The Carbon County Family Support Center and Children Justice Center will be hosting a six-week Protective Factors Child Focus Groups starting in October. Director, Shelley Wright took time to come into the Castle Country Radio Station to share details.

“But let me tell you a little bit about the Protective Factors. Statistics and studies show that parents who have a lot of protective factors in their home show that it increases stability in the home, safety in the home, promote healthy families, healthy development, strengthens the family unit,” stated Wright. There are five protective factors that are the foundation to strengthening families and the one that the focus group will highlight is the social and emotional competence of children.

“What that has to do with is helping children learn how to be competent, and learn to take appropriate safe risks, and also learn certain things like manners, and ways to try and cope or calm down from an emotional situation. Sometimes children have a hard time regulating or getting stable again. So we’re going to do some activities in the center with different age groups to promote their social, emotional competence,” said Wright. This focus group will provide a positive learning experience for the child.

The six-week session will run from October through December with the following schedule:

GROUP A:     Ages 2-4       10:00 am to 12:00 pm       1st & 3rd Mondays

GROUP B:     Ages 5-7       2:00 pm to 4:00 pm          1st & 3rd Mondays

GROUP C:     Ages 8-11     2:00 pm to 4:00 pm          2nd & 4th Mondays

The deadline to register for the focus group is Monday, September 27. To register for the free focus group, email megan.camberlango@carbon.utah.gov to obtain a registration form or pick one up at the Carbon County Family Support Center and Children Justice Center at 80 South Fairgrounds Road. If further information and details are needed, please call (435) 636-3739.