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!

May 2025 Class List

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

Daytime Series! Five Protective Factors

Strengthen your family by building protective factors that mitigate the long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect.
Wednesdays & Thursdays, 10:30-11:30am (ending on May 8, 2025)
Instructor: Nora Hayes
Register & More Info on 5 Factors

New! Being Aware of Caregiver Compassion Fatigue

Understand the impact and gain strategies to reduce the risk of compassion fatigue.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Fatigue

New! The First Seven Years: Shaping the Mind and Brain

Explore how a child’s earliest experiences, particularly in the first seven years, shape the brain, and how you can help repattern negative effects with nurturing and healing.
Monday, May 12, 2025, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on The The First Seven Years

Daytime! Resilience, Consistency, & Reliability

Understand how consistency and reliability can help children become more resilient despite a traumatic upbringing.
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Resilience

Youth & Self Sufficiency

Discover the essential skills youth need for self-sufficiency and how to support their journey toward independence despite their trauma histories.
Monday, May 19, 2025, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Self Sufficiency

Grandparents as Parents: Therapeutic Supports

Join us in this new series to connect with other kinship caregivers who may be experiencing the same challenges and experiences as you, and learn about specific services and connections you can be making in the community to help you and your kinship family thrive!
Last Thursday of the Month, May 29, 2025, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Register & More Info on Grandparents as Parents

June 2025 Class List

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) 2: Responding with Care

After briefly reviewing CSEC 1, explore the ways to reduce the impact of risky behavior over time and assist youth in their long-term safety and stability.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Carrie McAuliffe Sandoval & Raquel Montes
Register & More Info on CSEC 2

New! Dayime Class! Compassion Over Control: Shifting from Reactive to Reflective Parenting

In this new trauma-informed parenting class, learn to recognize and implement reflective parenting that is built on compassion and conscious connection.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Reflective Parenting

New! Daytime Class! Food Insecurities and Hoarding in Foster Care

Gain an understanding of how trauma can be presented through a child or teen's relationship with food.
Monday, June 9, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Food Insecurities

New! Loss, Transition, and Change

Examine the depths of grief children and youth from foster care experience and help them process loss.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 6-8:30pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Loss

Collaboration with Child Welfare Services for Permanence

Explore and determine the best permanency options and how to collaborate with CWS to navigate the system for your foster youth.
Monday, June 23, 2025, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Collaboration

Grandparents as Parents: Taking Care of Yourself

Join us in this new series to connect with other kinship caregivers who may be experiencing the same challenges and experiences as you, and learn about specific services and connections you can be making in the community to help you and your kinship family thrive!
Last Thursday of the Month, June 26, 2025, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Register & More Info on Grandparents as Parents

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! En este momento no tenemos clases en español, por favor manténgase actualizado en este sitio web para las promixas clases o suscríbase 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