NEW CASTLE Workshops aid parents of mentally ill children

Parents can improve their child's chances for success, according to an advocacy group.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Parenting a child with a disability can be overwhelming, so the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in Lawrence County is sponsoring a series of workshops to help parents cope.
NAMI is an organization that supports people with serious brain disorders, advocates for nondiscriminatory and equitable federal, state and private-sector policies for the disabled, and works on education to eliminate the stigma surrounding severe mental illness, wants parents to realize children with mental and emotional disorders can and do succeed.
NAMI says parents can create home and school environments that improve their children's success. The earlier a child's problems are addressed, the better you can prevent school and social failure for the child, the organization says.
NAMI also provides ongoing support for parents.
Workshops on parenting skills are being held each Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lawrence County CST offices at 119 E. North St., here, through Nov. 20.
The speaker is Elizabeth Kelly Scanlon, the mother of two mentally ill young adults. She has spoken at the state and national level educating parents and professionals on a variety of subjects.
Another series of workshops is being held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the CST offices on Wednesdays through Nov. 20 for women's empowerment for those in recovery and the speaker is Dianne Lemon.