BROCTON — The inaugural Family, School and Community Connections Symposium was held recently at Brocton Central School.

The symposium was a multi-county collaboration of service providers and area schools to enhance awareness of programs and encourage active engagement of services to better assist students, families and schools. The event was developed and presented by Judy Wroda, NY Connects/No Wrong Door System representative, and hosted by Southwestern Independent Living Center and the Brocton Central School District.

The symposium hosted 59 services providers and 33 guest speakers with all Chautauqua County schools, Angola and Salamanca schools in attendance. In total 251 people were in attendance and had the opportunity to learn about services that are offered to assist children and families in the Chautauqua, Erie and Cattaraugus county areas. The purpose of the event was to make the service providers more visible and allow them the opportunity share how their organization can assist the schools and families of Chautauqua and surrounding counties.

“I personally was able to reach a lot of teachers and assist them in getting their students, families the help they needed,” said Kevin Matteson, District 1, AMVETS National Veterans suicide prevention and awareness zone 1 director. “If it were not for this event, I’m not sure they would have been directed to the appropriate professionals trained to handle their issues.”

Wroda said the symposium was a step to helping families, children and schools, but said she hopes it was a step in the right direction. Wroda has an office located in Jamestown High School, which she tends to two days per week and when called upon to assist a student and their family.