Family Wellness News & Resources

A viewing of Screenagers: The Elementary Edition, hosted by Plainville Schools in partnership with our regional Director of Wellness, will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 6:45 PM. We are again grateful for the support of Healthy KP Substance Use Coalition. Parents and caregivers are invited to attend, and may have their children in grades 4-6 accompany them. The movie, just under an hour, will be followed by a 30 minute panel discussion. Parents should assess the appropriateness of their child attending this night event. To help us prepare for this event, please register in advance. For details and registration, please see the flyer below.

A viewing of Screenagers: The Elementary Edition, hosted by Plainville Schools in partnership with the

regional Director of Wellness, will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 6:45 PM. We are again grateful for the support of Healthy KP Substance Use Coalition. Parents and caregivers are invited to attend, and may have their children in grades 4-6 accompany them. The movie, just under an hour, will be followed by a 30 minute panel discussion. Parents should assess the appropriateness of their child attending this night event. To help us prepare for this event, please register in advance. For details and registration, please see the flyer below.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Child Youth Violence Prevention Unit has launched “Be the Reason Someone Belongs,” a campaign to prevent bullying and promote inclusion and belonging among middle school youth. Adults can find bullying resources for adults online about the connection between bullying and mental health, and how to support youth who are being bullied. Youth can also visit the campaign website, mass.gov/StopBullying, to learn about different types of bullying, cyberbullying, and what teens can do to prevent bullying.

Collaborative Problem Solving for Parents/Caregivers- Free Training

This evidence-based approach that can help parents better understand their child’s behavior through a lens of skill, not will.

• The CPS approach helps parents:

Learn to set clear and realistic expectations and work collaboratively with their children to get those expectations met.
Better understand why traditional discipline approaches, such as rewards and consequences, sometimes don’t result in better behavior.
Identify specific situations or triggers that often lead to challenging behaviors and explore options for handling those situations in a more proactive way.
Support the development of important thinking skills in their children.
Strengthen and/or improve their relationship with their children.

Training Details:

Free course with roughly 3 hours of content. Self-paced and online—this means that parents can log in and work through the material at their own pace.
Available in English or Spanish.
See flyer for details and registration.

Free Parenting Solutions Library

Parenting Solutions Library, provided through Mass Partnerships for Youth, through partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions.

Empowers parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being.
Presented by advanced degreed experts, the trainings focuses on child and adolescent development and provides easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.
See the flyer for examples of topics.

The Parenting Solutions Library may easily be accessed using the link on MPY’s home page mpyinc.org.

Sibling Support Program: A Family-Centered Mental Health Initiative

Beginning Thursday, January 8, 2026, this free weekly program focuses on building sibling resiliency, decreasing trauma and strengthening families of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Disabilities and/or Mental Health Issues.

Provides siblings the opportunity to meet peers that understand what it is like to have a sibling with behavioral issues, express their feelings.
Separate opportunities are provided for parents & caregivers.
Youth siblings, ages 6-18 are placed in age-appropriate groups.

Programs are held on Zoom. See flyer for details and registration information.

Natick Health Department is hosting a virtual program called What's Going on in their Head? Understanding Teen Brains with Dr. Silveri on Tuesday, January 27th from 7:00-8:30pm on Zoom. Dr. Silveri is a neuroscientist with McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School who has over 25 years of experience in the fields of brain development, addiction, and mental health.

Parents Helping Parents Support Groups Updated Calendar

Free, virtual support groups for parents with varied circumstances or challenges.

Care Solace -Haitian Creole

Care Solace- Espanol

Home Energy Assistance Program

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) enrollment period for the 2025-2026 winter season began Nov. 1, 2025 and runs through April 30, 2026. Administered through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, HEAP is free, statewide resource to help eligible renters and homeowners with heating bills. HEAP pays a portion of bills directly to heating companies.

Apply online or through local administering agencies.

Hockomock YMCA Social Action Services

Information on the Hockomock YMCA's Food Access and A Place of All- Financial Assistance Programs, and Social Service Supports.

Family Wellness Resources Website

Please visit the Family Wellness Website for resources related to nutrition, food access, basic needs assistance, mental health, counseling support, referral resources and other wellness topics. There are ongoing updates and additions to the site to support families from all four districts.

Family Wellness Resources

King Philip, Norfolk, Plainville & Wrentham Schools Wellness

Dot Pearl

Regional Director of Wellness

Email: pearld@kingphilip.org or dpearl@norfolk.k12.ma.us

dpearl@plainville.k12.ma.us pearld@wrenthamschools.org

Website: Family Wellness Resources
Location: 18 King Street, Norfolk, MA, USA
Phone: 508 520-7991, ext. 2312

Family Wellness News & Resources