Oct. 31, 2001

COLLEGE STATION – Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, family and friends seem more important than ever. Celebrate those relationships with National Family Week, scheduled this year for Nov. 18-24.

This annual event, organized by Alliance for Children and Families and supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is marked each year during Thanksgiving week.

"National Family Week is an wonderful time to honor the connections that support and strengthen families year round," said Peter Goldberg, president and CEO of the Alliance for Children and Families. "Families traditionally connect and celebrate during Thanksgiving week, so it's a perfect time to thank one another, as well as the other individuals and organizations who help the family thrive."

This year's theme is "Connections Count," said Dr. Dorothy James, Texas Cooperative Extension family life specialist, who pointed out how vital these connections are, not only among relatives. "You need to connect with people outside the family too," she said.

Relationships with friends and community are good for everyone's mental health, she said, adding that studies have shown how older adults especially benefit from relationships outside the immediate family.

These connections can be made in many ways, James said. For instance, church groups, business or professional organizations, recreation or hobby clubs – anywhere people get together – are ideal places to connect with others.

"Celebrate togetherness," James said, "whether by phone or by mail or in person ..."

She had some suggestions for marking this National Family Week by making Connections Count:

- Get together with family, friends and neighbors and provide items for a food pantry or a clothes closet for the needy.

- Provide Thanksgiving dinner for those less fortunate or work with an organization that does.

- Adults can mentor children in schools, providing one-on-one help for these young students who might be struggling with their reading, math or science skills.

- Join an organization such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and become an adult role model for a child who might need one.

- Experienced parents can help young parents learn how to connect with their children through such organizations as Master Parent Volunteers, an Extension project.

- Children can offer to help with chores around the house, over and above their usual responsibilities.

- Groups such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Boys and Girls Clubs can sponsor canned food drives or offer their services as babysitters.

- Older adults can volunteer to be surrogate grandparents for children who might live far away from their own grandparents.

Making Connections Count isn't difficult, James said. "Anybody can do it. All it takes is the thought and the idea."

For more information visit www.nationalfamilyweek.org on the Internet or contact a county Extension agent.