The Bridge is holiding an information session on Nov. 21 for the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), which will be offered for the fourth time beginning in January.

Submitted by Nancy Hunt, The Bridge Family Center

Come and learn how you can make a difference in the lives of West Hartford children by expanding your parental toolbox to include leadership and advocacy skills.

The Family Resource Center (FRC), a program of the Bridge Family Center, is offering the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) for the fourth year. The program trains, inspires, and empowers parents to become effective advocates for children.

To learn more about this dynamic program, please join us on Friday, Nov. 21 from 9:30-11 a.m. at Charter Oak’s Family Resource Center. Call Deborah Zipkin at 860-233-4701 to RSVP.  Kids are welcome and refreshments will be served.

The 20-week program on civic engagement will kick off with a retreat on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. Subsequent classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings from Jan. 15 through May 28, 2015, at Conard High School. The classes will feature a rich curriculum and presentations by local officials and other community leaders. Participants will learn how state and local governments work and will gain an understanding of economic trends and their impact on families. Childcare and dinner will be provided at each session. There is no fee to participate.

The FRC is recruiting 25 parents and grandparents who live or work in West Hartford. Upon graduating from the program, participants will share their knowledge with other parents and grandparents in future sessions of PLTI, passing along the lessons learned to increase the number of people advocating on behalf of all children.

PLTI is a statewide initiative. The Bridge was awarded a grant of $32,700 from the Connecticut Commission on Children to provide the program this year.

The Bridge Family Center was founded in 1969 to meet the needs of West Hartford community youth.  Over the years, the Bridge expanded its outreach efforts to develop programs in partnership with local schools.  Today they are a comprehensive, regional nonprofit agency offering a broad range of services to children, youth, and families in the Greater Hartford area. For more information about the Bridge go to www.bridgefamilycenter.org or contact us at 860.521.8035.