Los Alamos Family Strengths Network launches Circle of Security series Feb. 20

Family Strengths Network (FSN) will offer a hybrid Circle of Security parenting series for parents and caregivers of children ages 6 months to 5 years, beginning Feb. 20 and running through April 10. The local nonprofit says the program combines in-person and virtual sessions and is led by trained facilitators.

The Circle of Security model is widely used in early childhood and mental health settings and is described in program materials as “based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened.” Vibrant, a program summary source, calls Circle of Security “an eight session parenting series geared for parents and caregivers of children ages 0–5,” framing the curriculum as group-based work that focuses on caregiver-child interactions, responsiveness, and reflective practice.

Vibrant lists explicit learning outcomes caregivers can expect: “How to better understand and respond to your child’s emotional needs,” “Help your child manage his or her feelings and behaviors,” “Help build a stronger relationship with your child,” and “How to support your child’s growth and development so they live up to their potential.” Those goals align with public health priorities around early emotional development and family resilience, which can reduce downstream behavioral and mental health strain on families and local services.

The Circle of Security Parenting Series is offered nationally as a program of MHA-NYC, which program materials say has “for over 50 years … a three-part mission of service, advocacy, and education” and reaches “over one million people nationally” each year. Circle of Security International emphasizes training and resources for professionals and parents, stating, “Through training, education, and ongoing support, we equip individuals to leverage the capacity for human connection by applying the radical simplicity of the Circle of Security to learning while honoring people’s strengths and struggles to build trust and find coherence.” Local facilitators can draw on those materials, including books, videos, and classroom approaches, to support families after stressful events.

For Los Alamos caregivers seeking to register or learn more, FSN lists the next session dates as February 20–April 10 and prompts interested community members to sign up through its classes and workshops listing. Family Strengths Network identifies itself as Family Strengths Network 501(c)(3) with an office at 3540 Orange St., Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544 and a phone contact of 505-662-4515. Office hours listed on the FSN site are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the organization is closed Mondays and Sundays. The FSN listing also encourages people to “Click here for details and to register” and to “Click on the orange ‘Interested’ button above to stay informed!”

The series adds to FSN’s regular slate of parenting supports, which includes Parenting Effectiveness Training and the LAECC Speaker Series. For local public health and equity, the hybrid format may lower barriers for caregivers who face transportation, work, or childcare constraints, while the evidence-based focus on attachment supports early childhood development that benefits schools and community mental health systems. Families who want to participate should contact FSN by phone during listed office hours to confirm session times, fees, and precise meeting locations.