Foster and Kinship Care Education Program

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

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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!

September 2025 Class List

All classes are on Zoom, unless otherwise shown. All classes meet written directives for Resource Parent training.

In Person! Food Smarts: Building a Wholesome Diet

Discover how to create intentional meals, from snacks to dinnertime, in order to ultimately build a wholesome, healthy diet.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: CalFresh healthy Living (SNAP-Ed)
Register & More Info on Food Smarts

New! Advocating for a Youth that has been Sexually Assaulted

Join CASA & the Coalition for Family Harmony to learn how to utilize a trauma-informed approach to support youth who have disclosed sexual assault.
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 1-3pm
Instructor: Melissa Ipatzi, Coalition for Family Harmony
Register & More Info on Advocating

New! FKCE Resources for Success: Emergency Preparedness for your Family

Join our new monthly series to explore available resources through our program and the county, in order to ensure success for your resource family!
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 6:30-8pm
Instructor: FKCE Team (Nora Hayes)
Register & More Info on FKCE Success

Spanish! Supporting Healthy Development: Puberty, Sexual & Reproductive Health for Youth in Foster Care

This training introduces parents and caregivers to the tools needed to understand the typical stages of puberty, and how trauma or previous experiences in foster care can influence sexual and reproductive development.
Thursday, September 11, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm
Instructor: Raquel Montes
Register & More Info on Desarrollo Saludable

New! Anxiety & Depression

Understand and develop tools to recognize anxiety and depression, stay grounded and supportive, even during crisis moments, and know what to do when a child is suicidal, withdrawn, or emotionally shut down.
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Anxiety & Depression

New! Trauma and Hygiene

Understand the causes of lack of hygiene in children and youth & how you can work towards positive experiences with hygiene practices.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Hygiene

Grandparents as Parents: Homework Help

Specially crafted for kinship caregivers, this training is geared towards enhancing vital community connections as a grandparent raising a grandchild, and the unique challeneges and victories that accompany, as well as the supports and information needed to help your kinship family thrive!
Last Thursday of the Month, September 25, 2025, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Register & More Info on Grandparents

New! Stress Management for Caregivers

Practice evidence-based tools that can help you reduce stress, prevent burnout, and overall build a plan for managing stress that includes daily habits for long-term resilience in your caregiving!
Friday, September 26, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Stress Management

5 Love Languages Overview

Gain an overview of what the 5 languages of love are and discover in what ways your family best feels and receives love.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 10:30am-12pm
Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Register & More Info on 5 Love Languages

October 2025 Save The Date

Choices and Decision Making

Encourage problem solving and self-control in your child by gaining tips you can add to your parenting style.
Thursday, October 2, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Choices

Love Languages Series

Recognize, express, and incorporate the 5 love languages into your caregiving to form effective and healing bonds with the children in your care. Mix & match your attendance: choose one class, any or all!
Tuesdays and Thursdays in October 2025, 10:30-11:30am

Tuesday, October 7^th: Physical Touch

Thursday, October 9^th: Words of Affirmation

Tuesday, October 14^th: Quality Time

Thursday, October 16^th: Acts of Service

Tuesday, October 21^st: Gifts

Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Register & More Info on Love Languages

FKCE Resources for Success: Seasonal Celebrations

Become equipped with the tools you need to help your family thrive!
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 6:30-8pm
Instructor: FKCE Team (Renee Cervantez & Pam Lehtonen)
Register & More Info on FKCE Resources

In Person! FKCE Success Strategies: Preparing for the Season

Bring the kids and join us in person to increase your awareness & preparation for all the factors that come with the fall and winter season. The class is exclusively for Resource Families in Ventura County!
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 6:30-8pm
Instructor: FKCE Team
Register & More Info on FKCE Success

In Person! CSEC 101

This course will equip participants with an understanding of the psychological and social dynamics, life events, and contributing factors that can lead to the sexual exploitation of a child.
Monday, October 13, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: CASA of Ventura County
Register & More Info on CSEC 101

Connecting with Teens

This training offers tools to connect with teens, respond with empathy, and build strong relationships that support their growth and identity.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 6-9pm or Part 1 only from 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Teens

In Person! CSEC 102

Get practical and useful strategies to support prevention of youth exploitation and to participate in effective response to youth who have victimized.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: CASA of Ventura County
Register & More Info on CSEC 102

Grandparents as Parents: Making the Most of Holiday Traditions

Join the fall series of Grandparents as Parent to discover resources and gain tips that are available so you can best support your grandchild.
Thursday, October 23, 2025, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Register & More Info on Grandparents

Forever Found: Services & Overview

Gain more information about trafficking in Ventura County and the services Forever Found offers.
Wednesday, October 23, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Forever Found in partnership with CASA of Ventura County
Register & More Info on Forever Found

In Person! Turning Dreams into Degrees & College Tour at Ventura College

Join us for this in person event to learn how you can encourage and empower your youth's educational goals! Participants are encouraged to bring their middle school, high school, and college youth, as they will be getting a special college tour and introduction to VC's new resource program for youth in foster care, NextUp!
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 9:30am-12:30pm
Partners: Next Up of Ventura College, Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE), & CASA of Ventura County
Register & More Info on Dreams to Degrees

Cycle of Escalation & Strategies for Deescalating Explosive Behaviors

Learn the factors involved during the process of escalation and de-escalation and how to intervene successfully in each phase of escalation.
Thursday, October 30, 2025, Pt 1 & 2 6-9pm or part 1 only from 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Lori Switanowski
Register & More Info on Explosive Behaviors

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! Por favor revisa nuestra lista de clases en español. Todos los detalles de cada clase los recibirás en un correo electrónico después de cada registración. Mantente actualizado en este sitio web o suscríbete a nuestros correos electrónicos.
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

Lista de Clases En Español para Septiembre 2025

Apoyando el Desarrollo Saludable: Pubertad, Salud Sexual y Reproductiva para Jóvenes en Cuidado de Crianza

Aprende cómo el trauma afecta el desarrollo sexual y reproductivo, y cómo fortalecer la comunicación con los jóvenes sobre las conversaciones de la pubertad y la salud sexual y reproductiva.
Jueves, 11 de Septiembre, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm
Instructora: Raquel Montes
Registración y más información sobre la clase Desarrollo Saludable

Guarda la Fecha! El Impacto de la Adicción en los Niños y Bebés

Martes, 28 de Octubre, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm
Instructora: Raquel Montes