HUNTLEY, Ill. — April 9, 2026 — Registration is now open for the Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: Integrated Youth Wellness Symposium, an educational event designed for parents and caregivers looking for practical tools to support the mental health of children and young adults during the summer months.

The symposium will be held Friday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, 10400 Haligus Road in Huntley.

Featured presenters include pediatricians, psychologists, dietitians and pediatric health providers from Northwestern Medicine, offering a wide range of perspectives on youth wellness. The event is open to the public at no cost; however, advance registration is required by April 21.

"Summer can be a challenging time for families as routines change and screen time often increases," said Allison Kranich, LCPC, behavioral health clinician at Northwestern Medicine and symposium speaker. “This symposium gives parents evidence-based strategies they can realistically apply at home, while reassuring them that they're not alone in navigating today's complex parenting landscape.”

The symposium will feature sessions focused on parenting in a digital world, including how to recognize health misinformation online, understand and calm anxious minds, and promote healthy sleep. Attendees will hear two featured presentations and have the opportunity to select two breakout sessions tailored to their interests and family needs.Presentations planned this year include:

• Don't Get Played: How to Recognize Vaccine Misinformation - Lisa Messinger, MD, pediatrics
• Log Off, Live More: Simple Strategies for Less Screen and More Life - Allison Kranich, LCPC, psychology

Breakout sessions:

• Nutrition Principles for Pediatric Health - Lindsey Shaffer, RD, dietary services
• Anxiety in Youth: Understanding Anxiety and Building Resiliency - Nicole Francen Schmitt, PsyD, psychology
• Sweet Dreams: Development, Challenges and Recommendations for Healthy Sleep - Maria Ragusa, APRN, psychiatry

For more information and to register, visit the Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: Integrated Youth Wellness Symposium registration page.