Celebrating over 30 years!
It all started with a compliment. A store employee noted that Gilda’s daughter looked so much like her. The disgust on her daughter’s face left Gilda thinking that she simply couldn’t be the only parent baffled, curious and struggling at times to understand her teenager. From that encounter, the idea for GPS Parent Series was born. For more than three decades we’ve provided unparalleled content, tips and solutions for today’s parents and caregivers. Always free, thanks to our generous sponsors and promotional partners, GPS is the nation’s premier parenting education and family support network. We bring the world to you each week with a line-up of renowned speakers. Many full programs can be found on our YouTube channel along with clips and Q&A sessions.
Completely Free
There is never a cost to attend. GPS Parent Series is funded by generous sponsors who feel strongly about empowering today’s caregivers to build a better tomorrow.
No Registration
Don’t worry! No registration is required. Come one, come all… come every week!
For Everyone
We have programming for every age and stage. If you’re a parent, professional, neighbor, grandparent or anyone who knows a child from infancy to age 25, this is the place to be.
Our Programs
The early years are a pivotal time, and kids don’t come with one-size-fits-all instructions. GPS is here to give you all the support you need. From tantrums to triumphs and behaviors to building skills, our experts will share their unique and thoughtful approaches to raising tiny humans. You’ll leave each event inspired and equipped with tools to help you every step of the way.
Kids are the future! But raising them can be complicated, and growing up immersed in technology takes things to another level. GPS provides cutting edge research-based tools so you can teach your kids the skills they need to thrive today and make their mark as they move confidently into the t(w)een years.
Teens are awesome! There’s only one other time in life that the brain undergoes such dramatic changes: early childhood. Adolescence can be fraught with hormones, heightened emotions and peer conflict, but it’s also an amazing time to connect, partner and learn with your teen. Having a steady, loving and supportive adult in their life is one of the best protective factors for all kids. GPS offers guidance on everything from relationships to college admissions and mental health to career planning for typical and neurodivergent children. Our programs will help you show up in a powerful way in the lives of your 14-25 year olds.
GPS is here to serve you! Our multicultural programming offers expert guidance and practical takeaways for all ages. B-PAC programs are presented in Spanish, Urdu & Hindi, and Ukrainian.
Our Sponsors
Emmy Gaffey Foundation
Emmy’s passion for style and design led her to create LaLaEmmyLand. Before she left for heaven, she opened the website, designed the bracelets and made the rhinestone, #bling, marketing tags for each bracelet. Through her dream, we will continue to make the world a better place. She always talked about donating a portion to charities, so in Emmy’s honor, using her designs and ideas, 100% of all donations will go to organizations to help young adults. Oh… and also animals, her number one charity!! Using Emily Anne as our angel in heaven, we hope to make a difference and save lives.
Cebrin Goodman Center, an affiliate of the Lillian and Larry Goodman Foundation
Cebrin Goodman was a bright, caring, talented young woman who had so much to live for and offer the world. Surrounded by a loving family and many friends, and possessing a wide range of interests (including a gift for dance and other creative arts), Cebrin seemed destined for a rich and fulfilling a life. Instead, tragically, her life ended at the age of 22, devastating those who loved her. Even today —almost 20 years after her loss— the pain and sadness are fresh. For reasons difficult to fully understand, Cebrin entered the world of drugs and eventually ended up with a full-blown addiction. Many unsuccessful attempts at therapy and rehab-hospitalizations were made to assist her in overcoming her addiction. Sadly, the hold drugs had over her was too great, and they took her down a path which led to a fatal overdose. Through the ongoing philanthropic efforts of the Cebrin Goodman Center, the Goodman family is fully devoted, in Cebrin’s memory, to spare as many families as possible the pain which they have endured over the loss of their beloved Cebrin. As her grandfather, Mr. Larry Goodman, often said: “Let us work together so that not one additional child will suffer the same tragic end as my beloved granddaughter Cebrin.”
PLT: Prevention Leadership Team, a division of the DuPage County Health Department
The PLT is a countywide community coalition working together to prevent substance use and increase mental health wellness among DuPage County Youth. Working in conjunction with the DuPage County Health Department, the PLT is well positioned to achieve significant, long-term reductions in alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use by youth as well as implement strategies aimed at increasing mental wellness throughout DuPage County.
The Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE)
The Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE) is a joint agreement between Marquardt School District 15, Queen Bee School District 16, Glen Ellyn School District 41, Lombard Elementary School District 44, Glenbard Township High School District 87, Community Consolidated School District 89 and Community Consolidated School District 93 in DuPage County. Formed in 1960, the cooperative serves students in 44 local school buildings with a range of services for students with special needs between the ages of 3 and 22 years.
School Partners
CCSD 89
CCSD 93
Glen Ellyn SD 41
Lockport Township HSD 205
Lombard SD 44
Lyons Township HSD 204
Marquardt SD 15
New Trier Township HSD 203
Queen Bee SD 16
School District U-46
Wilmette Public SD 39
Addison SD 4
Argo CHSD 217
Arlington Heights SD 25
Barrington CUSD 220
Batavia Public SD 101
Benjamin SD 25
Bensenville SD 2
Bloomingdale SD 13
Brookwood SD 167
Burr Ridge CCSD 180
Butler SD 53
Carmel Catholic High School
Cass SD 63
Center Cass SD 66
Community HSD 99
Community HSD 117
Community HSD 128
Darien SD 61
Downers Grove Grade SD 58
DuPage HSD 88
East Moline SD 34 & 37
Elmhurst CUSD 205
Fenton CHSD 100
Forest Park SD 91
Fox River Grove SD 3
Geneva CUSD 304
Glencoe SD 35
Gower SD 62
Grayslake CCSD 46
Hinsdale CCSD 181
Hinsdale Township HSD 86
Indian Prairie SD 204
Itasca SD 10
Keeneyville SD 20
LaGrange SD 102
Lake Park HSD 108
Lake Zurich CUSD 95
Lemont Township HSD 210
Leyden HSD 212
Libertyville SD 70
Lisle CUSD 202
Maercker SD 60
Medinah SD 11
Morris CHSD 101
Naperville CUSD 203
Nazareth Academy
Niles Township CHSD 219
Nippersink SD 2
Notre Dame College Prep
Oak Lawn CHSD 229
Plainfield CCSD 202
Proviso Township HSD 209
Richmond-Burton CHSD 157
Riverside Brookfield HS 208
ROE Grundy/Kendall, Kane, Will
Roselle SD 12
Round Lake Area CUSD 116
Salt Creek SD 48
School District 45
St. Charles CUSD 303
St. Viator Elementary (Chicago)
Technology Center of DuPage /DAOES
Township HSD 211
Township HSD 214
Valley View SD 365U
Warren Township HSD 121
West Aurora SD 129
West Chicago CHSD 94
West Chicago Elementary SD 33
Westchester SD 92-5
Westmont CUSD 201
Winfield SD 34
Wood Dale SD 7
Woodridge SD 68
Wheaton/Warrenville CUSD 200
Zion-Benton Township HSD 126
Zionsville Community Schools, IN
Community Partners
B. R. Ryall YMCA
Branch Moms
Glenbard Education Association
Kiwanis
Link Together Coalition
Partnership for Educational Progress
APPLE
Birth to Five Illinois
Bright and Early DuPage
Candor Health Education
Chicago Gifted Community
DCHD Behavioral Health Collab.
DuCAP
DuPage Early Childhood Collab.
Elmhurst Youth Commission
GE Unplugged
GE Youth & Family Counseling
Glenbard Early Childhood Collab.
Glendale Heights Youth Commission
Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce
Growing Resiliency in Teens 2
IL 708 Boards/ACMHAI
IL CASA
IL Counselors Assoc.
IL Human Performance Project
IL Mental Health Co. Assoc.
IL PTA
IL School Counselor Assoc.
IL Student Asst. Commission
Innovation DuPage
League of Women Voters
Lombard Chamber of Commerce
Lombard Junior Women’s Club
Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview SD 89
Municipalities: Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wheaton, Arlington Heights, Needham, MA
NAMI DuPage
NuPage Communities
One Community
Public Libraries: Addison, Arlington Heights, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glenside, Helen Plum, Wheaton, Westchester, Woodridge
SASED
Stand Strong Coalition
Teen Parent Connection
The Bookstore Glen Ellyn
Tri-Town YMCA
WeGo Together for Kids
West Nation D87
Willowbrook Early Childhood Collab.
WW Early Childhood Collab.
YPRC at Prevention First
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
360 Youth Services
Partner With Us
Promotional Partners are schools, organizations and businesses that support GPS and help us get the word out. They are shown before Zoom events and highlighted on our sponsor page. Consider becoming a partner with us. Contact Gilda Ross to see how you can help GPS reach all families everywhere.
Become a sponsor! Sponsors are agencies, organizations and people who sponsor a program or donate to GPS to help us cover the cost of speakers. You can donate to or sponsor a specific program, or give to our annual fund. Yearly sponsors are shown before each Zoom event and prominently displayed on our home page and sponsor page. Thanks to these generous organizations and individuals, GPS remains a free resource.
We can’t do it without you! When you give to GPS, no matter the amount, all of your dollars go to helping us equip parents and create families that flourish. Become a part of the growing list of individual donors we work with to inspire parents and empower youth. Because GPS Parent Series is a 501c3 organization, your gifts are tax deductible. Contact Gilda Ross to make your donation today.
Our Team
Our team is small but mighty! Gilda Ross (middle) is the founder, mastermind and director of programs for GPS. Jerica Slade (left) handles all things creative and technical. Carrie Gowans (right) provides volunteer support. Beverly Porzelt (not pictured) creates communication and reminders, and Hailey Knoll (not pictured) is our intern extraordinaire. Contact us if you’d like to be involved in our mission of creating thriving families.
We couldn’t do what we do without our sponsors, promotional partners and community members. Special thanks to Glenbard High School District 87, Superintendent Jessica Santee and all administration, staff and students for their continued support.
FAQ's
The GPS Parent Series is a 501c3 organization that brings you world renowned authors & speakers who present free research-based information on current topics to support positive youth development. Our programs strengthen family connections and help children of every age thrive. GPS is open to all, and CEU credits are available for school staff.
GPS Parent Series is a FREE resource for families, schools, students, organizations and the community at large. All our welcome to our weekly events!
GPS is proud to offer multicultural programming. We have events in Spanish, Gujarati and Urdu/Hindi each year. From the Upcoming Events page, choose the filter ‘Search by Topic’ and choose B-PAC: Multicultural to view all the programs offered in languages other than English.
There’s no registration! We make it easy for you join our virtual presentations from the comfort of your office or home. Almost all of our programs are offered at noon and 7 p.m. Central Time. Consider hosting a viewing party!
Many of our speakers give us permission to share their full programs on our YouTube channel. We also have a treasure trove of Q&A sessions available for free viewing.
Share this resource! Tell family and friends. Encourage your schools and community organizations to promote GPS.
Do you have time, money or talent that you’d like to donate? We are always seeking to improve, and we welcome your ideas! Please contact Gilda Ross to discuss ways you can support our mission.
The majority of our programs are offered virtually at noon and 7 pm Central Time so we can reach as many families as possible. However, we host several hybrid events offered in person and online.
Note: Some of the B-PAC multicultural programming is presented in-person only.
Please contact us with any other questions you have. We’d love to connect, and if you’re wondering about it, others probably are too. We’ll update this list as questions come in. Thank you!
