Family Empowerment Network

FEN Virtual Groups

Each month, Hillside’s Family Empowerment Network hosts groups that are facilitated by Hillside Family Peer Advocates. Any Caregiver/Parent of a youth currently or previously served by Hillside is welcome to join.

June 2025 Groups

Who can attend:
*All Caregivers whose youth currently are receiving or have received Hillside services
*Any Caregiver who resides in the following counties may also attend these groups: Chautauqua, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (no affiliation to Hillside req.)
Register at fen@hillside.com, by calling Carrie at (716) 220-6850, or your Hillside Family Peer Advocate
RSVP required 5 days prior to group
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6/3 12:00-2:00 Zoom
Family Guide to Transition Planning : Preparing Students with Disabilities for Life after High School – In this training we will walk through the Family Guide to Transition Planning-Preparing Students with Disabilities for Life After High School to assist families in understanding the transition planning process specifically from high school to life after high school. When families are knowledgeable about and invited to participate in the transition planning process, students with disabilities experience improved post-school outcomes in the areas of employment, post secondary education, and independent living.

6/4 02:30-4:30 Zoom
Avoiding Power Struggles – Caregivers will explore ways to avoid power struggles with their youth

6/5 4-6 at our Mustard Street Office
Cooking Class – Come prepare a healthy meal the whole family will enjoy

6/5 6-7 This will be offered via zoom, in person at Rochester (1 Mustard Street) or Syracuse (215 Wyoming Street).
Summer Safety – Injury Free Coalition will be presenting on summer safety, including but not limited to bicycle, pool, and sun burn safety. *Families that attend in person and sign up in advance will receive a helmet, water bottle, or bell!

6/6 11:00-12:30 Zoom
Healthy Boundaries – Whether it’s our line of work, parenting or our personal lives, we all know how it feels to be put in a position where it is hard to know where to draw the line. It is essential to create and maintain healthy boundaries in interest of our own mental health and overall well being. I will be sharing some strategies and personal experiences with my struggles as well as triumphs in creating and maintaining healthy boundaries throughout my life.

6/10 5:30-7:30pm via Zoom or in Person at Patterson Library 40 S Portage Street Westfield.
It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group A group of caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children.

6/11 5:30-7:30 at Goodwill 4119 Lakeville RD Geneseo NY 14454
Shawna Has a Secret –

6/12 6-7pm via Zoom and in person at our Rochester office (1 Mustard St).
The Man Cave: Come together as a group/male identifying folx to be heard, build community, engage in good conversation and good therapeutic discussions, explore and learn about helpful resources for men and their families, prepare for job readiness, learn how to make money and keep it, grow, rest, have fun, and heal.

6/12/6-7 Zoom
Understanding parental grief – Looking deeper into grief of what things looked like prior and tools to manage the anxieties around that. Demonstrating beneficial coping skills when it becomes to heavy to carry.

6/13 12-2 Zoom
Making the Internet Safe – Hosted by Operation Parent: Discover how to protect your family from your biggest technology concerns like malware, inappropriate content, and the time spent on technology.

6/16 5:15-7 Dunkirk Library 536 Central Avenue, Dunkirk NY 14048 or Zoom
CONK: The Importance of creating structure for kids over summer break

6/17 11-12 ZOOM Offered a second time at 6-7
Overview of CARE for families – This workshop will provide an overview of CARE for families, which is the framework used in Residential and Day Treatment programs across Hillside. Families will gain a better understanding of why these principles are in the best interest of children in care.

The six principles that form the foundation of CARE are:

• developmentally focused
• family involved
• relationship based
• competence centered
• trauma informed
• ecologically oriented

6/18 6-7:30 Zoom
Residential Mix & Mingle: The Residential Mix & Mingle is a place to meet with other caregivers who have children in residential care. There will be a topic of discussion each month and a time to connect with each other.

6/19 6-7 Zoom
Grief Presentation: In this workshop you will learn about Grief, ways to address it and how it effects your mental health

6/24 5:00-6:00 via Zoom or in person at our Rochester (1 Mustard St) office.
ODD Group: This workshop will focus on interventions apply cognitive-behavioral principles and emphasize more effective problem-solving skills and anger control training for those diagnosis with Optional Defiance Disorder (ODD).

6/24 5:30-7:30pm via Zoom or-In Person at Prendergast Library 509 Cherry St Jamestown NY.
It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group: A group of caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children.

6/26 6-7pm via Zoom and in person at our Rochester office (1 Mustard St).
The Man Cave: Come together as a group/male identifying folx to be heard, build community, engage in good conversation and good therapeutic discussions, explore and learn about helpful resources for men and their families, prepare for job readiness, learn how to make money and keep it, grow, rest, have fun, and heal.

6/27 12-2 Zoom
THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON CHILDHOOD AND TEEN DEVELOPMENT: Hosted by Operation Parent: When a child experiences trauma and loss in their life their foundation of trust is damaged. Feeling safe and secure in our homes and schools is a basic human need. When children can’t trust that their caregivers will provide for them, support them emotionally, and keep them safe their mental health begins to suffer. A lack of trust keeps the child from being able to connect with new caregivers, no matter how kind and loving we are. This rejection of you is a natural protective defense all humans possess when we feel threatened. In this webinar, this group will help you get inside the mind and hearts of children who have experienced trauma, and you will learn practical skills for rebuilding trust in order to begin the healing process at home or in the community

Classes
Active Parenting Continued; 12:30-2:30 via Zoom or in person at our Syracuse (215 Wyoming St) and Rochester (1 Mustard St) offices. Dates6/3, 6/10, 6/17 and 6/24. Sharpen your parenting skills and tackle today’s world’s problems with strategies that work. Participants completing all 6 sessions will receive a certificate.

July 2025 Groups

7/8/25

It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group 5:30-7:30pm via Zoom or in Person at Patterson Library 40 S Portage Street Westfield. A group of caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children.

7/9/25

Safe Side Suicide Prevention Part 1 12-1:30 pm via Zoom. 7/9/25 Part 2 12-1:30pm via Zoom 7/16/25.  This two-part workshop is designed to help families support youth who struggling with suicide risk or substance abuse.

Stages of Change; 2:00-3:00 pm via Zoom. Caregivers will learn the different stages of change, how to recognize each stage, how to provide support to yield lasting positive change.

7/11

Making the Internet Safer: 12:00-2:00 pm via Zoom. Hosted by Operation Parent: Discover how to protect your family from your biggest technology concerns like malware, inappropriate content, and the time spent on technology.

7/14

Sun-Sensational Summer: Adding Structure to Unstructured Time: 6:00-8:00 pm via Zoom. During this twice a month workshop caregivers will learn a variety of ways to add fun and educational structure during the unstructured summer months.  Learn tips to manage transitions, behavior management, find fun family resources and enjoy the summer.

7/15

What’s Driving My Emotions: Pt.1 12-2:00 pm via Zoom or in-person at our Rochester (1 Mustard St) office. Caregiver will learn a multidisciplinary approach based on three distinct brain and body states in adults that drive behavior, and gain skills to help guide youth in managing their own emotions.

7/16

Safe Side Suicide Prevention Part 2 12-1:30pm via Zoom 7/16/25.  This two-part workshop is designed to help families support youth who struggling with suicide risk or substance abuse.

7/18

Effective Strategies for Balancing Family Screen Time: 12:00-2:00 pm via Zoom. Hosted by Operation Parent: Caregivers will learn practical strategies to overcome challenges while highlighting what really works when it comes to fostering healthy tech habits. This workshop will spotlight valuable resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics, giving caregiver evidence-based guidance to make your home a healthy digital environment.

7/22

It Takes a Village: Caregiver Support Group: 5:30-7:30pm via Zoom or-In Person at Prendergast Library 509 Cherry St Jamestown NY. A group of caregivers who connect to provide support to each other on the issues that caregivers face when raising children.

7/25

Spanish Support Group: 12-1:00 via Zoom or in person at our Rochester (1 Mustard St) office.

Únase a nuestro Grupo de Apoyo en Español, que se lleva a cabo cada dos meses, el último viernes del mes. Este grupo ofrece un espacio acogedor y de apoyo para que las personas hispanohablantes se conecten, compartan experiencias y accedan a recursos en su comunidad. Juntos, discutiremos temas como la dinámica familiar, el manejo del estrés y los recursos comunitarios, todo en un entorno culturalmente sensible e inclusivo. Se ofrecerán refrigerios ligeros. Este grupo está abierto a todas las personas hispanohablantes que busquen apoyo y conexión. ¡Esperamos contar con su presencia!

Join us for our bi-monthly Spanish Support Group, held on the last Friday of every other month. This group provides a welcoming and supportive space for Spanish-speaking individuals to connect, share experiences, and access resources in their community.

Together, we will discuss topics such as family dynamics, stress management, and community resources, all in a culturally sensitive and inclusive environment. Light refreshments will be provided.

This group is open to all Spanish-speaking individuals seeking support and connection. We look forward to seeing you there!

7/28

Sun-Sensational Summer: Adding Structure to Unstructured Time: 6:00-8:00 pm via Zoom. During this twice a month workshop caregivers will learn a variety of ways to add fun and educational structure during the unstructured summer months.  Learn tips to manage transitions, behavior management, find fun family resources and enjoy the summer.

Classes

Active Parenting Continued; 12:30-2:30 via Zoom or in person at our Syracuse (215 Wyoming St) and Rochester (1 Mustard St) offices. 7/1. Sharpen your parenting skills and tackle today’s world’s problems with strategies that work.  Participants completing all 6 sessions will receive a certificate.

Active Parenting; 12:30-2:30 via Zoom or in person at our Syracuse (215 Wyoming St) and Rochester (1 Mustard St) offices. Dates 7/15,7/22,7/29,8/5,8/12,8/19 Sharpen your parenting skills and tackle today’s world’s problems with strategies that work.  Participants completing all 6 sessions will receive a certificate.

Active Parenting;  5:00-7:00 pm via Zoom. Dates 7/8,7/15,7/22,7/29,8/5, and 8/12. Sharpen your parenting skills and tackle today’s world’s problems with strategies that work.  Participants completing all 6 sessions will receive a certificate.

Crisis Response Training; 10-12pm via Zoom or in person at our Rochester (1 Mustard St) office. Dates 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7,8/14. A workshop on Behavior Support Techniques. Caregivers will learn how to respond when the children in our care become escalated. Join us to learn and practice some support techniques to better equip you in handling these challenging moments

Parenting the Love and Logic Way; 10:00-12:00 pm via Zoom or at Prendergast Library 509 Cherry St Jamestown NY. Dates: 7/16,7/23,7/30,8/6, 8/13, and 8/20. 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.

Anger Management: 9:30- 11am via Zoom. Dates:7/8, 7/15,7/22,and 7/29.  This class will teach Parents and Caregivers how to better anger and understand the causes of anger

Class & Workshop Sign Up

Please fill out this form to join one or more sessions on this page. A Hillside team member will contact you and help you register. Please note that RSVPs are required five days before any group session.

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.