Connection is prevention: Kane County invites families to the table for free Family Fun Night

Kane County fami­lies are invited to come together for a night of food, fun, and mean­ingful connection at the upcoming Family Fun Night on Monday, October 27, from 5-7 p.m., hosted at the Kanab Center. The event is completely free, with dinner gen­erously provided by Honey’s Marketplace, and is sponsored by Kane County, the Kane Community Coalition (KCC), and the Kane Community Youth Co­alition (KCYC).

This year’s Family Fun Night connects with Red Ribbon Week, carrying the theme “Don’t be scared, be prepared to talk to your kids about substance abuse.” Families will learn simple ways to build open communi­cation and strengthen protective bonds at home with the curricu­lum provided by the Parents Empowered Program.

The event highlights the powerful message that “Connection is prevention,” remind­ing parents that regu­lar family time, espe­cially during meals, is one of the most pow­erful tools to prevent underage drinking and drug use. Families that take time to talk, laugh and share meals together consistently are proven to commu­nicate better, perform stronger in school, and make healthier choices overall.

According to the Food Industry Association’s National Family Meals Movement, children who share regular family meals are more likely to have better nutrition, higher self-esteem, and stron­ger academic perfor­mance. Yet with busy schedules and daily demands, only about 30 percent of American families manage to eat dinner together every night.

“Family Meals don’t have to be fancy,” said TK Martinez, this year’s KCYC co-president. “What mat­ters most is showing up, being present and listening. That kind of connection builds trust and that trust helps kids feel valued, sup­ported and safe.”

Family Fun Night aims to make it easier and a lot more fun to start that habit. The event will feature:

• A free dinner pro­vided by Honey’s Mar­ketplace

• Games and interac­tive booths focused on family communication, safety, and prevention

• Resources and give­aways from local orga­nizations committed to keeping Kane County youth healthy and con­nected

Join us for a fun, family-centered eve­ning that brings the community together and reminds us all that the best prevention starts at home, with conversation, connec­tion, and care.

For more informa­tion on how to start conversations with your kids about alcohol and substance abuse, visit parentsempow­ered.org