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!

February 2026 Class List

All classes are on Zoom, unless otherwise shown.

New! Parentification: Understanding Hyper-Independence in Foster Care

Explore the connection of hyper-independence and parentification as a trauma response in this newly developed training.
Monday, February 9, 2026, 6-8:30pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Parent i f i ca tion

New! Resources for Success: Transitional Age Youth & Extended Foster Care

Discover ways you can help young adults build valuable skills and gain valuable county and statewide resources that support their transition into adulthood.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 6:30-8pm
Instructor: Nora Hayes
Register & More Info on Resources

Education & Foster Care

Review the educational entitlements and resources available to youth in foster care.
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Laura Welbourn & Cristina Acosta, VCOE
Register & More Info on Education

Building Healthy Self Esteem in Youth from Foster Care

Support your child’s mental well-being and self-assurance by building and implementing intentional behavioral methods into your household.
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Self Esteem

New & In Person! PAUSE: From Overwhelmed to Resilience

Join this brand-new training as your next step into creating trauma-informed environments. Participants will learn to pause, become attuned, create understanding, and support regulation and engagement within themselves and those they care for.
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 9:30am-1:30pm
Instructor: Maurissa Szilagi & Raquel Montes
Location: Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF)
Register & More Info on PAUSE

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.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Food Insecurities

New! Interpersonal Youth/Adult Partnerships

Learn practical ways to support youth voice, share decision-making appropriately, and create equal ground that builds trust-based, developmentally supportive partnerships with the young people.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Youth Equity Initiative
Register & More Info on Interpersonal Partnerships

Bi-Monthly Series! Grandparents as Parents

Join this supportive, bi-monthly series to connect with fellow kinship caregivers who understand the unique challenges while you discover resources and gain tips as a grandparent raising your grandchild.
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Register & More Info on Grandparents

March 2026 Class List

All classes are on Zoom, unless otherwise shown.

In Person! Interpersonal Youth/Adult Partnerships

Gain the advantage of attending this new training in person to discover simple tools you can implement that create trust-based partnerships and support authenticity & confidence within youth.
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 10am-12pm
Instructor: Youth Equity Initiative (YEI)
Location: Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF)
Register & for More Info on Partnerships (in person)

Educational Advocacy: Special Education: Assessments, Services & Supports

Learn about special education services and how your student in care may benefit.
Tuesday, March 10, 206, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Ventura County Office of Education, Special Education Local Plan Area (VCOE SELPA)
Register & More Info on SPED

Resources for Success: Sleep Strategies

Discover how trauma can present itself through sleep and the ways you can create sleep routines that encourage physical wellness and overall healing.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 6:30-8pm
Instructor: Renee Cervantez
Register & More Info on Resources

New & In Person! Support Services for Foster Youth

Explore and engage with various local support services that are available to your youth in care.
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 1-3pm
Instructor: CASA of Ventura County
Location: Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF)
Register & for More Info on Support Services

Relational Parenting vs. Consequential Parenting

Shift from control-based to relationship-based parenting to express supportive authority and build authentic relationships.
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Relational Parenting

Cutting, Self Harm, Destructive Behaviors

Discover the myths and motivations behind cutting and self-harm in youth, then strategies you can instill to help support your youth with destructive behaviors.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 6-8pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Destructive 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! En este momento no tenemos clases en español, por favor manténgase actualizado en este sitio web para las promixas clases 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

ACEs, Estrés Tóxico y Resiliencia

Aprenda sobre el estudio ACES, el impacto del estrés tóxico y cómo mitigar el impacto del estrés tóxico en su familia.
martes, 17 de febrero, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm
Instructora: Raquel Montes
Registración y más información sobre la clase ACEs