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Hello everyone!
As we embrace the beauty of the fall season, we’re delighted to share the latest updates and resources from the WIFCC with our incredible community of foster, adoptive, kinship, and birth families and the dedicated professionals who support them.
In this edition, we invite you to meet two of our incredibly dedicated team members, Christy Timm and Chelsea Fyksen. Their unwavering dedication and expertise are at the heart of our mission, and we can’t wait for you to get to know them better.
We also celebrate the success of our recent Back-to-School Bash in Eau Claire, where families enjoyed a day filled with fun activities and left well-prepared for the new school year. Additionally, we have important updates to our support group offerings and a spotlight on valuable resources and upcoming webinars designed to support you on your journey.
Thank you for being a cherished part of our community. We look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming events and through our various support channels. Your journey is important to us, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. As always, the Wisconsin Family Connections Center team is just a phone call or email away.
Warm regards,
Your Wisconsin Family Connections Center Team
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Meet a Couple WIFCC Team Members! | |
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Meet Christy Timm!
Christy Timm has been working with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse in the area of adoption and out-of-home care support since 2020. Previously, she worked as a school counselor at a K-8 school in Kenosha County and a couple of schools in the Milwaukee Public School system. She has also worked many years in healthcare at Columbia St. Mary’s on Milwaukee’s lakefront. She enjoys learning about the intricacies of identity and family and how to cultivate resiliency in children.
She lives in the greater Milwaukee area with her husband and dog and enjoys spending her free time outside with them, playing volleyball, trivia, or games. She also loves to travel and read.
Christy says her favorite part of her position as a WIFCC Support Specialist is seeing kids loving the time they get to spend with their families and making memories at our events. She invites you to reach out to see how she can connect you with resources and support for your journey.
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Meet Chelsea Fyksen!
Chelsea Fyksen is a Resource Specialist & Training Coordinator for the Coalition for Children, Youth & Families. Chelsea believes that support, lifelong education, and engaging, thought-provoking, and relevant training are all crucial components to building resilient families.
Chelsea holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UW-Oshkosh. She and her husband have adopted two children from foster care and are passionate about the Coalition’s work, personally and professionally. Chelsea has been a member of the Coalition team since September 2023.
Chelsea’s favorite part of her work as a member of the WIFCC Team is working collaboratively with others to provide families and professionals with the support and resources they need.
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Regional Spotlight:
It is officially back-to-school season! WIFCC families in the western part of the state are even more prepared for school, thanks to their participation in the recent WIFCC Back-to-School Bash in Eau Claire, sponsored by Jockey Being Family! Families enjoyed food, fun, bouncy houses, face painting, games, community resource tables, and a live band! Every child left with a backpack filled with school supplies to support them in their new school year and, of course, a Jockey Being Family teddy bear. We were able to serve 40 families and help 115 students ease into the new school year on a high note. A huge thanks to all who participated!
Keep an eye out for all sorts of great events around the state—from goat yoga to pizza parties, roller skating to coffee talks—we love connecting with you all!
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Illuminate Your Path With WIFCC’s Highlighted Resources
Updates to Our Support Group Offerings
We have some important updates about our support groups, which are designed to better serve the community of birth, foster, adoptive, kinship, and guardianship families.
What’s New?
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New Educational Support Group: We are introducing a new educational support group specifically for Wisconsin adoptive, foster, kinship, pre-adoptive, and guardianship parents. This group will meet on the third Thursday of each month at noon. It’s an excellent opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together.
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Streamlined Offerings: We have discontinued the waiting-to-adopt and foster parent groups to focus our resources and provide the best possible support.
Ongoing Support Groups
We continue to offer eight virtual support groups, ensuring there’s a space for everyone to find the support they need.
For more details, visit our website or contact us at info@wifamilyconnectionscenter.org or 1-800-762-8063.
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Monthly Publications in the Resource Library
While we always welcome a phone call, sometimes you can find just what you need on our website. We have a wide variety of resources in our Resource Library that cover topics related to foster care, kinship caregiving, adoption, and more. These free resources include books and DVDs to borrow and downloadable items such as newsletters and tip sheets. Be sure to check out our monthly publications to quickly access what’s new in the library. You can click WiFCC Handouts to access this collection. Here is an example of what you’ll find:
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Recently Added Recorded Webinars
Mental Health 101: An Introduction to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Wisconsin
Join us for an introduction to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Wisconsin. In this webinar, parents and caregivers will learn the differences between mental health and mental illness, different diagnoses and how they can present, as well as guidance on how to assist your child during a mental health crisis.
Click here to access the webinar!
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Special Education: Keeping it Real From Birth to 21
This webinar will empower you to become an equal partner in your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Julie Quigly, a special education teacher and parent to three autistic adults, will start with all you need to know about the IEP process so you can support your child and get their needs met in a school setting. After attending this webinar, you will feel confident in understanding your role in the team, from evaluation to putting the plan in place to goal setting and reviewing progress.
Click here to access the webinar!
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We Are Go for Launch: How To Get There
This webinar focuses on supporting caregivers as they prepare to help the teens and young adults in their lives transition into independence and accept adulthood. Learn how to assess your child’s readiness and identify areas where they may need extra support. You will learn the art of letting go while still offering guidance.
Click here to access the webinar!
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Looking Ahead
Take a quick peek at what's coming up. Click on the hyperlinks or additional links provided below for more details on how to register for upcoming WIFCC opportunities.
Upcoming Fall 2024 WIFCC Family Conference
Get set for an extraordinary journey at our Fall 2024 WIFCC Family Conference! Registration is right around the corner, so don't forget to mark your calendars and set those alarms. Our dedicated planning teams have been hard at work, meticulously curating an exhilarating agenda packed with captivating topics and top-tier presenters. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure filled with excitement and enrichment—it's an experience you won't want to miss!
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Healing Centered Families 2024: A Conference for Reunified, Adoptive, and Permanent Guardianship Families
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Chula Vista Resort-Wisconsin Dells
Registration opens on Tuesday, October 1, 2024
https://bit.ly/4c6jM5c
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Upcoming Trainings
Impact of Historical Trauma on Indigenous Peoples: Building Resiliency Through Culture
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
6:00 PM-7:30 PM
This presentation provides an overview of the multifaceted dynamics of power and control that exist within intimate partner violence, the impact on children in the home, and how similar factors have historically impacted Indigenous Peoples. We will discuss how culture and tradition have alternatively guided balance and equality to promote healthy relationships and build resiliency.
Presenter: Louise Padron, Oneida Nation Family Services supervisor and a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Licensed foster parents will receive 1.5 training credits for participation, and each individual in a household must register separately to receive credit.
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You Don't Need to be Amazing, Just Better: Creating Supportive Environments for LGBTQ+ Youth
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for this webinar to learn practical ways to support LGBTQ+ youth, as well as why that support is so necessary. You will learn how to reduce rejecting behaviors to support our youth in a variety of settings, while realizing that perfection is not required. You don’t have to know all the answers or fully understand everything to be a supportive adult in a LGBTQ+ young person’s life.
Presenter: Molly Herrmann, consultant
Licensed foster parents will receive 2.0 training credits for participation, and each individual in a household must register separately to receive credit.
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The Impact of ICWA Courts: Approaches to Improving Outcomes for Indian Families
Thursday, October 24, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
ICWA Courts are specialty courts that have improved legal compliance and implementation of the spirit of the law in their respective jurisdictions through focused state-tribal partnerships. ICWA stands as the “gold standard in child welfare,” with active efforts to prevent removal and ensure reunification at the center of this important law. There are now 25 ICWA Courts nationwide using meaningful Tribal collaboration and cultural humility with Indian families to improve outcomes and sustain connections. In this presentation, attendees will learn about ICWA Courts, data outcomes, and how Tribal advocacy has impacted permanency outcomes for Tribal families in ICWA Court jurisdictions. Attendees will also understand how a state-tribal partnership team approach can improve relationships among all those working to improve outcomes for Tribal families.
Presenter: Sheldon Spotted Elk, Senior Director of Judicial and National Engagement at Casey Family Programs
Licensed foster parents will receive 1.5 training credits for participation, and each individual in a household must register separately to receive credit.
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Upcoming Family Fun Events
Here is a sampling of family fun events around the state. Click on the specific locations to find a complete listing for that area. Visit the WiFCC Eventbrite Collections to learn more: WiFCC Collections.
Madison & Surrounding Areas
- Parent/Caregiver Coffee Meetup: Waunakee - Saturday, October 12, 11 AM
Milwaukee & Surrounding Areas
- Basse's Taste of Country: Colgate - Sunday, October 6, 11 AM
- Caregiver Parent Pizza Dinner at Transfer Pizza: Walker's Point - Wednesday, October 9, 5 PM
- Adult Adoptee Pizza Dinner at Transfer Pizza: Walker's Point - Wednesday, October 9, 5 PM
- Teen & Guardian Candle Making Class at Glassnote: Milwaukee - Wednesday, November 13, 4:30 PM
- Krazy Golf Sponsored by Jockey Being Family: Waukesha - Thursday, November 14, 5 PM
- Moana 2 Family Movie Event Sponsored by Jockey Being Family: Sturtevant, Wednesday, December 18, 5 PM
Rice Lake/Superior & Surrounding Areas
- WiFCC Family Fun Day at Great Lakes Aquarium: Duluth - Saturday, November 2, 10 AM
Find the most up-to-date listing of events on the WiFCC Eventbrite Page.
Standing Support Group Offerings
Direct links to our support groups with details are listed below. Flyers for all of the ongoing support groups are located on our website. Click on the links for more details and to reserve a spot.
| To learn more about the Wisconsin Family Connections Center, visit our website. We also welcome you to connect with a member of our team by emailing info@wifamilyconnectionscenter.org or calling our toll-free number at 800-762-8063. You can also visit the Wisconsin Family Connections Center website to access Statewide and Regional staff contact information here. | | | | |
