WiFCC Great Northern Railroad Train Ride: Trego
2025-03-29 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | N6639 Dilly Lake Rd, N6639 Dilly Lake Road, Trego, WI, 54888, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC at Great Northern Railroad for bowling and a pizza party on Saturday, March 29th starting at 11:00am. Your registration includes a train ride and pizza! To learn more about the Great Northern Railroad, visit their website: https://spoonertrainride.com/
There is a limit of 4 tickets per household.
This event is intended for adoption, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families.
Due to popularity of family events, please let your local WiFCC specialist know ahead of time if there is any reason you can no longer attend or need fewer tickets than you originally signed up for. We would like to accommodate as many families as possible.
If you have any questions about this event, contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

Shady Lane Spring Planter Workshop for Teens & Caregivers- Menomonee Falls
2025-03-29 13:00 - 15:00 | W172N7388 Shady Ln, W172N7388 Shady Lane, Menomonee Falls, WI, 53051, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Caregivers and teens, join WiFCC for a Spring Planter Workshop at Shady Lane Greenhouse on Saturday March 29th from 1pm-3pm. Shady Lanes staff will provide us with an educational discussion on spring planting tips as each attendee creates a spring planter pot.
Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Come early or stay late to explore the Midwest’s Largest G-Model Train attraction in the House of Blooms at Shady Lane Greenhouse as well.
Please register for one ticket per person, with a maximum of 4 tickets per family. This workshop is designed for caregivers and children ages 10+. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Jamie at jsocolick@cclse.org or (414) 242-5573.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

Journeys & Jockey Being Family Conference w/ Dr. Jana Hunsley: De Pere
2025-04-05 09:30 - 15:30 | Bemis Conference Center, 299 3rd Street, De Pere, WI, 54115, United States
Navigating Challenges Post-Placement. A conference for parents, caregivers, and professionals impacted by adoption or out-of-home care.

Conference Description

Adoptive parents, guardianship parents, foster parents, relative caregivers, pre-adoptive parents, and professionals — please join the Journeys Program and Jockey Being Family for a spring conference in De Pere! Dr. Jana Hunsley will be speaking about Navigating Challenges Post-Placement: Tools and Techniques for Caregivers. This comprehensive all-day training is designed to help caregivers build the skills necessary to meet the complex needs of children who have been adopted or spent time in out-of-home care, bringing greater peace and stability to the home. The morning session will provide a deeper understanding of the core beliefs about self and others that often shape the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of children who have been adopted or spent time in out-of-home care. In the afternoon, caregivers will learn practical, effective strategies for addressing common behavioral challenges such as meltdowns, aggression, lying, stealing, and defiance.
Dr. Hunsley is a psychologist who offers consulting, training, coaching, and counseling for families and professionals involved in foster care and adoption. Jana’s work focuses on understanding and meeting the needs of every member of the family constellation. She has counseled, studied, taught, trained, created, and researched foster and adoptive families for years. Taking what she has learned, Jana has developed a holistic model that has proven effective for meeting the needs and improving the quality of life for foster and adoptive families. We are so excited for her to be with us!

Overview
Lunch will be provided, as well as fruit/pastries/coffee in the morning and an afternoon snack. Certificates of attendance for 5 hours of training will also be available. The agenda for the day is shown below.
There will also be a chance to enter in for giveaways at the end of our day together!
Registration for this conference closes on Wednesday, March 26th at 6 PM. Please reach out to creppe@cclse.org with any questions.
*Please note: There is no childcare available at this conference, adults only please.

Agenda
9:00 AM Registration (Fruit, Pastries, & Coffee Available)
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Welcome & Morning Session
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM Afternoon Session Part 1
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Afternoon Break (Refreshments Available)
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Final Afternoon Session, Questions, & Giveaways

About our Presenter
Dr. Jana Hunsley received her doctorate in experimental psychology from the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University where her research focused on developing post-adoption supportive services. Over the years, Jana has worked in various clinical settings as a therapist with children and youth who have experienced trauma, including residential treatment, institutional care, schools, child welfare, and juvenile detention. Jana credits her passion for this work to her siblings who were adopted when she was a teenager.

This event is being sponsored by Jockey Being Family. To learn more about Jockey Being family, visit their website here: https://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/

Birth Parent Support Group Eau Claire
2025-04-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-06-10 18:00 - 20:00 | 318 Fulton St, 318 Fulton Street, Eau Claire, WI, 54703, United States
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VIRTUAL GROUP: Adult Adoptees
2025-04-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
A virtual group for adult adoptees in WI

Virtual Group: Reunified Parents
2025-04-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-06-11 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Adult Adoptee Paint Night: Wauwatosa
2025-04-10 16:30 - 18:30 | 1442 Underwood Ave, 1442 Underwood Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI, 53213, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

WiFCC adult adoptees or adults who experienced out of home care as a youth, please join us for a fun paint night in Wauwatosa at the Arte Studio!
The Arte Studio will provide all the materials and instruct you step-by-step to create a beautiful piece for your home or for a gift. The artistic instructor will guide you through a painting and provide all the paint and materials you need to create your own masterpiece! No food or drink will be provided by WiFCC but there will be some available for individual purchase.
Please register for one ticket per person, but significant others or other trusted adults are welcome to register with you as well. If you have any questions, accommodation needs, or ticketing/waitlist info please contact Christy at ctimm@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Open Mic Teen Support Group
2025-04-15 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-06-10 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
Youth ages 13-17 who are part of an adoptive or guardianship family in Wisconsin

VIRTUAL GROUP: Lunch and Learn Support Group
2025-04-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-15 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-06-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
A virtual group to support parents/caregivers of children impacted by adoption or out-of-home care.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Trauma Informed Parenting
2025-04-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-06-16 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
For WI caregivers who are parenting youth with a high level of need due to complex trauma histories related to adoption or out-of-home care.

VIRTUAL GROUP: KINnect Relative Caregivers of Children
2025-04-24 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-22 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-26 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-20 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
A virtual group to support relative caregivers, caring for children.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Birth Parent Support
2025-05-13 18:30 - 19:30 | WI
A virtual support group for birth parents throughout Wisconsin.

WiFCC Teen/Caregiver Horse Experience: Wausau
2025-05-16 16:30 - 18:30 | 242031 County Rd Y, 242031 County Road Y, Aniwa, WI, 54408, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for an evening of connection and fun! This event is for adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified families.
Justine Cleveland, LCSW is facilitating the event at her equine therapy location. Caregiver/teen pairs will participate in fun activities to connect with each other and the horses. Dinner and water/soda will be provided for families to enjoy. To learn more about Wholehearted Herd Counseling check out their website here: http://www.wholeheartedherdcounseling.com/
This event will be outside, so make sure you dress for the weather. Close-toed shoes are required, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty are best! Each family will also receive a giveaway to take home!
Teens ages 13-18 are welcome to attend. We understand chronological age does not always reflect developmental age. If you have a younger child who is facing teen problems, or if your child is older but developmentally within the range, please reach out to Chelsey at ccoulthurst@cclse.org, and we will work with your family to get signed up!
Please RSVP as soon as possible, as tickets for this event are limited. Also, note this event allows one caregiver + one teen per ticket and up to two tickets (two caregivers + two teens) per household .
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

Milwaukee Brewers Game Family Fun Night: Milwaukee
2025-05-16 19:00 - 22:00 | American Family Field, 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, WI, 53214, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC as we indulge in America’s favorite pastime! Come out to the ballpark to watch the Milwaukee Brewers take on the Minnesota Twins at American Family Field in Milwaukee, WI. The game starts at 7:10pm and our tickets will be in the Loge Outfield section on the first base side, second level.
One ticket is good for one person with a maximum of 6 tickets per household. If additional tickets or special accommodations are needed, please contact the Support Specialists at ctimm@cclse.org or jsocolick@cclse.org. Additional tickets will also be available for purchase separately.
Ticket distribution will be determined and communicated to you in April 2024 by a WiFCC Support Specialist. Please note, parking passes are not included in your ticket offer and must be purchased individually. For information on parking, directions, or alternative transportation to American Family Field, visit:https://www.mlb.com/brewers/ballpark/transportation
Please review the ballpark’s bag and carry-in policies at https://www.mlb.com/brewers/ballpark/security
For any questions, please email ctimm@cclse.org or jsocolick@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

Cozy Connections Book Club (Virtual)
2025-11-03 19:00 - 2026-02-16 19:00 | WI
New book announcement coming in February – stay tuned! Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Gather your people, brew some tea, and crack open a good book because connection starts with a story. The Wisconsin Family Connections Center now has book club kits ready to help individuals come together, laugh, learn, and feel less alone. Whether you are a foster, adoptive, or kinship caregiver – this group is for you!
Please join us for a series of relaxed evenings (virtual) to share reflections, connections, and conversations as we read through: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.
This online book club will meet every other week beginning near the end of February. New book announcement coming soon!
When you register, please be sure to fill out your most recent contact information as the book kits will be shipped directly to your home. We kindly ask any books sent by the Wisconsin Family Connections Center be returned after reading. If you already have a copy of this book or have access to a copy through your local library, please indicate that when you register.
Once this group finishes the current book, the group will help select the next read.
For any questions or concerns regarding this online book club, please contact Megan at mmiller@cclse.org.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Parent/Caregiver Coffee Meet-up at The Gingerbread House: Muskego
2025-11-18 09:00 - 11:00 | S63W16147 College Ave, S63W16147 College Avenue, Muskego, WI, 53150, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers, join us to connect, learn, and share! Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for this opportunity to meet with other caregivers and make connections! We will meet at The Gingerbread House in Muskego, WI. Each registrant will receive a food or drink purchase of up to $15.

You can view their menu here: https://gingerbreadfarmhouse.com/

Registration is required for this event. Contact Jamie at jsocolick@cclse.org with any questions. Please note: This is an adult only event, and no childcare will be available on site. Please make arrangements accordingly. A $25 childcare reimbursement, per family, is available for folks who must secure childcare in order to attend, if not already covered by another funding source.

Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.
