This conference is for service professionals who would like to deepen their knowledge of issues that impact children and families. Family breakdown takes a huge toll on our legal, economic, and social support systems, and is the number one contributor to children living in poverty in the U.S. Our communities cannot afford to let this trend continue. Hear from professionals in several disciplines about issues related to family relationships, parenting, teen decision-making, and safety. We will discuss how to support the families we serve more effectively and give them tools to be successful. The conference is open to all, but specifically oriented toward service providers in the social services and education fields.

• Learn about important brain research that impacts your work

• Gain information, skills, and tools to strengthen families and communities

• Network with other professionals

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This workshop is for couples in any relationship stage: dating, committed, engaged, or married.

Wherever your relationship is now…take it to the next level, with tools that will help you have meaningful, healthy communication. Our workshops are fun, interactive, and practical – you will walk away with skills that you can use right away.

Topics we will cover:

• What makes a healthy relationship?
• Communication tools: how to actually understand each other!
• Moving beyond the same old conflicts
• How to make your love last

“We are so thankful for the Lasting Relationships seminar. The tools have been a great equalizer and ‘field leveler’ in our communication and we are enjoying the discovery phase for the first time in our 15 year marriage. I would be exaggerating if I said we used the tools every time. In reality we still blow it on occasion, but for the most part we are communicating much easier and about much deeper and more difficult things than we could before, without incident. We are beginning to implement the communication tools in our relationship with our 13 year old daughter.” -Rick

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Within My Reach is about developing healthy relationships. Some of the focus is on forming romantic relationships, and some of the focus is on skills you can use in any relationship, such as how to deal with conflict. Within My Reach also includes information about how adult relationships affect children. Join us for our interactive and informative workshops designed to strengthen singles' dating relationships. These workshops will help you learn skills for starting a relationship on the right foot. Topics covered:

• How to stay safe in relationships
• Why it’s important to set goals
• How to communicate and get to the real issues
• Choose wisely for yourself and your children

“Wow! I really am valuable and I can do a lot of things. All my life I felt I couldn’t do anything right, because that is what I was told as a child. Your group has given me so much power.” - Becky

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The Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth is delivered within parent, youth, and family sessions. Parents and youth meet in separate groups for the first hour and together as families during the second hour to practice skills, play games, and do family projects. Sessions are highly interactive and include role-playing, discussions, learning games, and family projects. The program was developed for Project Family at the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research Center at Iowa State University and funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

This scientifically tested curriculum:

• helps parents/caregivers learn nurturing skills that support their children,
• teaches parents/caregivers how to effectively discipline and guide their youth,
• gives youth a healthy future orientation and an increased appreciation of their parents/caregivers, and
• teaches youth skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure.

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This workshop is for singles of all ages (whether never married or single again) who want to learn skills for choosing healthy relationships.

Being single can be lonely…but it can also be a great time to learn more about yourself and about how to do it right when you are in a relationship! Invest in yourself to learn how to be the type of person who attracts and chooses healthy people in relationships. Falling in love is a great feeling, but a lasting love takes work. It’s not enough to find the right person…it’s also important to become the right person.

Topics covered in this program include:

• How to recognize and avoid some common red flags
• Learn to use your heart and your head together!
• Become great at communication and other relationship skills
• Know what you want, and don’t just “settle”

“While attending this class, I realized how many times I could have had more understanding in my relationships, not just in dating, but with my grown children, too. I could hardly wait to apply what I learned to new and old relationships alike. Everyone interested in creating great relationships needs to attend this class. The information is beyond valuable.” - Gail

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Research is proving that when it comes to teaching your children about making healthy choices and being responsible it’s not so much about what is being taught—it’s what is being caught.

Our workshop not only addresses the questions you have as parents, it also encourages you in your own relationship with others.

Our workshops are fun, interactive, and practical – participants will walk away with skills they can use right away.

Session topics

• Motivating your child to be responsible
• Gaining control through choices
• Enjoying your role as a parent
• Modeling good communication skills
• Becoming and encouraging better listeners

Participate in our informative and fun workshop series and learn what it means to parent with love and logic. Love and Logic is a nationally known program that has been recognized as an effective parenting strategy for parents who have children of all ages. Relationship skills also included in this workshop are based on the Prevention Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP), which has thirty years’ worth of research behind it.

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This program is for singles and couples who want to gain control of their finances and learn how to effectively communicate about money matters.

Money is an important issue for everyone – in any economic situation. Finances and relationships can affect each other in positive and negative ways. When finances are going well, they can help the relationship; when finances are not going well, they can cause relationship damage. It’s important to get your money on track, for yourself and for your most important relationships. Our workshop will give you a little bit of both – money skills and some important relationship skills, so you can actually talk about money with the significant people in your life!

In this workshop, we will cover these topics:

• Developing an effective plan for saving, reducing debt, and budgeting
• Learning how your habits and attitudes about money affect your relationships
• Dealing with conflict around $ in a healthy manner - attack debt, not your partner

“My husband and I have been able talk about money in better ways, and are even able to have those hard discussions with my kids whom we have supported beyond our means in recent years.” - Judy

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This workshop is designed for couples who are expecting a baby, or who have had a baby within the past year. The focus is on keeping the bond with each other strong as they move into a new phase of life. Based on research from renowned relationship expert Dr. John Gottman.

Having a baby is a huge event in a couple’s relationship. About 2/3 of new parents say they fight more and don’t feel as satisfied with their relationship after the baby comes. New parents don’t have it easy; they have to try to stay connected in the middle of midnight feedings, sleep deprivation, and diaper changings. They have to develop a “new normal” for staying close and feeling connected with each other. Research shows that it is crucial for new parents to make their relationship a priority – it dramatically affects their children’s well-being.

Topics covered:

• Deepen your friendship and make your love rock-solid
• Avoid communication killers and get good at “fighting fair”
• Promote healthy development in your baby
• Become great co-parents

“Since starting this class I have found that my husband and I have a much stronger relationship.” - Kelly

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This workshop is for singles or couples who want to learn skills they can use in any relationship – with partners, children, relatives, friends, and co-workers.

This unique approach to our workshops will start out with a concentrated look at communication and problem solving skills which can be applied to any kind of relationship (spouse, parent, friend, co-worker, etc.). The later part of this series will take a closer look at specific topics including parenting, money management, marriage, and more.

Topics include:

• Keys to healthy relationships – knowing yourself and the impact you have on others
• Communication tools – how to listen, speak, and problem-solve successfully
• Couples’ relationships – staying friends and making your love last
• Tips on money and parenting – becoming more effective at both

“You know, it seemed hard at first, putting some of these skills into practice, but each week gets better and better. Like the puzzle pieces are fitting together. This has been great for us!” Amber – Healthy Relationship Workshop participant

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Our fatherhood program is specifically designed for dads, by dads. We won't just be sitting around listening to good ideas; we will be actively learning how to be great dads.

Dads! Did you know that all the fun and crazy things we like to do is also great for our kiddos; things like throwing a ball, turning over rocks, changing the oil and hiking in the mountains. When we include our kiddos in these activities it helps them to develop socially and emotionally. Find out more how your children benefit by you just being you!

24/7 Dad™ focuses on key fathering characteristics – like masculinity, discipline, and work/family balance - and helps men evaluate their parenting skills, as well as their fathering role models.

What does a 24/7 Dad™ look like? He’s a man who:

• Knows the significant impact he has on his family.
• Recognizes his emotions, capabilities, and limitations.
• Takes care of himself physically and emotionally.
• Nurtures his children and is a positive role model for them.
• Understands his unique contribution as a father, and how it is distinct from a mother’s role.
• Works to build healthy relationships with his family and others in his life.

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CareerFit is a two-part workshop series open to everyone looking to better develop their job search skills. Community experts and NWFS staff cover topics including writing an effective cover letter and resume, how to conduct a job search, and proper interviewing techniques. Our programs are in English and Spanish.

Session 1—Resumé Ready

• Using your skills to write a cover letter and resume
• Responding to the needs of the employer and the job posting

Session 2—Interview Showcase

• Interview skills
• Professional communication

To get more information or upcoming dates, contact NWFS at 503-546-6377.

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Managing your emotions is important for achieving success in all areas of life, especially in relationships and work. This workshop offers practical solutions to manage anger effectively, by empowering you to act, rather than react, to upsetting events. You’ll learn to identify when and why you react with anger. Developing strategies to direct your anger in appropriate ways is a key skill you will learn. This course may satisfy court-mandated anger management requirements.

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This is one day seminar in which humor is used to inform and educate couples on how they can have a successful marriage. The “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage” seminar features 4 sessions:

• “Tale of Two Brains”
• “The #1 Key to Incredible Sex”
• “Why Does He/She Do That!?”
• “How to Stay Married and NOT Kill Anybody”

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This workshop is a great opportunity to gather skills and tools to help individuals succeed in the variety of relationships they encounter. Our connections with others in the workplace and at home doesn't have to be a challenge!