Foster Kinship

📣📣📣September is not just another month; it's a time to celebrate and honor the often unsung heroes among us—🩷💙kinship caregivers💙🩷. As we observe Kinship Care Month, it's important to recognize the vital role that these caregivers play in the lives of children who, for various reasons, cannot remain with their birth parents. Whether they are , , , , or , kinship caregivers provide a sense of stability, love, and continuity that is crucial for a child's development and well-being.

🚀 We are beyond excited to officially launch our *Kids Deserve Family* Peer-to-Peer campaign! 🎉

With a powerhouse team of over 60 incredible individuals linking arms, we’re on a mission to make sure that every child in Nevada who can’t live with their parents has a safe, stable, and nurturing home. Together, we’re continuing the heart-driven work of Foster Kinship, and we won’t stop until every kiddo has the loving support they deserve! 🩵🩷

🔗 In comments to join us and/or to donate to a team member!

Foster a Leader, Ep 4: Foster Kinship When children enter foster care, the first placement considered by our team at Clark County Family Services is to find people that the children already know ...

It's time for our ⭐Kinship Caregiver 2024 Survey⭐!

We use this survey to inform our policy agenda and with the legislative session fast approaching--we need our caregiver's help💖!! Complete the survey (be sure to enter your email at the beginning) and you'll be entered into a gift card giveaway!!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfF_xRa5tTqXkrkk87tK3XqEqyDeKxUuZUzqYIP1Dl7kuEFRA/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawE68BRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcPu5aA8bMQ0j4H6d7tghjPPRl6t1OPCaSPtjqGTbk9JrQHIXjInUSyTJw_aem_nxUj4bu5Ppfz-0AkjWxeDQ

2024 NV Kinship Caregiver Feedback Survey This survey is being conducted by Foster Kinship (www.FosterKinship.org), a Nevada nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals raising their relative/close family friend's children. Your answers are anonymous. We would like to know what issues you would like to see changed. Our goal is t...

So excited to eat delicious Tacotarian empanadas and support kiddos! Our team will be there and word on the street is we may even have some stickers to gift out 🤗🩷

Drop a 🌮 in the comments if you can make it!

Have a kiddo at home that has access to Youtube, streaming services, or Social Media? The array of content that children have access to on their phone or tablet can be enriching and entertaining, but can also pose a risk to their health and mental well-being.

Join our workshop to hear about how we as caregivers can utilize Parental Control features to protect our children from a variety of online dangers.

Attend In-Person! (limited Childcare may be available. Call 702-546-9988 to register kiddos!) ==> https://calendly.com/foster-kinship-support-groups-and-trainings/in-person-trauma-informed-parenting-strategies?back=1&month=2024-08

Attend Online! ==> https://calendly.com/foster-kinship-support-groups-and-trainings/tips?back=1&month=2024-08&date=2024-08-22

--

We are thrilled to join the 100+ workplaces in Nevada designated as "Recovery Friendly". Foster Kinship is committed to creating and maintaining a safe, healthy, and shame-free workplace for employees and the families we serve! For more information on this critical initiative, please visit https://forrecovery.org/workplace/

"I was asked last week, “What do I do when ALL of my children are dysregulated at the same time?!” As a caregiver, there are times when you might find yourself managing multiple children who are dysregulated at the same time. Dysregulation can manifest as emotional outbursts, physical aggression, or withdrawal, and can be particularly challenging when more than one child is experiencing it simultaneously. Here are some strategies to help navigate these situations:"

Read more for tips about handling multiple dysregulated children at once!
https://www.fosterkinship.org/handling-multiple-dysregulated-children/

--

Take a look at this next week for Foster Kinship! Will you be joining us for anything you see here?

"As Kinship caregivers of children with vulnerable nervous systems, we face unique challenges every day when it comes to managing tricky behaviors. Understanding the need behind the behavior and being a detective isn't always simple or easy....no matter how much coffee you've had to get your upstairs brain going. We have lots of tools already in our parenting toolbox, but how do we know which tool is the right 'fix' to the behavior?"

Read the Kinship Training Institutes newest blog for some tips and tricks for Managing Difficult Behavior for Children with Vulnerable Nervous Systems ==>https://www.fosterkinship.org/strategies-for-managing-difficult-behavior/

--

Youth Advocacy Board Open Meeting happening TONIGHT!!!

Foster Kinship's Youth Advocacy Board exists to give current and former foster youth a chance to voice their opinions and work to help the child welfare system serve children and youth more effectively! See the dates listed on the graphics to learn about when and how your youth can get involved.

--

In this episode, we dive into the importance of child and parent visitations and their vital role in nurturing connections. Visitations can be challenging for caregivers, the child, and even the parents. This week, we provide strategies to help manage expectations and emotions and learn why visitations can be helpful to healing.

Listen Here ==> https://open.spotify.com/episode/6KOL2Cii19tjnyOiORz8yt?si=axHT5rlDTQShhxQO3SKa7Q

--

One of the most important parts of your journey as a kinship caregiver is to know you are not alone and support is available. Check out our options for support groups- whether you find in-person or online works best for you- we hope to see you soon!

Thank you to our good friends at First Foundation Bank for a generous grant for children and kinship families! We simply cannot do this important work without our community!

Foster Kinship's Family Forward Program exists to support the whole family, and parents play a vital role in ensuring children live in safe, stable, and nurturing homes. This program offers peer support for parents who have their children in kinship homes AND the family is working together on improving the path to reunification, co-parenting, open adoption, or another permanency outcome. Read more below!

https://www.fosterkinship.org/family-forward/

--

Foster Kinship's Kinship Training Institute provides specialized training free of cost to all kinship caregivers and professionals. Our Training Institute disseminates over 50 years of professional expertise, best practices, and evidence-based interventions to empower kinship families. Services include a library of training videos, monthly podcasts, and a blog, all accessible 24/7, bi-monthly workshops, live in-person and online training series, conferences, and resource fairs. Read more below!

https://www.fosterkinship.org/kinship-training-institute-landing/

--

Thriving After is Foster Kinship's Post Permanency program that exists to offer support and community to families that have achieved legal permanency with their children through adoption or guardianship. Support post adoption or guardianship can look like help with navigating mental health services for children, offering support groups for adoptive parents seeking peer support, Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Trainings, hosting park play dates, and more!

For more information about Thriving After, visit our website at ==> https://www.fosterkinship.org/thriving-after-post-permanency-program/

--

Marcie's Heart is Foster Kinship's Resource and Donation Center that exists to serve kinship families with tangible needs like clothing, shoes, diapers, toys, and more! We rely on our community to keep our resource center stocked with gently used items for all ages, and accept donations Tuesday - Saturday, from 9am-3pm, at our office 8691 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV, 89117.

Diapers, wipes, and children's, teens, and adult clothing is always needed!

--

It's essential to acknowledge and meet the needs of every child in the family, making sure they feel supported and valued during times of change. In their effort to heal and support their adopted children, Adoptive/Foster/Kinship Caregivers can unintentionally create a "hard place" for their biological children by not adequately addressing their needs and giving them a voice. The Kinship Training Institute has put together some tips for ensure that every child in your home feels supported and seen!

Read more below 🩷💙🩷💙

https://www.fosterkinship.org/balancing-family-dynamics/

We were honored to host (and laugh with) Larry Sandigo, Chief of Staff at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & Administration for Children and Families - ACF yesterday!

Dr. Ali Caliendo gave him a tour of Foster Kinship’s new Southern Nevada Headquarters and shared about the 18,000+ children and families served over the last 12 years! Larry shared some new research from CDC highlighting the impact of ACE’s on children and how as a nation we can work together to keep LGBTQ+ foster kids and youth safer.

We’re excited to see how we can work together on future initiatives to serve Kinship families in Nevada!

When children cannot live with their parents, they should live with their family. Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, Siblings, and Family friends are able to provide children with a home that is familiar and filled with love and care.

More than that, relatives are able to provide children with access to their family history, stories about their parents and other relatives, and answers to questions like "Why do I have brown eyes?" and "Where did my middle name come from?". Kinship Care helps children develop IDENTITY.

Foster Kinship is helping relative caregivers achieve stability so that they can focus on the task of helping children heal from their past experiences.

--

Thank you so much to Goodwill of Southern Nevada- Civic/Lake Mead location and Children's Advocacy Alliance Nevada for including Foster Kinship families in the 🎄🎁Christmas in July 🎄🎁shopping spree!!

It was so fun to watch the kids choose whatever they wanted during their private shopping session. Shoutout to the first responders and 🎅SANTA🎅 himself for brightening the morning!

The Caregiver Market in Marcie's Heart Donation Center is a kinship caregiver's way to give back to themselves! Once a month, caregivers can come in and "shop" for a VARIETY of things like adult clothing, shoes, accessories, and more, while engaging in some self-care, and meeting their own needs.

So often when children are brought into a new home, the adults who care for them forget to care for themselves. We know that a person with an empty cup cannot pour into others, which means that healing cannot be found for anyone.

Make sure that you prioritize yourself when needed 💙💙💙

Sign Up Now!! ==> https://calendly.com/marcies-heart/caregiver-market?month=2024-07

Check out our upcoming support groups! These 4 groups are offered monthly for Kinship Caregivers to connect with others who understand each other and can both give and receive support, guidance, and advice. Safe spaces like these are a vital part of building a community ❤❤❤

Registration is not required, but activates reminder texts! Call (702) 546-9988

In this episode, we will learn how to turn chaos into calm! Discover practical strategies to help your family find peace and balance amidst the daily hustle and bustle. Whether you're navigating toddler tantrums, teen turbulence, or simply seeking a more harmonious home, we've got you covered. Tune in and transform your family life one episode at a time.

Listen Here ==> https://open.spotify.com/episode/3r2L7E4UFmST8PK4j78sPk?si=rnG52zDJS7SjxG3dJVdqbA

Whatever you need on your kinship caregiving journey, Foster Kinship has a resource for you! Join us and get connected to a community of caregivers who get it!