As part of the Self-Healing Communities Project, adoptive parents, foster care providers and licensing agencies came together on December 6th at Grand View Lodge to launch a Learning & Support Community. 47 attendees enjoyed a program which featured a mini-ACEs presentation, a panel of speakers and table discussions to gain feedback in building a sustainable Learning & Support Community for foster care providers and adoptive parents in Crow Wing County. In addition, guests enjoyed chair massages, a delicious dinner and free YMCA childcare. Staff was busy with 39 kids!

Learning & Support Community Update FOR FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS IN CROW WING COUNTY

In your own words, what did you hope for from the event? that this empowers all foster parents to become strong advocates for their babies! to build connections within our community and to bless the foster community to continue to learn and connect with local resources and other adoptive families to feel community to connect with people to learn about resources available in the community to learn about some ways to deal with my trauma kids to gain more insight into my kids to meet other foster families to network and meet new foster families to learn, receive training and have fun to learn more about ACEs and how to be a better foster provider to hear others’ personal experiences with adoption to walk-through of how to make adoption actually happen to learn how to make a smooth transition for a child from foster care to adoption to learn more about parenting children with ACEs to meet a few new parents in the trenches with us and hear Tom’s updated ACEs talk to gain insight into more resources available to learn more about Bridges of Hope’s services to hear what others are doing to work with their foster youth to gain a better understanding of the various childcare and foster programs that it’s the start of something that inspires and helps make connections to meet foster/adoptive parents dealing with the same struggle to understand more about childhood trauma

Watch the event feature on Lakeland Public Television

Your feedback about building a LEARNING & SUPPORT COMMUNITY 24 out of 31 want to become involved in the Learning & Support Community moving forward 25 have a better understanding of ACEs and the Self-Healing Communities Project

NEEDS We need... A respite system in place for foster & adoptive parents A safe space to vent Clearer needs assessments of children Insurance for respite Therapeutic support from "Day 1" Up-front education on child's real needs, not sugar-coated To know exactly what the role of the child's social worker is

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER   ACEs  Adverse Childhood Experiences & Resiliency Presentation January 7, 2019  Bethlehem Lutheran Church, NE Brainerd FREE childcare, FREE dinner Dinner served at 5:30 pm - Program from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Trainings we'd like... ACEs & Resiliency Presentation 2-hour [SEE TRAINING ABOVE TO REGISTER! Beyond Consequences training Bootcamp for Foster Care Providers How the placements are decided How to navigate the relationship between the biological and foster care parents How to handle trauma Mobile crisis information Need clear techniques on to successfully do interventions Realistic expectations on how life will change CLICK HERE TO REGISTER  for the upcoming Car Seat Training and Orientation January 5, 2019 9 AM - 2:30 PM Crow Wing County Land Services Building   Send your name to Jen Froderman, Crow Wing County

We want... A point person for questions Better proxy letters and safety plans Case coordinators Childcare & dinner at our gatherings Full histories shared Resource information which is age specific, diagnostic specific, geographically specific.  Relationships with other foster parents and to know when other foster parents live near us Safe spaces for families Shared Google or website Trauma informed judges Updated list of local resources including a call list of local supervisors and social workers WANTS

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What was memorable? Here are your top 3! ACEs presentation | Q & A Panel | Table discussion Other highlights A night out; being able to express needs; food & childcare; general info; importance of family therapy; meeting people; the need for support; Pat Sharbonda's perspective; personal stories; respite is important; voices were heard                                                                                 What was missing? Foster adoption info; full ACEs presentation; helpful resources; more discussion time; more from Pat S.; more Q & A time; more water & soda; placement therapy; protocols of each organization; real examples & tools for fostering

CLICK HERE to learn about the National Foster Parent Association

Learning & Support Community Meeting Foster Care Providers and Adoptive Parents LOCATION Grand View Lodge, FREE Childcare & FREE Dinner DATE AND TIME 02/26/19 5:30pm - 02/26/19 8:00pm The learning and support program will be designed based on the feedback from YOU, the adoptive parents and foster care providers. I'll be there! Maybe I can't make it

CLICK HERE for The Annie E. Casey Foundation 10 Resources for Foster Parents

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