AUGUST 2026
PRC PATHWAYS
Your monthly guide to Family Support, Community Resources, and Positive Action!
As summer comes to a close, we’re looking ahead to a new season of learning, growth, and connection. In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find upcoming events, program updates, community highlights, and resources to help families prepare for the back-to-school season. Thank you to our families, volunteers, community partners, and supporters for your continued support of the Parenting Resource Center. Together, we’re building stronger families and a stronger community.
OUR CORE PILLARS
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
July was an active and rewarding month for Family Services. As highlighted in last month’s article, the Reading Café at the Woodson Community Learning Center was extended, and the response from families continues to be incredibly positive. Attendance ranges from 5 families to 25 families each session, with most children arriving alongside their parents.
On June 16th, we traveled to Owatonna to pick out 425 books through our SMIF grant. Although we initially received fewer Spanish titles than requested, SMIF later contacted us with an additional supply and delivered 75 more Spanish books. We are now planning a special event to distribute these books to families.
Seeing families spend meaningful time together has been one of the most encouraging parts of the program. These shared moments are more than just enjoyable—they play a vital role in a child’s development. Consistent parent–child connection helps build emotional resilience, supports academic growth, and strengthens social skills. It also lays a foundation of trust and unconditional love, reducing the likelihood of behavioral challenges and anxiety as children grow.
Experts remind us that it’s not about the number of hours spent together, but the quality of those moments. Even 10 to 15 minutes of focused, undivided attention each day can help a child feel secure, connected, and valued.
The Parent Connection meetings continue to go well. Our most recent session welcomed 5 families and 10 children, and the feedback has been very positive. Families truly appreciate the shared meal, the dedicated time with their children, and the chance to connect with other parents in a supportive environment.
Our Touch a Truck event on July 11th was a tremendous success. Families loved exploring the vehicles, meeting local professionals, and enjoying a free, family‑friendly outing. We extend our sincere thanks to:
- Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service
- Austin Police Department
- Mower County Sheriff’s Office
- Jason Newkirk
- Thompson Sanitation Inc.
- Austin Firefighters Local 598
- Morem Agri‑Lawn
- Cole’s Complete Tree Care
- Ronnie Whalen
- J&K Trucking
- Sanco Equipment
- Otomo’s Auto Towing & Repair LLC
- SMART Transit – Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit
Everyone left with a smile, making it a memorable day for kids and parents alike.
We participated in the Austin Aspires July Block Party, which is always a wonderful opportunity to connect with families and collaborate with other agencies serving children and youth. Being present in the community continues to strengthen our relationships and visibility.
Looking ahead to August, we will be reaching out to outlying communities to explore options for offering Parent Connection sessions or developing monthly parenting topics tailored to their needs. Expanding our support beyond Austin is an exciting step toward deeper regional engagement.
SEIBEL CENTER
At the Seibel Center, every visit represents something important: a child maintaining a connection with someone who cares about them. While our work often happens quietly, the impact can last a lifetime.
Supervised visitation provides children with the opportunity to build and strengthen relationships in a safe, supportive environment. Whether families are navigating separation, court involvement, or other challenges, our goal is to ensure that children remain at the center of every interaction.
This month, we want to recognize the dedication of the families who continue showing up for their children. Consistency, patience, and commitment can make a meaningful difference in a child’s life, and we are honored to provide a space where those connections can grow.
Thank you to our staff, community partners, and supporters who help make this work possible. Together, we are creating opportunities for safe family connections and brighter futures for children in our community.
WELCOME CENTER
Finding the right resources can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. The Welcome Center is here to connect individuals and families with services that support everyday needs and help them succeed.
Our team assists with a wide range of services, including completing applications and forms, connecting people with community resources, translation and interpretation services, benefit navigation, and SNAP Outreach. Whether someone is new to the area or simply isn’t sure where to turn, we’re here to provide guidance every step of the way.
As we look ahead, we’re also excited to begin planning this year’s Welcoming Week celebration. This annual event recognizes the importance of creating a community where everyone feels valued, connected, and welcome. We look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks.
If you or someone you know could use support or has questions about available resources, stop by the Welcome Center. We’re here to help.
Invite Us to Your Organization
Would your organization, workplace, church, civic group, or community group like to learn more about the Welcome Center or SNAP Outreach services?
The Welcome Center team is available to provide presentations that explain:
• Who we are and who we serve
• Services available through the Welcome Center
• Translation and interpretation resources
• SNAP Outreach and food assistance programs
• How organizations can better connect community members to local resources
To request a presentation, contact us at associatedirector@prc-austinmn.org.
Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community knows where to turn when they need support, information, or assistance.
PREVENTION
Recovery and prevention go hand in hand. When individuals have access to support, encouragement, and resources, they are better equipped to build healthy lives and make positive choices for themselves and their families.
One of the most powerful tools in prevention is community. Whether someone is just beginning their recovery journey or has been in recovery for years, having a place to connect with others can make all the difference. Supportive relationships reduce isolation, increase accountability, and remind people that they are not alone.
That is why we are proud to offer a Women’s Recovery Meeting every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Community Action Building. This group provides a safe and welcoming space for women in all stages of recovery to share experiences, find encouragement, and build lasting connections.
Prevention is not just about avoiding substance use; it is about creating opportunities for healing, growth, and connection. Together, we can build a stronger community where everyone has the support they need to thrive.
Executive Director’s Corner
Who’s Carrying Your Backpack?
Have you ever noticed that everyone seems to be carrying a little more these days?
As I’ve reflected over the past few weeks, I keep coming back to one simple image: a backpack.
We all carry one.
Most days, it’s filled with the ordinary responsibilities of life—work, family, errands, appointments, laundry, making dinner, paying bills, trying to remember if you signed that permission slip or scheduled that doctor’s appointment.
Then life quietly adds another book.
A medical diagnosis. A child who’s struggling. An aging parent. An unexpected expense. A job change. Grief. Loneliness. Anxiety.
Before long, the backpack becomes so heavy that simply making it through an ordinary Tuesday feels exhausting.
If I’m honest, there have been moments when my own backpack felt especially heavy. Like many of you, I’ve learned that life doesn’t pause while we’re trying to catch our breath. Responsibilities keep coming; challenges don’t wait for convenient timing, and sometimes it feels like we’re expected to carry it all ourselves.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized something important. Every single person I meet is carrying a backpack I know nothing about. The cashier at the grocery store. The parent dropping off their child. The teacher. The coworker. The neighbor. The person smiling across the room.
We rarely know what someone else is carrying. The beautiful thing is that most people don’t need someone to carry their entire backpack. They just need someone willing to take one book out for a little while. Maybe it’s providing diapers for a new parent. Maybe it’s a parenting class that reminds someone they aren’t alone. Maybe it’s a safe place for a child after school. Maybe it’s a referral to another community resource. Maybe it’s simply listening without judgment. That’s what community does.
And that’s what the Parenting Resource Center strives to do every single day. We can’t remove every burden a family faces, but we can help lighten the load enough that they can keep moving forward.
What many people don’t see is that helping carry those backpacks requires people willing to help carry ours.
As a nonprofit organization, PRC depends on grants, volunteers, community partnerships, and generous donors to make these services possible. Those resources don’t simply fund programs—they help a parent breathe a little easier. They provide stability during difficult seasons. They remind families that asking for help isn’t a weakness; it’s often the first step toward hope.
Whether you’ve volunteered your time, attended one of our events, donated, shared our mission with a friend, or simply encouraged someone to reach out for help, you’ve helped remove a book from someone else’s backpack.
And that’s how stronger families—and stronger communities—are built.
Because none of us was ever meant to carry our backpack alone.
Every family carries a backpack. Together, we can help lighten the load.
— Crystal Vandevender
Executive Director
