Editor’s note: This is the first of a twopart story about Beacon Mental Health and Parent Up’s Fall Workshop Series for Parents and Caregivers. Part one covers the series’ purpose, accessibility and September workshops, while part two will explore the workshops planned for October and November.

Beacon Mental Health and Parent Up are bringing free educational workshops to parents and caregivers this fall, providing tools to strengthen connections with youth, support their mental health and prevent substance use.

The Fall Workshop Series for Parents and Caregivers began Sept. 15 and continues through Nov. 17, with sessions covering topics ranging from building meaningful connections and resilience to supporting student-athletes, understanding brain development and preventing substance use. All workshops are offered virtually and are free to attend.

The workshop series grew from an effort that began after the Northland Coalition received Clay County opioid settlement funding last year. One C…