Journeys Program

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

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.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Trauma Informed Parenting
2025-05-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-06-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-15 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
2025-05-22 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.

Birth Parent Support Group Eau Claire
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: Open Mic Teen Support Group
2025-06-10 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
Youth ages 13-17 who are part of an adoptive or guardianship family in Wisconsin

Virtual Group: Reunified Parents
2025-06-11 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-12-03 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

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.

Caregiver Coffee Meet Up: Madison
2025-11-22 10:00 - 11:00 | 1748 Eagan Rd, 1748 Eagan Road, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for this opportunity to meet with other caregivers and make connections! Come enjoy a meal and cup of coffee on us and get to know other adoptive, guardianship, foster, kinship, and reunified caregivers in your area.

We will meet at Mercies Coffee in Madison, WI. Each registrant will receive up to $15.00 towards the purchase of food or drink (non-alcoholic beverages) during our time together. You can view the menu here: https://merciescoffeewi.com/#our-menu

This is a great opportunity to bring any questions, resources, or fun facts to a group of other caregivers. If you have any questions, please contact Megan at mmiller@cclse.org.

Please note: This is an adult only event, and no childcare will be available on site.
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.

WiFCC Birth Parent Smash Room and Splatter Paint: Appleton
2025-12-04 19:00 - 21:00 | 2011 N Richmond St, 2011 North Richmond Street, Appleton, WI, 54911, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

This event is open to all birth parents who have had a child placed for adoption, no matter what type of adoption or which agency was involved. Regardless of how long it’s been since placement occurred, you are eligible to sign up for this event.
Join WiFCC at The Breaking Room in Appleton to engage in a 45-minute fun, stress-relieving smash room. Use bats, golf clubs, and other tools to break ceramic, glass, and metal bustables! There will be an additional 15 minutes to participate in a splatter paint room to create your own canvas. Enjoy throwing paint with squirt guns, paint brushes, and more.
The facility will provide coveralls, gloves, and a face shield to protect you from any flying debris. Please be sure to dress comfortably and wear closed-toed shoes. For more information, check out their website here: https://www.thebreakingpointllc.com/.
If you would like to join, there will be additional time after the event for conversation and snacks at a nearby restaurant. More details to come.
We want all attendees to feel comfortable while meeting other birth parents which is why we are offering a support person ticket type for this event. This ticket will allow you to bring one supportive person to this event who does not need to identify as a birth parent.
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Karla at kmeyer@cclse.org or 715-577-3999.
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.

Eau Claire Children's Theatre Polar Express Spon by JBF: Eau Claire
2025-12-06 13:30 - 15:30 | 1814 N Oxford Ave, 1814 North Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire, WI, 54703, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC and Jockey Being Family on Saturday, December 6th at 1:30pm at the Eau Claire Children’s Theatre for The Polar Express Holiday Party! This event will feature model trains, Santa, hot chocolate and cookies, holiday bingo, a reading of The Polar Express and more! This event is intended for foster, adoptive, guardianship, reunified and relative caregiver families. Please feel free to wear holiday pajamas or festive sweaters!

There is a maximum of 6 tickets per family/household. If you have questions about this event, please contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.

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.

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.

Christmas with Santa at Busy Barn Adventure Farms Spon by JBF:Fort Atkinson
2025-12-07 13:00 - 15:00 | W7675 US Hwy 12, W7675 US Hwy 12, Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Wisconsin Family Connections Center and Jockey Being Family invites you to a special Christmas on the Farm event at Busy Barn Farm Adventures in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Bring the whole family for a magical moment with SANTA. Say hello, share your wish list, and snap a festive photo to remember. You won’t want to miss Mrs. Claus’s story time as she reads some of her favorite Christmas stories while you enjoy cookies, milk. Take a stroll out to Santa’s stables to visit and feed some of the furry and feathered friends on the farm (weather dependent and please dress accordingly). In addition, your family will enjoy hot chocolate, a s’mores bar, an ornament craft, a small stuffed animal, and a visit with Elsa & Anna. It will be an afternoon filled with special memories for the entire family. This private event is intended for foster, adoptive, guardianship, reunified and relative caregiver families residing in the State of Wisconsin.
For additional information on Busy Barn Adventure Farms, please visit: https://www.busybarnsfarm.com.
Registration for this event will begin on October 27, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. Tickets are limited to 6 individuals per household. For any questions or accommodation needs please email Jamie at 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.

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

Family Fun Night at Skate City Spon By Jockey Being Family: Rice Lake
2025-12-09 17:00 - 19:00 | 2057 17 1/4-17 1/2 Ave, 2057 17 1/4-17 1/2 Avenue, Rice Lake, WI, 54868, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families – join WiFCC and Jockey Being Family for family fun night at Skate City in Rice Lake on Tuesday, December 9th from 5:00pm-7:00pm! Along with skating, Skate City features a playland for children 11 years old and under. Pizza and beverages will be provided! Please note, there is a maximum of 5 tickets per family.
To learn more about Skate City, check out their website: http://www.sk8city.com/.
All children must have a guardian/parent present for the entire event. Each attendee, regardless of plans to skate or not, must have a registered ticket. Please note that this may not be a sensory friendly event due to loud music and lights on the rink.
If you have any questions about this event, please 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.

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

Birth Parent Support Group: Eau Claire
2025-12-09 18:00 - 20:00 | 318 Fulton St, 318 Fulton Street, Eau Claire, WI, 54703, United States
An in-person get together for birth parents in western Wisconsin

Parent/Caregiver Night at The Potter's Shed: Shell Lake
2025-12-10 17:30 - 18:30 | 260 Industrial Blvd, 260 Industrial Boulevard, Shell Lake, WI, 54871, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers, join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center at The Potter’s Shed for an evening of pottery and connection!
Registration is required for this event. Contact Madeline at mcurry@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 is available, one per family, for participants 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.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Adult Adoptees
2025-12-10 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
A virtual group for adult adoptees in WI

Timber Rattlers Holiday Lights Family Night Spon by JBF
2025-12-12 18:00 - 21:00 | Fox Cities Stadium, 2400 North Casaloma Drive, Appleton, WI, 54913, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Attention adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families and individuals!
Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center and Jockey Being Family for a new holiday experience! One million holiday lights will be on display in the ballpark – on the field, in the seating area, on the concourse – with a synchronized music and lights show scheduled to take place approximately every twenty minutes! The performance will feature a breathtaking display where the stadium lights come alive in harmony with the holiday music.
There will also be photo opportunities with Santa’s sleigh and a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree. Children will have the opportunity to write letters to Santa, go on a stadium-wide scavenger hunt, and ride the holiday train.
WiFCC has rented the Left Field lofts, which will be heated for the evening. Hot chocolate and Christmas Cookies will be provided.
If you have any questions, please contact Val at vzegers@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.

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

Zootopia 2 Family Movie Spon By Jockey Being Family: River Falls
2025-12-13 09:30 - 10:00 | 105 S Main St, 105 South Main Street, River Falls, WI, 54022, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Attention adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families and individuals–join WiFCC and Jockey Being Family to enjoy the viewing of Zootopia 2 at The Falls Theatre in River Falls. Please plan to meet at the theater between 9:15am and 9:30am to check in. The movie will begin at 10am. Popcorn and a drink will be included for each attendee in your registration!
Movie Information:Zootopia 2 (2025)Rated PG
Please note that WiFCC and Jockey Being Family will always choose family-friendly films rated PG or G, however, we have no control over the content or themes presented in the movie being shown at this event. This includes family dynamics and possible depictions of out-of-care and adoption related topics. Please take a moment to visit sites such as https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ or http://www.adoptionlcsw.com/ to see if this film falls within the scope of what you wish your child to see.
If you have questions about this event, please reach out to 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.

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

Zootopia 2 Family Movie Event Spon by JBF - Appleton
2025-12-15 17:30 - 19:30 | W3091 Van Roy Rd, W3091 Van Roy Road, Appleton, WI, 54915, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Postponed from Tuesday 12/9/2025
Please join WiFCC and Jockey Being Family for Zootopia 2 in theaters! Adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified families are welcome to attend. Each family can have up to 8 people from their family come to this event.
We have the auditorium rented out exclusively for our group. Each attendee will receive a movie ticket, a 20 oz fountain beverage, popcorn, and candy of their choice.
Plan to arrive between 5:00pm and 5:20pm to check in and grab your drinks/snacks before the movie starts at 5:30 pm.
Due to the 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 regarding this event or have any special accommodation requests, please contact Val at vzegers@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.

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

Hybrid Support Group: Taylor/Clark County Residents
2025-12-15 18:00 - 19:00 | River of Hope Church, 1129 West Broadway Avenue, Medford, WI, 54451, United States
A support group for parents/caregivers of children impacted by adoption or out-of-home care. Sep-Nov will be in-person; Dec-Mar online.
