Connecting Families.
Connecting Families is an eight-week program that gives elementary school aged children and parents practical tools for everyday family life. Separate, professionally led groups help families strengthen social skills, build resilience, and create stronger relationships.
No cost to participate. Offered as a community service of The Craig School in partnership with UC Riverside and the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative.
Helping children and parents grow together.
Connecting Families is a group program developed with behavioral health researchers at UC Irvine and UC Riverside. Children and parents attend separate groups at the same time, learning skills they can practice at home between sessions.
The program focuses on social growth, everyday communication, and positive family relationships. Families from the community are welcome, whether or not their child has a diagnosis.
Good Sportsmanship
Accepting
Assertion
Ignoring Provocation
Problem Solving
Two groups. One shared goal.
For children: Groups are led by a school psychologist and co-facilitated by a specialized behavioral health counselor experienced in youth social-emotional development.
For parents: Groups are led by a licensed therapist and co-facilitated by a marriage and family therapist and a postdoctoral clinical psychologist.
Four goals for stronger families.
Practice good sportsmanship.
Learn to navigate social situations with others.
Strengthen relationships.
Build stronger connections between parents and children.
Build resilience.
Help children and families respond to everyday challenges.
Develop protective factors.
Practice skills that support well-being and positive connections.
How the eight-week program works.
Children and parents meet in separate groups at the same time. Sessions take place weekly at The Craig School campus in Irvine. Participants practice skills during each meeting and carry them home between sessions.
Who it is for: Community families raising a child who struggles socially, with or without a diagnosis.
Cost: Free to participate through grant funding in partnership with UC Riverside.
Frequently asked questions
Families in the community raising a child who struggles socially can participate, whether or not the child has a diagnosis.
There is no cost to participate. The program is grant-funded through UC Riverside and the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative.
Children and parents meet in separate groups at the same time for weekly sessions over eight weeks at The Craig School campus in Irvine. Contact the program team for current dates and availability.
Yes. Contact Dr. Nancy Herrera at cybhi@thecraigschool.org to schedule a brief virtual intake assessment before enrollment.
Ready to learn more?
Contact Dr. Nancy Herrera to schedule the brief virtual intake assessment required before enrollment.
