ALBANY COUNTY — Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County offers a four-week Strengthening Families Program for youth ages 12 and older and their parents or caregivers.

The series begins on Wednesday, Feb. 5, and runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for four weeks: Feb. 5, 12, and 26, and March 4.

Certificates of completion will be awarded to those who attend all four sessions. The sessions are held at Parsons Child and Family Center, Neil Hellman School at 60 Academy Road in Albany.

Advanced registration is required by contacting Maria DeLucia-Evans at 518-765-3559 or . Dinner is provided, and bus passes are available for transportation assistance. Each family will be given a gift basket.

The Strengthening Families Program is a fun, interactive series of workshops that allow parents or caregivers to spend special time with their youth and help them be successful during the teen years, according to a release from Cornell Cooperative Extension.

During each session, parents or caregivers and their children will learn ways to build on existing strengths, improve communications skills, and have fun together as a family.

Topics to expect:

— Understand teenage development, common teen challenges, and how to best help teens navigate their world;

— Improve family communication with new skills and strategies;

— Manage the challenges and stresses of peer pressure;

— Become familiar with common causes of teen stress, and how to help your teen choose strategies to reduce stress; and

— Keep family love alive, give compliments, and have fun together as a family.