White River center offers families support year round

The White River Family Support Center offers a variety of services designed to strengthen families. Some of our services include linking families with community resources, providing free parenting classes and offering free in-home parenting support. We also have a Financial Service Specialist from the Department of Social and Health Services available to answer your questions regarding state assistance and staff that can help Pierce County residents apply for energy assistance.

February 10, 2009 12:21 am

The White River Family Support Center offers a variety of services designed to strengthen families. Some of our services include linking families with community resources, providing free parenting classes and offering free in-home parenting support. We also have a Financial Service Specialist from the Department of Social and Health Services available to answer your questions regarding state assistance and staff that can help Pierce County residents apply for energy assistance.

Currently, we are offering our “Strengthening Families” parenting series. This class is for families with youth ages 9 to 14 years and is designed to help your family safely and successfully navigate the teen years. It is offered at no charge and is scheduled to meet on Tuesdays through March 10. Following the Strengthening Families series, we will be offering our next class called “Guiding Good Choices.” This class will also focus on families with youth 9 to 14 years and will take place on Tuesdays from April 7 to May 5.

A special event in coming months is free tax preparation at the center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 20 and March 20.

For information and to sign up for parenting classes and/or in-home support services, contact Danniel at 360-829-5883. To speak to the Financial Service Specialist regarding state assistance, please call 360-829-6483. The center is located at the Wickersham School of Discovery campus, 250 W. Main in Buckley. We are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please feel free to drop in and see what we have to offer.

Another offering is “This Isn’t What I Expected…” Have you recently been pregnant or had a baby? Are you experiencing any of the following?

• Feeling isolated, anxious, irritable, or frustrated

• Frequent crying and feeling sad

• Eating and sleeping much more or less than usual?

Join us for an interactive group focused on helping you feel better and providing tips to help your baby feel more calm.

This is a free class from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month beginning March 5 at Good Samaritan Community Services, 325 E. Pioneer Ave., Puyallup. Call 253-845-9177 to sign up. Childcare is provided.

Danniel Bush is the White River Family Support Center Coordinator.