About Foster & Kinship Care Education (FKCE)
The Ventura College Foster and Kinship Care Education Program provides quality education and support activities to the caregivers of children and youth in out-of-home care so that these providers may meet the educational, emotional, behavioral and developmental needs of children and youth.
Classes are provided in both English & Spanish, at NO COST for anyone wanting to attend. In all classes, first priority will go to Foster Parents and Kinship Providers, now referred to as Resource Parents.
For More Information
Please Contact: Clarissa Campos Alvarado, FKCE Office Assistant at (805) 289-6133 or email clarissa_camposalva1@vcccd.edu | Rhonda Carlson, FKCE Specialist at (805) 289-6181 or email rcarlson@vcccd.edu
Join Us
We now have in-person classes available as well as many live online trainings. If you still have not joined us for a virtual training, it is not too late to try it! Our team is ready and able to walk any Zoom newbies through the process. Just let us know what you need!
Clases En Español
¡Nos complace anunciar que tenemos de vuelta clases en persona y en línea! Si todavía no haz tomado una clase en línea, ¡no es demasiado tarde! Nuestro equipo está aquí para ayudarte aprender a usar Zoom y hasta puedes acompañarnos por teléfono si se te hace más fácil. Todos los detalles de cada clase los recibirás en un correo electrónico después de cada registración.
Si tienes preguntas, puedes comunicarte conmigo, Clarissa Campos Alvarado, por llamada o texto al (805) 289-6133 o puedes envíarme un correo electrónico a clarissa_camposalva1@vcccd.edu
May & June 2024 Class List
All classes are on Zoom, unless otherwise shown. All classes meet written directives for Resource Parent training.
Finding Balance Together: Trauma Informed Co-Regulation for Caregivers
Last chance for 2024 to join this highly supportive drop-in training series to recharge yourself with tips, tools, and connection to other caregivers.
Thursday, May 2, 2024, 6:30-8pm
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 6:30-8pm
Thursday, May 16, 2024, 6:30-8pm
Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 6:30-8pm
Thursday, May 30, 2024, 6:30-8pm
Instructor: Nick Lawrence
Register & More Info on Co-Regulation
New! Understanding and Addressing Defiance and Non-Compliance in Foster Care
Explore challenging behaviors and how to address them through trauma informed approaches and techniques.
Monday, May 6, 2024, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Defiance
Mental Health Services & Medication Management in Foster Care
Become an advocate for your youth’s mental health by understanding the best-practices protocol for obtaining mental health and medication services for the youth in your care.
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 6-9pm (or attend part 1 only from 6-7:30pm)
Instructor: Lori Switanowski
Register & More info on Mental Health
In Person! Trauma Informed Practices for Schools (TIPS)
Recognize how trauma is expressed by students in foster care and what ways schools are working to create a beneficial learning environment for all students and teachers.
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 9am-1pm (brunch included)
Location: Ventura County Community Foundation in Camarillo
Instructor: Maurissa Szilagi
Register & More Info on TIPS
Turning Dreams into Degrees Module 2
Support your 11th and 12 grade youth’s educational goals by gaining practical steps in educational planning, from helping with colleges applications and learning about resources, financial support to the new FAFSA guidelines!
Monday, May 13, 2024, 6-8pm
Instructor: Cindy Mendoza
Register & More Info on Dreams to Degrees 2
New! Resilience, Consistency & Reliability
Understand how consistency and reliability can help children become more resilient despite a traumatic upbringing.
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & more Info on Resilience
Fostering Nourished Families
Approach feeding challenges in a new way through background, methods, and new recipes you gain in these classes!
Tuesdays, 5:30-7pm
May 14 (part 1) & May 21 (part 2): Toxic Stress, Trauma, and Nourishment
Instructors: Renee Cervantez and Nora Hayes
Register & for More Info on Nourished Families
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC): Building Awareness
Increase awareness of why children in foster care are particularly vulnerable to the crime of CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children).
Thursday, May 16, 2024, 6-8pm
Instructor: Carrie McAuliffe Sandoval
Register & More Info on CSEC
Trauma Informed Parenting
Learn the difference between traditional parenting and trauma informed parenting while gaining skills to increase relationship success.
Monday, May 20, 2024, 6-8:30pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Trauma Informed
Spanish Class! Positive Body Image & Mindful Eating Habits
Discover the background of eating disorders then ways to support your youth to encourage mindful eating habits and positive body image.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 6:30-8:30pm
Instructor: Raquel Montes
Register & More Info on Positiva y Saludable
In Person! Fresh from the Garden
Join us in the first of our collaboration with Ventura County's CalFresh staff to learn healthy tips for feeding your family then walk away with a planting kit to start your own edible garden!
Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: CalFresh
Register & More Info on Garden
Power of Labels
Challenge the “foster youth” label by learning to express the positive attributes you see in your youth and empower them to live above the label.
Monday, June 3, 2024, 6-8pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & more Info on Labels
Supporting and Partnering with LGBTQIA Youth in Our Care
Learn the essential concepts and culture of LGBTQIA people and how to be a resource parent to an LGBTQIA youth.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 6-9pm
Instructor: Nick Lawrence
Register & More Info on LGBTQ
New! Understanding the Brain and Attachment
Discover how "The Cycle of Need" impacts attachment and ways to successfully attach with your traumatized child.
Thursday, June 20, 2024, 6-9pm (or attend part 1 only from 6-7:30pm)
Instructor: Lori Switanowski
Register & More Info on Attachment
New! How to Deal with Grief & Despair in Foster Care
Identify how the unique experiences of youth in foster care manifest into grief and trauma and how you can encourage a healing environment that addresses triggers and empowers trust.
Monday, June 24, 2024, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Grief & Despair
Spanish Class! Physical Activity & Games for Youth
Gain ideas on what you can use around your household and games to introduce that encourage daily physical activity.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: CalFresh
Register & More Info on Actividad Física
In Person! Food Sensitivity + Recipe Demonstration
Explore the background behind food sensitivity in children, the challenges involved as well as solutions and alternatives that allow your entire family to maintain balanced diets while respecting the diverse tastes and needs of family members. CalFresh will provide a recipe demo and tasting as well!
Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 6-8pm
Instructors: Nora Hayes, Renee Cervantez & CalFresh
Register & More Info on Food Sensitivity
Setting and Enforcing Effective Limits
Discover how you can effectively diffuse situations and balance challenging behaviors through these methods of setting and enforcing limits.
Thursday, June 27, 2024, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Limits
Lista de Clases en Español para Abril 2024
¡Nuevo! Cuerpos Sanos, Imagen Positiva y Alimentación Consciente
Reunirse con nosotros para una platica sobre cómo ayudar a los jóvenes a crear una imagen positiva de sí mismos en medio de presiones sociales, traumas y trastornos alimentarios.
miercoles, 22 de mayo, 2024, 6:30-8:30pm
Instructora: Raquel Montes
Registración y más información sobre la clase Cuerpos Saludables
Actividad Física y Juegos para Jóvenes
Identifica ideas sobre qué juegos o equipos puedes introducir en el hogar para mantener un estilo de vida físicamente saludable.
martes, 25 de junio, 2024, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: CalFresh
Registración y más información sobre la clase Actividad
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Office Closures | Nuestra Oficina estará cerrada:
Monday, May 27, 2024: Memorial Day | Lunes, 27 de Mayo: Día Conmemorativo de los Caídos
Wednesday, June 19, 2024: Juneteenth | Miercoles, 19 de Junio: Juneteenth