PRC PATHWAYS

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

Family Services has begun offering new parenting education classes. We currently have a Wednesday morning group that meets here at the PRC, where I’m teaching Raising Resilient Kids. For the next three Thursday evenings, I’ll also be offering Parenting Preschoolers in Lyle. We’ll take a week break and start in with the Raising Resilient Kids in Lyle. The feedback from participants so far has been very positive.

The week of March 1st, I will do my orientation at the Law Enforcement Center so I can get started doing parenting classes for inmates.

I’ve started providing one-on-one parent coaching as well, including support for a parent of a teen. While I don’t yet have classes specifically for parents of teens, I plan to begin researching their needs and the most relevant topics. I’m also working on developing a class or support group for parents of children with ADHD.

Over the past 20 years, children’s emotions and behaviors have grown more intense. Today’s kids are growing up in a fast-paced and often stressful world. Compared to previous generations, they are experiencing more screen time, eating more processed foods, spending less time in nature, and participating in more structured activities—with less unstructured play. As a result, many children’s nervous systems are overwhelmed.

We often talk about how parents don’t get a manual for raising children, but kids don’t get a manual either on how to react, behave, or communicate their needs. Helping children understand and regulate their emotions is essential to their development. This is a skill I’m committed to supporting and passing on to the parents I work with.

-Diane, Family Services Coordinator

WELCOME CENTER

As we move into March, the Welcome Center at the Parenting Resource Center continues to serve as a trusted entry point for newcomer families and individuals navigating life in Austin. Every week, families walk through our doors seeking guidance, stability, and connections whether that means help applying for SNAP or MNSure, completing court forms, accessing language support, or simply understanding the systems that can feel overwhelming in a new community.

March brings a renewed focus on outreach and follow-up services. Our team is expanding community engagement efforts to ensure families not only receive immediate assistance but also understand the additional programs and resources available to them. From employment support and benefit applications to document translation and parenting resources, we remain committed to walking alongside families every step of the way.

What’s Coming Up in March:

Community Resource Navigation & Benefits Support
We anticipate increased demand for SNAP, CASH, and MNSure application assistance as families prepare for seasonal employment changes and tax season follow-ups.

Language & Document Services
Birth certificate translations, minor consent to travel forms, custody and parenting time documentation, and other court forms remain a high-need service area. Appointments are encouraged to ensure timely assistance.

Community Engagement Efforts
Our outreach team continues building partnerships across Mower County to ensure families are aware of available services and feel safe accessing support.

At the Welcome Center, we understand that seeking help can take courage. Our role is to provide responsive, respectful, and confidential service that empowers families to move forward with confidence.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Welcome Center services, please contact us or stop by the Community Action Building. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected Austin.

PREVENTION

Prevention continues to take shape as it shifts away from the Drug-Free Communities structure to a general prevention framing, finding creative and unique ways to incorporate its initiatives and goals into other PRC programming.

At their regular monthly meeting, the Austin Positive Action Coalition (APAC) examined past initiatives and current trajectory, strategizing how best they can help Prevention as it transitions and restructures to ensure all efforts result in a healthier, safer Mower County.

Likewise, Students Taking A New Direction (STAND) at Austin High School and Ellis Middle School continue meeting bi-monthly, planning outreach, fundraising, and fun activities that promote an alcohol-, tobacco-, and drug-free lifestyle and provide Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACEs) for area youth.

If you’re interested in submitting health/prevention initiative ideas, learning more about APAC or STAND, or becoming a member, please reach out to us at dfc@prc-austinmn.org.