Family Empowerment Network
Staying Connected and Growing Together
At Hillside, families are at the heart of everything we do. We formed the Family Empowerment Network (FEN) as another way to bring families together—to offer support, share perspectives, and provide invaluable guidance that strengthens the entire Hillside community.
In-person and virtual FEN workshops and parent education classes are offered multiple times each month, and are free of charge to attend. The meetings are open to all current or former Hillside parents, caregivers and family members, as well as family and youth peer advocates, and interested staff. FEN groups include:
- Discussions that empower parents and caregivers
- Opportunities to meet other families, staff, leadership and community and state partners
- Educational opportunities to keep you in-the-know about beneficial information and resources
- Opportunities for parents and caregivers to build leadership and advocacy skills
Whether you’re currently a parent or caregiver looking for support, or you’re simply looking to stay connected with other like-minded individuals, you don’t have to go through your situation alone.
FEN Workshops & Classes
Each month, Hillside’s Family Empowerment Network
hosts workshops and classes. Any Caregiver/Parent of a youth currently
or previously served by Hillside is welcome to join.
Register for Workshops and Classes
by filling out the “sign up” form at the bottom of the page
or by emailing fen@hillside.com
November & December 2025 FEN Workshops & Classes
Classes
Wednesdays- Evening Class, NEW Class in progress
Parenting the Love and Logic Way: 5:30-7:30 pm via Zoom. Classes start 10/01 through 11/05. 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.
Tuesdays- Day Class, NEW Class in progress
Active Parenting: 12:30-2:30 pm via Zoom or in person at our Syracuse (215 Wyoming St). Classes start 10/21 through 11/25. Sharpen your parenting skills and tackle today’s world’s problems with strategies that work. Participants completing all 6 sessions will receive a certificate.
Tuesdays- Evening Class, NEW RSVP 5 days prior to class starting
Active Parenting: 4:30-6:30 pm via Zoom or in person at our Syracuse (215 Wyoming St). Classes start 12/2 through 1/06/26. Sharpen your parenting skills and tackle today’s world’s problems with strategies that work. Participants completing all 6 sessions will receive a certificate.
November Workshops
Wednesday, November 5
Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse Family Opportunity Center (215 Wyoming St). 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, November 6
Education Series: What services are available for my child in school? 10:00- 12:00pm via Zoom or- In person location: Hillside Lakewood office 305 E Fairmount Ave, Suite C Lakewood, NY 14750; Hillside Warsaw office, 96 W Buffalo St, Warsaw, NY 14569. This workshop will provide information on services available for children in school whether they have a 504 plan or an IEP. Facilitators will educate participants on various accommodations available to support children and the importance of informing teachers of the accommodations for their child.
Tuesday, November 11
It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group: 5:30- 7:00pm 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, November 12
Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse Family Opportunity Center (215 Wyoming St). 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.
Preparing for the Holidays Group: 6:00- 7:30pm via Zoom or In-Person at 2 locations! Hillside Office – 305 E Fairmont Ave. Lakewood or 50 Batavia City Center, Batavia. Preparing for the Holidays is a workshop on how to prepare youth for upcoming Holidays. Caregivers will learn skills to have smoother holidays/ family gatherings with their youth. This Group will meet the Second Tuesday of each month in November and December.
Monday, November 17
Residential Family Support Group: Supporting Siblings: 6:00- 7:30pm via Zoom How do we answer difficult questions? How do we make sure our kiddos at home are still getting what they need? How do we build/maintain their sibling relationship? Join us in supporting and encouraging one another as we navigate this aspect of residential care.
Wednesday, November 19
Beyond “Don’t do it” Real talk about youth substance use and intervention: 10:00am- 12:00pm via Zoom or In-person at our Family Opportunity Center, 215 Wyoming St Rm 310, Syracuse. This training will discuss youth substance use and intervention.
Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse Family Opportunity Center (215 Wyoming St). 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, November 25
Building Bridges: Understanding and Supporting Children in Foster and Kindship Care: 5:00- 7:00pm via Zoom or In-person at Family Opportunity Center Rm 166, 1 Mustard St. Rochester. Welcoming with understanding: This workshop is designed to help caregivers create a safe and nurturing environment for foster and kinship care children. Participants will develop practical skills to welcome them with compassion, build trust, and support their growth and healing.
It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group: 5:30- 7:00pm via Zoom or in- Person at the Hillside Office 303-305 E Fairmount Ave, Lakewood, NY 14750 (Domino’s Plaza). A group of Caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children. Challenges may include social/emotional, medical, developmental, education, kinship placement, etc. This group will connect through sharing experiences, resources, compassion, empowerment, and encouragement. Topic of discussion will be group lead with the support of a Credentialed Family Peer Advocate from the PEER Navigator Program.
Wednesday, November 26
Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse Family Opportunity Center (215 Wyoming St). 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.
December Workshops
Wednesday, December 3
Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse Family Opportunity Center (215 Wyoming St). 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, December 4
Education Series: Linking Caregivers to Support and Advocacy: 10:00- 12:00pm via Zoom or- In person location: Hillside Lakewood office 305 E Fairmount Ave, Suite C Lakewood, NY 14750;
Hillside Warsaw office, 96 W Buffalo St, Warsaw, NY 14569. This workshop will provide an understanding of the 504 and/or IEP meeting, who attends, and how to prepare for the meeting. This topic will include Information on educational advocacy and how to find support when attending a meeting with the ultimate goal of building empowerment for caregivers to feel confident in advocating on their own.
Shawna Has a Secret: 5:30- 7:30pm In- Person at 4119 Lakeville Rd Genesee NY 14454. This is an interactive workshop that allows parents and caregivers to “search” through a mock teens bedroom to find items that are being used to engage in substance use and more. Learn the warning signs of substance use and how to discuss this topic with children.
Tuesday, December 9
It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group: 5:30-7:00pm 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, December 10
Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse Family Opportunity Center (215 Wyoming St). 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.
Preparing for the Holidays Group: 6:00- 7:30pm via Zoom or In-Person at 2 locations! Hillside Office – 305 E Fairmont Ave. Lakewood or 50 Batavia City Center, Batavia. Preparing for the Holidays is a workshop on how to prepare youth for upcoming Holidays. Caregivers will learn skills to have smoother holidays/ family gatherings with their youth. This Group will meet the Second Tuesday of each month in November and December.
Thursday, December 11
Holiday Movie and Popcorn: 5:00- 6:30 pm In-person at Family Opportunity Center Rm 166, 1 Mustard St. Rochester; Come Join us in watching a holiday movie with popcorn and hot coco.
Monday, December 15
Residential Family Support Group: I’m Still Mom: 6:00- 7:30pm via Zoom. Topic: “I’m still Mom”
Having a child live outside our home and depending on others to meet our child’s day-to-day needs can leave us feeling uncertain and disempowered as parents. Whether you are Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt or Uncle, you are still the parent. Join us in supporting one another as we explore ways to remember “I’m still mom”.
Tuesday, December 16
Parenting from the Heart: 2:00- 3:00 pm via Zoom. Join us in discussing and learning about the impact that a meaningful, strength based, loving relationship can have between you and your child. Trusting relationships motivate change and are vital to the success of families as a whole.
Wednesday, December 17
Coffee Hour: 11:00am-12:30pm via Zoom or in person at the Syracuse Family Opportunity Center (215 Wyoming St). 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.
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.