Adoptive Family Support Network - AFSN - Page

Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. But they are highly prevalent in youth. Did you know that 22% of high school students and a staggering 41% of LGBTQ youth have serious suicidal thoughts?

This September marks Su***de Prevention Month. As we provide therapy and behavioral health support to youth throughout our community, we know that the work of preventing su***de isn't limited to just this month. It's a year-round commitment, and together, we can make a difference every day.

Let's remember that each one of us has a part to play in creating a world where every young person feels valued and supported. These conversations can be difficult to have. But they can also be life-saving. Read more about what to look for and how to respond in conversations about su***de: nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Risk-of-Su***de

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call the su***de crisis hotline at 988. To get connected to support at DABSJ, please reach out to us at 616.451.2021. Help is available 💬💚

***dePreventionMonth

Still time to register for the virtual event tomorrow!

2nd Annual Kinship Care Symposium Join us for the 2nd Annual Kinship Care Symposium, an online event where we celebrate and support kinship caregivers.

This week, we honor and celebrate the incredible dedication of our Child Welfare Workers and teams at DABSJ who work tirelessly to make a positive impact in the lives of children and families every day. This passionate group specializes in building upon the strengths within a family and their community to help provide a safe and loving environment for children who are in foster care, reunifying with their family, or moving to adoption. Thank you, Child Welfare Workers!

Happy Grandparents Day to all the incredible grandparents out there, especially those who provide kinship care!

Today, we celebrate the unsung heroes who step up to provide love, support, and safety for their grandchildren. Your selflessness and unwavering dedication make the world a better place!

2nd Annual Kinship Community Summit - Passionate community partners and policy makers working together to support Michigan’s relative caregiving families!


State Representative Stephanie A. Young
D.A. Blodgett - St. John's
Michigan Kinship Care Coalition

September Events at a glance.

The process of waiting to be matched with a child can be exciting, confusing and frustrating at times. To assist you through this process, the MARE Adoption Navigators are hosting a Waiting Family Forum.

Join us and learn exactly what happens to your inquiries after you submit them at www.mare.org; find out what you can do to make the most of your wait time; learn ways to strengthen your inquiries; get tips on how to effectively advocate for your family; and meet other waiting families. Families who are approved to adopt and those waiting for their home study to be approved are welcome to attend.

Register: https://forms.gle/Gm2V4B3xpUe6k1Dc7

SAVE THE DATE: Michigan Kinship Care Coalition is hosting a Dome Day in Downtown Lansing, on September 27th. It is open to all kinship caregivers, community agencies, advocates, and families who care about kinship care.

We all need to encourage and be encouraged. ♥️

As kids are heading back to school, they are under a lot of extra stress. Here are some great things to say to them to encourage them.

Hey Kinship Families residing in Muskegon, Ottawa or Oceana Counties, this event is for you! Happening tomorrow, be sure to get registered! AFSN will be there!

Are you in Muskegon county? Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren, another relative, or close friend raising another person’s children? Then you are a KINSHIP caregiver and this event is for you!
Enjoy a fun evening at the movies and get connected!

Are you in Muskegon county? Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren, another relative, or close friend raising another person’s children? Then you are a KINSHIP caregiver and this event is for you!
Enjoy a fun evening at the movies and get connected!

We like to use all of these and especially the middle too.

Thank you! On behalf of our team at DABSJ – our Back to School Bash volunteers and contributors went a long way to make the back-to-school transition more fun (and less stressful) for local adoptive and foster families. From the bottom of our hearts, we couldn’t have done this without you!

Here are our September Support Groups.

We’re so excited to see all the families who registered to attend our Jockey Being Family Back to School Bash today! We have so much fun planned! We have an Inflatable obstacle course, balloon twister, glitter tattoos and so much more! If you registered for the event, check your email for event updates and helpful info.

Are you registered for the Back to School Bash? Here’s a few helpful tips before you arrive at DABSJ on August 16th at 4:00 p.m.
Wear sunscreen – our forecast is calling for clear, sunny skies.
• Parking is available in the DABSJ lot.
• If you are bringing foster children that cannot be shown in photographs, please let our check-in team know and we will notify our staff and photographers.
• We will have plenty of drinks and treats.
• We ask that you DO NOT bring pets of any kind (of course, guide dogs are an exception).

Our wish for you for 2023 is peace and joy.

I’m an Adoptive Parent and Here Are the 6 Things I Want You to Know Kristin Fasy is an adoptive mother and a director for a nonprofit that works on behalf of foster and adoptive youth and families. She adopted her 11-year-old son four years ago. Here is what she wants anyone considering adoption to know.

From all of us to all of you….

AFSN had a full day of fun connecting with kinship parents in Muskegon and Zeeland! We also got to take a tour of TTIMS new space! Be sure to check them out!

Great strategies for kiddos on the FASD spectrum. Also helpful for kids in general.

Kent County Adoption Day always leaves our hearts full!

Help us give a warm welcome our newest Kinship Adoptive Parent Consultant, Dee!

“I’m excited to be joining the AFSN team. I have 5 children adopted through kinship and foster care. I also have 1 granddaughter whom I help parent. We have fostered many other children. I bring many different professional and personal life experiences to AFSN. I have worked in adolescent residential care for several agencies including St. John’s Home and our children come from all different backgrounds and ethnicities. I have a passion for supporting families “in the trenches” and making our community stronger together.”