Journeys Program

Cozy Connections Book Club
2026-02-23 19:00 - 2026-04-06 19:00 (America/Chicago)
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 an online book club 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: Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter.
This online book club will meet every other week beginning February 23rd.
When you register, please be sure to fill out your most recent contact information as the book will be shipped directly to your home. 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.

Teen & Caregiver Fun Night at The Mineshaft: Hartford
2026-02-24 18:00 - 20:00 | 22 N Main St, 22 North Main Street, Hartford, WI, 53027, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Caregivers and teens, join WiFCC at The Mineshaft on February 24, 2026, from 6:00pm-8:00pm for an evening of fun with pizza and arcade games! Our pizza dinner will begin at 6:00pm, we will then head to the upstairs arcade from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Each person will receive a game card with preloaded credits.
The Mineshaft boasts over 70 interactive arcade games and excellent pizza.Visit the Mineshaft at https://mineshaftrestaurant.com/hartford-home for more information about their facility.
Registration for this event will begin on November 24, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. Please register for one ticket per person. This event is geared towards caregivers and teens ages 12+, so please note that at least one of your tickets should be for the accompanying adult.
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.

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

Virtual Group: Reunified Parents
2026-02-25 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-08 19:00 - 20:00
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

WiFCC Family Night at Admirals Hockey
2026-03-01 15:00 - 18:00 | 510 W Kilbourn Ave, 510 West Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53203, 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 for a family hockey day with the Admirals! The Admirals will take on the Manitoba Moose in this Sunday afternoon game. Each ticket will also include a $10 concession card that can be used at any of the food vendors at the arena.
Please refer to the Admirals website for information on the arena including their bag policy and parking availability here: https://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/fans/faq/
If you have any questions, 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.

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

Parent/Caregiver Night at The Potter's Shed: Shell Lake
2026-03-04 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 on Wednesday, March 4th from 5:30pm to 6:30pm 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.

Parents Night Out with the New Dueling Pianos: The Cove of Lake Geneva
2026-03-06 18:00 - 22:00 | 111 Center St, 111 Center Street, Lake Geneva, WI, 53147, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Calling all Wisconsin Family Connections Center parents/caregivers who are looking for a Night Out full of entertainment and laughs!!! Come join us as we jam with the NEW Dueling Pianos at The Cove in Lake Geneva. Doors open at 6:00 P.M. and the show is from 7-10:00 P.M.

What are dueling pianos? The New Dueling Pianos are a highly interactive form of musical entertainment, typically featuring two pianists facing each other on grand pianos. “The Guys” are request-based interactive, hilarious, sing-along/clap-along, request-driven singers who cover practically every music genre! For more information on the New Dueling Pianos, please visit: https://newduelingpianos.com and for information on the Cove of Lake Geneva, please visit: https://www.coveoflakegeneva.com/

Registration for this event will begin on January 05, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. Our WiFCC Tables will have two ticket types available for the show:
A couple’s ticket for you and your spouse/partner with other WiFCC couples OR
A single ticket for you to come enjoy your evening with other WiFCC parents/caregivers.

This show is for the grown-ups, so leave the kids at home! For caregivers who need to secure childcare back home in order to attend, a $25 childcare stipend will also be available.

For all questions and concerns please 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.

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

VIRTUAL GROUP: Birth Parent Support
2026-03-10 18:30 - 19:30, 2026-05-12 18:30 - 19:30
A virtual support group for birth parents throughout Wisconsin.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Open Mic Teen Support Group
2026-03-10 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-14 19:00 - 20:00
Youth ages 13-17 who are part of an adoptive or guardianship family in Wisconsin

VIRTUAL GROUP: Adult Adoptees
2026-03-11 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-08 19:00 - 20:00
A virtual group for adult adoptees in WI

Teen & Caregiver Paint Splatter Party at Field Workshop: Greendale
2026-03-13 17:00 - 18:30 | 5686 Broad St, 5686 Broad Street, Greendale, WI, 53129, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center at Field Workshop in Greendale for a fun night at the glow-in-the-dark splatter room! During this interactive party, everyone will get messy! You will be able to splatter a canvas, a hat, the walls or even your friends! Come dressed for a mess! They will provide you with protective gear, a canvas, paint and splatter tools – and you do the rest! The event is designed for foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers and teens ages 12-17.
Please register individually, with a max of 2 adults and 2 teens per household unless requested otherwise due to limited availability. At least one adult parent/caregiver must be in attendance with youth from each household.
If you have any questions, please contact Christy at ctimm@cclse.org. To learn more about the venue, and what is recommended by them for your time there, you can visit their website here: https://thefieldworkshop.com/splatter-room. **Due to the activity level of this event, every participant will need to be able to move about freely.
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.

Sunday Fun at the Children's Museum of Green Bay
2026-03-15 12:00 - 14:00 | 1230 Bay Beach Rd, 1230 Bay Beach Road, Green Bay, WI, 54302, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC for a Sunday afternoon at the Children’s Museum of Green Bay!The time will be open-house style, so come and go as you please. Mingle with other foster & adoptive parents, or just have a fun time playing and exploring the museum with your child! Parents/caregivers must stay with and supervise their children at all times during this event. Please have each household register separately.
Visit the Children’s Museum of Green Bay at https://www.gbchildrensmuseum.org/
If you have any questions or accommodation needs, 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.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Trauma Informed Parenting
2026-03-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-20 12:00 - 13:00
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
2026-03-19 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-23 11:00 - 12:00
A virtual group to support relative caregivers, caring for children.

Caregiver Coffee Meet Up: Madison
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-18 10:00 - 11:00 | 1748 Eagan Rd, 1748 Eagan Road, Madison, WI, 53704, United States

Caregivers Afternoon Out: Woodburning in Baraboo
2026-03-22 12:00 - 14:30 | 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.

WiFCC parents & caregivers, join us for a fun afternoon in Baraboo! Each caregiver will learn to create a wood burned design onto a cutting board! Pick your design from hundreds of options and create something unique. As a reminder this is an adult only event. For caregivers who need to secure childcare back home in order to attend, a $25 childcare stipend, one per family, will also be available.
If you have any questions, please 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.

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

Family Movie Night - Hoppers Sponsored by Jockey Being Family: De Pere
2026-03-23 17:00 - 19:30 | Get Reel Cinemas, 905 George Street, De Pere, WI, 54115, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Please join WiFCC and Jockey Being Family for Hoppers in theaters! Adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified families are welcome to attend. Each family can have up to 8 people from their household 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.
Movie Information:Hoppers (2026)Rated PG
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. 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.

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

Community Viewing of the 2nd annual Adoptee Film Festival: Altoona
2026-03-28 09:30 - 11:30 | 418 9th St W, 418 9th Street West, Altoona, WI, 54720, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

The Wisconsin Family Connections Center invites the community to join us for this special event focusing on the experience of adoption. Together, we will view the second annual Adoptee Film Festival, spotlighting Adoptee Filmmakers telling Adoptee Stories. This year’s Adoptee Film Festival line-up features 6 short films with a total run-time of approximately 1.5 hrs.
This event is free to attend and will be held in the Classroom at The Fish House in Altoona, WI. Light refreshments will be provided, as well as the opportunity for discussion after the films. Registration via Eventbrite is required. Please note: due to the mature themes of the films, this is an adults-only event.
For more information about the Adoptee Film Festival, visit https://www.adopteefilmfest.com or follow them on Instagram @adopteefilmfest.
If you have any questions about the event, please contact creppe@cclse.org.
FILM LINEUP‘In Trans*lation’ by Erika LauA linguist reflects on their childhood, tracing the names and stories that have shaped their identity. Through language and memory, they navigate their transnational adoptee experience and emotional complexities.
‘MARY MEETS GRACE’ by Faryl AmadeusWhen a stranger appears in Grace’s life with disturbing news about her long-lost birth mother, she must fight to untangle herself from a dangerous and sinister plan.
‘One of My Own’ by Analei SongWhen a young Chinese girl becomes more aware of her differences in her adopted caucasian family, she attempts to find her place of belonging with others and herself through artistic expression.
‘The Goldfish’ by Ashley Paige BrimAn adopted woman is forced to confront her darkest fear about motherhood at her sister’s baby shower.
‘Yellow Balloon’ by Summer LuuIn 1996, a Vietnamese-American kid named Ái Vân from San Jose, California, is adopted by their paternal immigrant grandparents in Vancouver, Washington. On their journey, Ái Vân processes their identity, the unspoken rules of complex social dynamics, and discovers the reality of letting go.
‘What Remains’ by Elizabeth BerkmanAs Mark waits for a phone call from his daughter, he begins to suspect that Maya, his in-home care nurse, is keeping something from him. While they both struggle with his cognitive decline, they must discover what family looks like in the face of Alzheimer’s.

Gamblers Hockey Family Night
2026-04-04 18:00 - 21:00 | 820 Armed Forces Dr, 820 Armed Forces Drive, Green Bay, WI, 54304, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Foster, Adoptive, Pre-Adoptive, and Guardianship families join Wisconsin Family Connections Center for a night of hockey! There is no cost to attend. Each ticket will include two brats or hot dogs / popcorn / chips and a dessert.
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.Tickets will be picked up at the Will Call window on the day of game. Schedule – Green Bay Gamblers Hockey
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.
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
2026-04-14 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

Flower Box Fun for Moms! -Suamico
2026-04-18 10:00 - 12:00 | 3070 Mink Ranch Rd, 3070 Mink Ranch Road, Suamico, WI, 54173, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

If you are a Foster, pre-adoptive, or adoptive mom, join WiFCC for a fun and creative woodburning workshop! Under the guidance of local artist Jennifer Frisch of Coneflower Creations, you’ll learn the basics of woodburning while crafting your very own Flower Box. This tabletop planter can be customized to fit your personal home decor!
No prior experience is necessary, but open to all levels! Jennifer will provide all the tools and supplies you need to design and create your own stunning piece. There are many designs to choose from, or you can bring your own image to fit on one 3.86″ H x 5.9″ W x 5.9″ D box. Don’t miss this chance to learn this creative and meditative craft, unleash your artistic side, and take home a unique creation that you made yourself!
Each participant will receive 1 Flower Box (plants not included)You will learn:-How to design and transfer images-How to safely use a wood burner-Basic woodburning techniques
Contact Val at vzegers@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.

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

Family Day at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center: Manitowoc
2026-05-02 11:00 - 13:30 | 7001 Gass Lake Rd, 7001 Gass Lake Road, Manitowoc, WI, 54220, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center, which offers an educational experience about agriculture with interactive exhibits, a birthing barn, and a farm-to-table café. The center spans over 10,000 sq. ft. and celebrates Wisconsin’s agricultural heritage. Wisconsin is highlighted as a major agricultural state with over 58,000 farms.
The itinerary includes:• A private guided tour.• Children participating in the Caring for Calves STEM lab.• Ending with ice cream from the café.• Feel free to pack a picnic lunch for their designated area.
Additional details:• Contact: Val at vzegers@cclse.org.• Cancellation policy: Must cancel 72 hours in advance; repeated late cancellations or no-shows lead to waitlist status.• Eligibility: Limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.
