The San Mateo Union High School District and all of its schools host numerous family education events throughout the year. From college planning to teenage mental health, from how to help your teen navigate their four years of high school to how to address substance abuse, we have family education events on important relevant teen topics. And very importantly, they are often free to very low cost.

We hope you join us for as many of these family events as possible.

Upcoming Events | Recorded Events | Spanish

Upcoming Events

The Still Point of the Turning World with Emily Rapp Black

Bestselling author of The Still Point of the Turning World and Sanctuary: A Memoir (January 2021)

• Friday, April 9, 12 – 1 p.m.
• Register
• Free admission
• Habrá interpretación simultánea en español.  

What does it mean to be a success? To be a good parent? To live a meaningful life? Like all mothers, Emily Rapp Black had ambitious plans for her first child, Ronan. But everything changed when nine-month-old Ronan was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease, a rare and fatal degenerative disorder. Rapp was forced to re-evaluate everything she thought she knew about parenting. She would have to learn to live with her child in the moment; to find happiness in the midst of sorrow; to parent without a future.

Parents, educators, mental health professionals, and community members welcome! This presentation is sponsored by Sequoia Union High School District, Sequoia Healthcare District, Peninsula Health Care District, and The Parent Venture.

• Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 12 – 1 p.m.
• Presenter: Tauheed Zaman, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, UCSF
• Register
• Free admission
• Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be provided.

• Wednesday, April 14, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
• Presenter: Shashank Joshi, MD, Stanford; Karen Li, MD; Molly Henricks, LMFT; Jennifer Spiegler, Kognito
• Register
• Free admission
• Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Helping Your Children and Teens Discover Their Purpose in Life

• Thursday, April 15, 2021, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
• Presenter: Kendall Cotton Bronk, PhD, Claremont Graduate University
• Register: https://kendallbronk2021phcd.eventbrite.com
• Free admission
• Habrá interpretación simultánea en español.  

Drawing on nearly two decades of scientific research, this live (virtual) event will explore: What is purpose? Why does it matter? And, how can we — as parents — help our children and teens discover their purpose in life?

Kendall Cotton Bronk, PhD, is a professor of psychology in the Division of Behavioral & Social Sciences at Claremont Graduate University. She is the Principal Investigator at the Moral Development Lab, a research organization aimed at understanding how young people develop a sense of purpose.

Parents, students, educators, clinicians, and community members welcome! This presentation is sponsored by Peninsula Health Care District, in partnership with The Parent Venture.

Parent Café #5 (Spanish) Practical Tips for Effective Discipline

(This webinar will take place in Spanish.)

• Monday, April 19, 2021, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PDT, Online Event (Webinar)
• Presenter: Edwin Fernandez, LCSW, One Life Counseling Center
• Presenter: Lucero Govea, AMFT, Lead Wellness Counselor, Capuchino High School (SMUHSD)
• Zoom Link  

As the proverb goes, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them”. Discipline is an art that many parents find difficult to practice. But you are not alone! In this talk you will hear practical advice to discipline your child effectively and with love.

Parents and caregivers welcome! Free admission. The Parent Café is an initiative of Peninsula Health Care District, in partnership with The Parent Venture (The Parent Education Series).

Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MA, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture, at cmargot@parentventure.org

Family Talk: Vaping

Please join us for “Family Talk: Vaping”: A facilitated workshop for you and your child about vaping nicotine. What are vapes and what do they contain? What are the health risks? Why do teens use them? How can you help a young person who is using nicotine? Please attend WITH your child to discuss all of these topics and more! 

Multiple dates and times available:

• Thursday, April 29, 4 p.m.  or 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 4, 4 p.m.  or 7 p.m.

For SMFCSD middle school, SMUHSD high school families, and community members. Virtual, free of charge. Spanish translation available. Other languages available upon request. Register on Eventbrite by Mon, May 3rd:  https://tinyurl.com/v62w2pxr

ANGST: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety

• Tuesday, May 4, 6 - 8 p.m.
• Register
• This event is free.
• Spanish film subtitles and simultaneous interpretation for the panel and Q&A will be provided.
• ANGST is appropriate for viewers age 10 and older.

The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) and Safe and Supportive Schools programs present a FREE community screening of ANGST.

ANGST is an IndieFlix Original documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety. The film includes expert advice from mental health professionals, along with interviews from elementary and high school students who discuss how anxiety has impacted their lives.

The event includes a screening of the 43-minute film, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with local mental health/substance abuse prevention experts.

Parents, students, educators, counselors, mental health professionals, and community members welcome! 

This special event is sponsored by San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), Peninsula Health Care District, and Sequoia Healthcare District, in partnership with The Parent Venture.

Event Recordings

Mira la grabación Foro Virtual De Familias Latinas:  Regreso a la escuela 

Temas incluidos:

• Las cuatro Pilares para Reapertura de Escuelas
• Cuestionario de Salud y Toma de Temperatura
• Pruebas
• Modelo educativo
• Otros temas de importancia

Additional Recordings

The Parent Venture Webinar Recordings can be found in their video library. Recordings from other presenters can be found below. 

Parenting Adolescents in the Time of Covid
A discussion on navigating relationships with teenagers in current times.    

Presenter: Katherine K. Peterson, Ph.D., Licensed Educational Psychologist

Rooted in compassion for parents during these bizarre and challenging times, Licensed Educational Psychologist Dr. Katherine Peterson will review practical tips for engaging and connecting with your teenager, offering resources for families to connect with one another and share their collective wisdom.

Watch the February 24, 2021 recording.

Student Success in Distance Learning

Watch the September 1, 2020 recording. 

Presentation: English|Spanish