Journeys Program

Shady Lane Spring Planter Workshop for Teens & Caregivers- Menomonee Falls
2025-03-29 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | 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.

WiFCC Great Northern Railroad Train Ride: Trego
2025-03-29 11:00 - 13:00 | 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.

VIRTUAL GROUP: KINnect Relative Caregivers of Children
2025-03-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-27 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
A virtual group to support relative caregivers, caring for children.

Spring Break Fun at Food & Farm Exploration Center: Plover: Spons by JBF
2025-03-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Food + Farm Exploration Center, 3400 Innovation Dr, Plover, WI, 54467, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Come out for a morning of fun at the Food and Farm Exploration Center in Plover! This is a perfect opportunity to kick off spring break by doing something fun with the family. Our group will have two hours to explore the center, which includes the Seedlings Gallery, Ag Stem Gallery, and the Farm Tech Shed.We will also participate in two pop-in sessions: The Green House or the Science of Senses. Participants have the option to order a sack lunch which includes a sandwich, string cheese, mandarin oranges, chips, cookie or brownie, and a juice pouch or small water.
To learn more about the Food and Farm Exploration Center click here: https://explorefoodandfarm.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. If you have any questions about this event, contact Chelsey at ccoulthurst@cclse.org.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
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: Lunch and Learn Support Group
2025-03-20 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-20 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
2025-03-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-17 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.

WiFCC Family Appreciation Night with the Milwaukee Bucks: Milwaukee
2025-03-16 20:00 - 22:30 | Fiserv Forum, 1111 North Vel R. Phillips Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53203, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for a Family Appreciation Night with the Milwaukee Bucks! Lets cheer on the Milwaukee Bucks vs the Oklahoma City Thunder in this evening game starting at 8:00 P.M. at Fiserv Forum.
This event is only open to families who have attended a WiFCC event within the past year as an appreciation for participation. Please note that tickets will be mailed to your home address in advance (please make sure you enter complete and accurate addresses).
One ticket is good for one person with a maximum of 5 tickets per family. Tickets are available for purchase separately if more are needed or contact the support specialist for any additional considerations.
For information on directions and parking, please visit: https://www.fiservforum.com/plan-your-visit/directions-parking. Please note that parking is not included with your tickets.
(There is a NO BAG policy at Fiserv Forum. Wallets smaller than 4” x 6” x 1” are permitted. Exceptions to this policy are diaper bags and bags needed due to medical necessity, which will need to be x-rayed by security.)
For any questions, please email Christy at ctimm@cclse.org or (414)369-7126.
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.

Child Painting Party at Brushes & Bubbly: Wisconsin Dells
2025-03-16 13:00 - 15:00 | S2634 County Hwy BD suite 3, S2634 County Highway BD, #suite 3, Baraboo, WI, 53913, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC for a child painting party! This is a fun child painting party where they will have an opportunity to create and connect while being led through the process of creating their own one-of-a-kind painting to bring home. Each ticket will reserve only one space per registrant. Please note, families registering multiple children will need to register each child separately to secure their ticket/space. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver/adult at all times. This is open to artists of all skill levels but is designed for school-aged children. Please note, your clothing will be exposed to paint and could be stained. Dress accordingly.
If you have any questions, please let contact Breanna Calko at bcalko@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.

Coffee & Conversation - Parent/Caregiver Support Meet-Up: Appleton
2025-03-14 09:00 - 10:30 | Uncle Mike’s Food Emporium, 3860 West Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton, WI, 54914, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers, join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center to connect, learn, and share!
Join us for this opportunity to meet with other caregivers and make connections! We will meet at Uncle Mike’s Food Emporium in Appleton, WI. Each registrant will receive a food and/or drink purchase of up to $10. You can view the menu here: https://umfoodemporium.com/pages/breakfast-menu
Registration is required for this event. Contact Val at vzegers@cclse.org with any questions.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Adult Adoptees
2025-03-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
A virtual group for adult adoptees in WI

VIRTUAL GROUP: Open Mic Teen Support Group
2025-03-11 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-11 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
Youth ages 13-17 who are part of an adoptive or guardianship family in Wisconsin

VIRTUAL GROUP: Birth Parent Support
2025-03-11 18:30 - 19:30 | WI
A virtual support group for birth parents throughout Wisconsin.

Gamblers Hockey Family Night Sponsored by Jockey Being Family: Green Bay
2025-03-07 19:00 - 22:00 | 820 Armed Forces Dr, 820 Armed Forces Drive, Green Bay, WI, 54304, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Come join Wisconsin Family Connections Center for a night of hockey sponsored by Jockey Being Family! Foster, Adoptive, Pre-Adoptive, and Guardianship families are welcome to attend this event. There is no cost to attend. Concessions will be available for purchase. Please make sure to dress warm as the hockey rink will be on the cooler side. If it’s very cold outside, the rink temperature will be lower as well.
Please register by 4:00 PM on Friday, February 28, 2025 as spots are limited. If you have any questions reach out to Val at vzegers@cclse.org
ATTENDANCE POLICY:Please be sure you are able to attend when you register. Thank you for your understanding, which allows us to continue to make these opportunities available for Wisconsin’s out-of-home care families.
This event is being sponsored by Jockey Being Family. To learn more about Jockey Being family, visit their website here: https://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/
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.

Indoor Mini-Golf Family Fun at Big Putts sponsored by JBF: Greenfield
2025-03-06 16:00 - 21:00 | 4251 S 27th St, 4251 South 27th Street, Greenfield, WI, 53221, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC for a fun evening of indoor mini-golf at Big Putts in Greenfield sponsored by Jockey Being Family! Their custom built, indoor mini golf course has 18 holes of fun and challenging obstacles, Big Putts Mini Golf is designed to test your skills while providing endless entertainment! This event is open to foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship/relative caregiver and reunified families. Please note that all children at this event need to be accompanied by a supervising adult.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all families but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
If you have questions about this event, contact Christy at ctimm@cclse.org.
This event is being sponsored by Jockey Being Family. To learn more about Jockey Being Family, visit their website here: https://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/
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.

Styles4Kidz Virtual Workshop for Textured Hair & Skin Care Basics
2025-03-05 19:00 - 21:00 | WI
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Attention foster and adoptive parents (or those awaiting placement) who desire to learn more about their child’s textured hair, this is the workshop for you!
This online instructional workshop, sponsored by Jockey Being Family and the Journeys Program, will be conducted via zoom from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and is a Level 1: Textured Hair & Skin Care Basics. Styles4Kidz staff will be covering basic textured hair care, skin care, and an underhand braiding demonstration. The instruction will be approximately 1.5 hours with an additional half hour for Q&A.
Each ticket is good for your whole household as this is a virtual event. We encourage you to participate with your child for real-time instructions. This event is perfect for a child with any texture of hair and any gender.
For more information about Styles4Kidz please visit: https://styles4kidz.org/
If you have any questions please reach out to 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.

Virtual Group: Reunified Parents
2025-03-05 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Parent/Caregiver Support Coffee Meet-Up: Baraboo
2025-03-02 11:30 - 12:30 | 108 3rd St, 108 3rd Street, Baraboo, WI, 53913, 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 Nautical Coffee Company in Baraboo, WI. Each registrant will receive a food or drink purchase of up to $10. You can view the menu here: https://www.nauticalcoffeeco.com/order-online
Registration is required for this event. Contact Breanna at bcalko@cclse.org with any questions.
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.

Family Fun Night at Hudson GNG Black Light Mini Golf & Jungle Gym: Hudson
2025-02-27 18:00 - 20:00 | 2760 Enloe St, 2760 Enloe Street, Hudson, WI, 54016, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC at Hudson GNG on Thursday, February 27th from 6pm-8pm for a night of black light mini golf and indoor jungle gym! The jungle gym offers a fun environment with a variety of play areas to explore and includes a toddler section. Please note, the jungle gym is for kids 12 and under.
This event is intended for foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, adoption and reunified families. There are a maximum of 5 tickets per family. No food or beverage will be provided with your registration.
To learn more about Hudson GNG, visit their website here: https://www.hudsongng.com/
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.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
If you have 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.

Family Outing at the Wisconsin Herd: Oshkosh
2025-02-22 19:00 - 21:00 | 1212 S Main St, 1212 South Main Street, Oshkosh, WI, 54902, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Please join WiFCC for a night of basketball with the Wisconsin Herd! Each individual who registers will receive a ticket to the game. This is a great opportunity to have some fun during the winter months and connect with other adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified families.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
Please reach out to Chelsey at ccoulthurst@cclse.org with any questions.
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.

Family fun at the Planetarium Show – Stargazers of Africa: Waukesha
2025-02-22 12:00 - 13:00 | S14W28167 Madison St, S14W28167 Madison Street, Waukesha, WI, 53188, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center as we celebrate Black History Month on Saturday, February 22nd from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. with a private showing of “Stargazers of Africa” at the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Show Description: From the dawn of time, African people have looked to the skies above for inspiration and guidance. Stargazers of Africa is a journey connecting the stars, moon, and planets to the people across this great continent- from long ago to the stargazers of today. To learn more about the planetarium, visit their website here: https://sdofwaukeshawi.sites.thrillshare.com/o/planetarium.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
This event is open to adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregivers, and reunified families and individuals. If you have questions about this event, contact 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.

Caregiver Coffee Meet Up: Madison
2025-02-22 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.
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.

WiFCC Family Fun Night at Adventure Zone: Duluth
2025-02-21 17:00 - 20:00 | 329 S Lake Ave, 329 South Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN, 55802, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC at Adventure Zone on Friday, February 21 from 5pm-8pm. Your registration will include unlimited mini golf, unlimited laser tag, unlimited sports play, $1 arcade play, and a hot dog and small soda. Additional arcade play is available for purchase.
This event is intended for foster, adoptive, guardianship, reunified and relative caregiver families residing in the state of Wisconsin.
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.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
To learn more about Adventure Zone located in Duluth, MN visit their website here: https://www.adventurezoneduluth.com/ Registrants MUST BE a resident of Wisconsin to register for this event.
If you have 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.

Parent/Caregiver Support Coffee Meet-Up: La Crosse
2025-02-15 10:00 - 11:30 | 2311 State Rd, 2311 State Road, La Crosse, WI, 54601, 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 JavaVino in La Crosse, WI. Each registrant will receive a food or drink purchase of up to $10. You can view the menu here: https://javavinolax.com/menu/
Registration is required for this event. Contact Breanna at bcalko@cclse.org with any questions.
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.

Adult Adoptee Coffee Meetup: Greenfield
2025-02-13 16:00 - 18:00 | 4930 W Loomis Rd, 4930 West Loomis Road, Greenfield, WI, 53220, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Please join us at Blum Coffee Garden in Greenfield for an early evening of coffee or tea and conversation! This event is casual and intended for adult adoptees to connect with other adult adoptees, but please note you are welcome to also register another trusted adult to attend with you if you wish. The first $15 in coffee and food is on us! Feel free to bring a resource or any questions you need input or advice on if you would like. We also love to share new resources related to being an adult adoptee. If you have any book or media suggestions please email Christy Timm to coordinate materials.
If you have any questions or need accommodations, please reach out to Christy T 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.

Birth Parent Support Group Eau Claire
2025-02-11 18:00 - 20:00 | 318 Fulton St, 318 Fulton Street, Eau Claire, WI, 54703, United States
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