Kitchen Table Talks/Community Care Sessions Slated for February, March, April

GREAT BARRINGTON — The South Berkshire Community Health Coalition, a program of Railroad Street Youth Project, has partnered with the South Berkshire Rural Health Network to offer monthly Kitchen Table Talks/Community Care Sessions at the Great Barrington Family Resource Center, 141 West Ave., on the last Tuesdays of February, March, and April from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Combining two synergistic programs, Kitchen Table Talks/Community Care Sessions are designed for parents and caregivers interested in building their knowledge and communication skills with their children around big issues including substance use while receiving meaningful support, care, and belonging in a wellness setting.

“Parenting is hard, prevention matters, and the most effective support meets people where they are,” said Jennifer Goewey, director of the Southern Berkshire Rural Health Network. “I am excited for parents and caregivers to have this opportunity to share, learn, and prioritize their own well-being — something that is both important and too often sacrificed.”

Each session begins at 5:30 p.m. with a Kitchen Table Talk and community dinner. Kitchen Table Talks provide a supportive, peer-to-peer environment where a trained facilitator guides fellow parents through a prosocial, preventive approach to helping parents and caregivers improve communication with their children and other youth in their lives. This will be followed at 6:30 p.m. with a Community Care Session, with offerings such as guided meditation and light movement, all led by a wellness provider.

The Tuesday sessions will be held on Feb. 24, March 24, and April 28. Childcare will be provided to attendees.

For more information about these events, including registering or arranging for free childcare, contact Laura Rodriguez, director of the South Berkshire Community Health Coalition, at (413) 717-7070 or laura@rsyp.org.