is required five days before for Classes only! This is to ensure you receive the class materials.  

If you’re interested in learning more about FEN, have an idea for a group, or have questions, contact Hillside at fen@hillside.com or 585-256-7500.