Circle of Parents open house moved to Zoom

Amanda Christofferson said the live open house to discuss Circle of Parents Family Group has been moved to Zoom due to illness.

The open house had been scheduled for tonight at 6:30 at Montana State University-Northern.

To attend via Zoom or for more information, people can contact Christofferson at 406-399-3309.

The topics planned for tonight includw:

Intro’s

• What is Circle of Parents?

• What roles are left to be filled?

• Name options for group

• What day of the week and time works best? (Mondays are out of the picture for me!)

• What are some topics or ideas you have for this group and what it should be about?

The intent is to use the national program model to create a state-funded support group for people for families with children who have issues including developmental disabilities, neurodivergencies, mental health issues and suffering child abuse.

People can learn more about the national model at the Circle of Parents website at http://circleofparents.org .

The website says the program’s vision is a world where all care givers have the knowledge, skills and support to raise strong, resilient and happy children.

“Circle of Parents® provides a friendly, supportive environment led by parents and other caregivers,” the website says. “It’s a place where anyone in a parenting role can openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children. It’s a place where they can find and share support.”

The website says the model is to achieve the vision by sitting down and really talking. It says Circle of Parents groups meet weekly, are free of charge and foster an open exchange of ideas, support, information and resources.  These kinds of groups serve those parenting children of all ages and families of all types.  

Groups exist across the country, and they operate under different names and organizations, the website says, adding, they are all there to help parents find support.

The website says the Circle of Parents national network represents a partnership of parent leaders and 18 statewide and regional organizations. The organization was formed after a successful collaborative project of Prevent Child Abuse America and the National Family Support Roundtable, which was made possible by the Children’s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Over the next few years, Circle of Parents intends to expand the national network add new groups, strengthen existing programs and develop new family support initiatives, the website says.

For more information about the Circle of Parents program, people can visit its mission page at http://circleofparents.org/about/mission and can contact Julie Rivnak-McAdam at (804) 308-0841