Several virtual and in-person mental health and wellness workshops for families, school personnel, and community organizations are now being offered through Yale Child Study Center (YCSC), beginning with a free series for parents and other caregivers this summer. These sessions will be offered via Zoom on select Thursday evenings, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. and presented by mental health providers from the YCSC office in Westport, Conn. Participants from any location are welcome to join one or more of the workshops.
The first offering in the free summer series will be held live via Zoom on July 31, 2025. Titled Navigating Parenting Challenges in a World of Disconnection, Jackie Britt-Friedman, PsyD, will lead this session addressing technology and social support structures. She will also offer a variety of ways to connect with children and promote healthy use of technology. Interested participants are asked to register in advance for this session.
Tamique Ridgard Peters, PhD, will lead the second workshop, focused on strategies to support children and adolescents with anxiety, held live on the evening of August 7, 2025. Additional information, including a link to register, is available in the web calendar event for this session on anxiety. The third and final workshop in the free summer series will focus on supporting wellness in student athletes, led by Ayotunde Ayobello, MD, offered live on August 14, 2025. View the web calendar event for the student athlete session for more information and to register.
While these sessions will not be recorded or offered on-demand, additional workshop topics are available, with both virtual and in-person options—not just for families but also for educators, other school personnel, and family service professionals. In addition to the topics addressed in the summer series, areas of focus include developing executive functioning skills in students, the role of schools in promoting student mental health, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, promoting emotional regulation at home, and supporting children in demanding academic environments.
Detailed descriptions of workshop offerings will be available on the YCSC website by early August. Sessions for families can be coordinated with PTA/PTO or other parent/community groups, and professional development opportunities are available on a contractual basis through schools and community organizations. All workshop topics can be adapted and individualized based on the needs of the setting or participants.
In addition to offering parent education and support along with training and consultation sessions for schools and communities in a variety of settings, the YCSC Westport team provides evidenced-based mental health treatments, diagnostic and psychiatric evaluations, and medication management for children birth to 18.
For information about available behavioral health services for families and children, or presentation offerings—including parent education, professional development, and school or community trainings—reach out via e-mail or call the Westport office at 203-785-7379.