Wisconsin Family Connections Center

They Are Not Invisible: Centering Adopted Boys’ Identity, Belonging, And Support (Dr. Adam Anthony)
2026-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
This session explores how adopted boys—particularly Black adopted boys—are often rendered invisible when adoption is understood as an endpoint rather than a lifelong experience. While stability and love are essential, they do not automatically address the layered identity, emotional, and belonging needs adopted boys carry as they grow into adolescence and adulthood.
Drawing from his lived experience as a same-race Black adoptee, his professional work in mentorship and leadership development, and research insights from his doctoral dissertation on identity and support systems, Dr. Anthony expands the ‘They Are Not Invisible’ framework. This framework names the subtle but significant ways adopted boys’ needs go unrecognized, especially when they appear “well-adjusted” or are raised in stable, loving homes.
Participants will be invited to reframe support as an ongoing practice—one that centers curiosity, lived experience, and intentional connection—and will leave with concrete ways to better affirm adopted boys’ identities, strengthen their sense of belonging, and support their long-term well-being.

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

Caregivers and teens, join the WiFCC at The Mineshaft on February 24, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for an evening of fun with pizza and arcade games! Our pizza dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m., and we will then head to the upstairs arcade from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 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.
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 who have been impacted by adoption or out-of-home care, and their immediate household members.

Cozy Connections Book Club
2026-02-23 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Online
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 to April 6th.
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.

Family Roller Skating & Pizza Party: La Crosse
2026-02-22 16:30 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | High Roller Skating Center of La Crosse, 3624 East Avenue South, La Crosse, WI, 54601, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite. (will start Dec. 31, 2025)

Enjoy a fun evening with the Wisconsin Family Connections Center at High Roller Skating Center here in La Crosse! This private event is for guardianship, adoptive, reunified, or foster families to skate and play on the indoor playground. Your family’s admission and roller skates/blades rental will be covered, and there will be pizza and soda provided as well! Each registered family will receive one pizza and a pitcher of soda. There is also an arcade that will be open, at cost of the family.
If you have any questions about this event, contact Breanna 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.

Caregiver Coffee Meet Up: Madison
2026-02-21 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Mercies Coffee, 1748 Eagan Road, Madison, WI, 53704
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for this opportunity to meet with other caregivers and make connections! Come enjoy a meal and cup of coffee on us and get to know other adoptive, guardianship, foster, kinship, and reunified caregivers in your area.
We will meet at Mercies Coffee in Madison, WI. Each registrant will receive up to $15.00 towards the purchase of food or drink (non-alcoholic beverages) during our time together. You can view the menu here: https://merciescoffeewi.com/#our-menu
This is a great opportunity to bring any questions, resources, or fun facts to a group of other caregivers. If you have any questions, please contact Megan at mmiller@cclse.org.
Please note: This is an adult only event, and no childcare will be available on site. This event is specific for adoptive, guardianship, foster, kinship, and reunified caregivers.
Register

Virtual Group: KINnect Relative Caregivers of Children
2026-02-19 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
A virtual group to support relative caregivers, caring for children.

Join us for this opportunity to connect with other relative caregivers who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as a way to share the joys and challenges of being a relative caregiver. Our meetings will continue to be held virtually on one Thursday every month from 11am-12pm.
You will need to have an internet connection, computer or phone with the free Zoom app, a webcam and microphone. Please contact Breanna at bcalko@cclse.org with questions.
This group is offered through the Wisconsin Family Connections Center, a program funded by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
All dates for 2026 are Thursdays at 11AM.

March 19
April 23
May 21
June 18
July 23
August 20
September 17
October 22
November 19
December 17

As a reminder this is for Wisconsin Residents who are relative caregivers of children.

Parent/Caregiver Coffee Meet Up at Mercantile & Bean: Mukwonago
2026-02-17 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Mercantile & Bean, W307S4759 WI-83, Mukwonago, WI, 53149
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.
Foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers, join us to connect, learn, and share! Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for this opportunity to meet with other caregivers and make connections! We will meet at Mercantile & Bean in Mukwonago, WI. Each registrant will receive a food or drink purchase of up to $15.
You can view their menu here: https://www.mercantileandbean.com/
Registration is required for this event. Contact Jamie at jsocolick@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, per family, is available for folks 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.

Virtual Group: Trauma Informed Parenting
2026-02-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
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.

Adoptive, Kinship, Reunified, Foster, & Guardianship parents and caregivers: Please join us for a trauma-informed virtual support group just for you! This group is especially for caregivers who are:
-Parenting youth with trauma histories
-Parenting youth with emotional or behavioral challenges and/or diagnoses such as RAD, DMDD, & ODD.
The group meets on the 3rd Monday of each month from noon (12:00 pm) – 1:00 pm. There will be monthly focus areas for discussion and/or guest speakers to support ongoing learning, but always with plenty of time for connection and support. Please register early as group size is limited.
This group is facilitated by WIFCC Case Manager Allison Kunkel MS, APSW. With questions, please email wifcc@cclse.org.
Please note: This group is specifically designed to provide support for the caregivers of youth with a high level of presenting need because of past trauma histories, emotional/behavioral challenges or diagnoses. You will be asked to confirm that this applies to you within your registration. If you are interested in a more social group that still has a connected parenting approach, please check out some of our other virtual support group options at https://wifcc.eventbrite.com/
This online group will utilize Zoom to connect over video chat. You will need to have access to a smart phone with the free Zoom app, or a computer with a camera and microphone.
This group is offered through the Wisconsin Family Connections Center, a program funded by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

Black Adoptees and the Complexities of Same Race Adoption
2026-02-14 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
This conversation centers Black adoptees who were raised in same race families and explores the complexities of that experience. Panelists will discuss how adoption shaped their racial and ethnic identity, sense of belonging, and connection to Black culture. They will also share the ways they navigated assumptions, expectations, and realities of being both Black and adopted.
Register
At Adoption Mosaic, we believe learning happens best in community with others. That’s why we host We the Experts, a monthly online speaker series featuring adoptee-centered conversations on topics that matter.
February’s panel will feature panelists that are Black Adoptees discussing the Complexities of Same Race Adoption. We invite adoptees to come and connect, and non-adoptees to join as listeners and learners; this is what we call an “adoptee-centered space.”
We hope to see you there!

Virtual Group: Adult Adoptees
2026-02-11 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
A virtual group for adult adoptees in WI

Connect with other adult adoptees from around Wisconsin. This will be a space for discussing your adoption experiences with others who “get it”, as well as for just getting to know one another and talking about life. This group is an open discussion format and is facilitated by an adult adoptee.
This online group will utilize Zoom to connect over video chat. You will need to have access to a smart phone or a computer with the free Zoom app, a camera and microphone. Registrants will be emailed a link to use for joining the video chat. If you have any questions, please contact creppe@cclse.org.
This group is offered through the Wisconsin Family Connections Center, a program funded by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

Family Fun Night at Skate City: Rice Lake
2026-02-11 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Skate City – Rice Lake, 2057 17 1/4-17 1/2 Ave., Rice Lake, WI, 54868, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families – join WiFCC for family fun night at Skate City in Rice Lake on Wednesday, February 11th from 5:00pm-7:00pm! Along with skating, Skate City features a playland for children 11 and under. Pizza and beverages will be provided!
To learn more about Skate City, check out their website: http://www.sk8city.com/.
All children must have a guardian/parent present for the entire event. Each attendee, regardless of plans to skate or not, must have a registered ticket. Please note that this may not be a sensory friendly event due to loud music and lights on the rink.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
If you have questions about this event, contact Madeline at mcurry@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.

Clinicians Webinar - From Conflict to Collaboration: Making Parents True Partners in Treatment
2026-02-11 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Microsoft Teams
Hard conversations with parents can leave even seasoned clinicians feeling stuck or discouraged. This session offers a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to shifting from conflict to collaboration in parent sessions. Participants will learn practical strategies to de-escalate resistance, strengthen trust, and invite parents into true partnership. Through real-world examples and usable language, clinicians will leave feeling more confident, grounded, and effective in their work with children and families.
Presented by special guest speaker to Wisconsin Family Ties, Megan M. Hamm, Ed.S, LPC-S, RPT. Megan is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist with over eighteen years of experience helping families navigate behavioral challenges. She is the owner of Time For A Change Counseling, LLC. With specialized training in trauma and attachment, Megan’s approach is rooted in understanding the underlying causes of challenging behaviors and empowering parents and clinicians with practical strategies to address them.
This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from Megan M. Hamm and walk away with practical insights you can use right away.
Questions?
Contact Kaitlyn Healy for more information.
📧 Email: khealy@wifamilyties.org

Lunch and Learn: They Are Not Invisible with Dr. Adam Anthony
2026-02-11 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
In this session, Dr. Adam Anthony centers the “They Are Not Invisible” EmpowerMENt framework, highlighting the critical need to recognize and affirm foster/adopted boys—especially boys of color, as whole, complex individuals whose behaviors often represent unseen grief, identity navigation, and resilience. Through personal narrative and practical guidance, the session explores the emotional, developmental, and cultural realities shaping their inner worlds. Families and professionals will receive grounded strategies to reduce misinterpretation, strengthen connection, and build pathways for leadership, belonging, and voice. The goal is simple yet powerful: to ensure these boys are not overlooked, mislabeled, or misunderstood, but instead fully seen and supported in every environment they move through.
Register

Virtual Group: Open Mic Teen Support Group
2026-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
Youth ages 13-17 who are part of an adoptive or guardianship family in Wisconsin

About this event
Join other teens of adoption or guardianship families for a live, video group session to socially connect and discuss topics related to challenges that arise in these family dynamics. This support group will be facilitated by Chelsey and Christy, WIFCC Support Specialists. Join as often as you would like!
This online group will utilize Zoom to connect over video chat. Your child will need to have access to a smart phone with the free Zoom app, or a computer with a camera and microphone. Parents, you will receive the link your child will need to connect to the group. If you have any questions, please contact ctimm@cclse.org or ccoulthurst@cclse.org.
Who is this group for? for teens who are in foster, adoptive, kinship, and/or guardianship families.
The group’s goal is to provide a structured and safe place for your child to build trust, coping skills, and peer connections while reducing frustration, conflicts, and anxiety felt at home. The group provides your child an opportunity to meet with fellow children dealing with similar challenges with their families on a more personal level. Your child will participate in a variety of activities and discussion while focusing on this session’s theme. The overall goal is for your child to feel supported, that they have control over their attitude and success in life, and understand the complexities of family life.
Group criteria:
• Children between the ages of 13 and 17 are welcome to participate
• During group the child needs a private space free from distractions or other members of the family, but still under the supervision of a trusted adult.
• If you register your child, please be sure they understand prior to registration that this group requires a willingness to participate.
• What your child shares in group is confidential information, unless his or her safety is at risk. Group facilitators are mandatory reporters.
Additional virtual group acknowledgments:
• I understand there are potential risks to this technology, including interruptions, unauthorized access, and technical difficulties. WIFCC may discontinue the virtual group session if it is felt that the videoconferencing connections are not adequate for the situation.
• The group participants must be residing in the state of Wisconsin.
This group is offered through the Wisconsin Family Connections Center, a program funded by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
Register

Cookies & Conversation - Moms Night Out!
2026-02-10 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | VanZeelands Nursery & Landscape, 2600 N Casaloma Dr., Appleton, WI, 54913
Please join the WiFCC for a Mom’s Night Out! Foster, pre-adoptive, and adoptive moms are welcome to come and relax while connecting with other moms touched by adoption.
Learn how to decorate your own set of Valentine-themed cookies with The Floured Whisk! You will be provided with six cookies, all the supplies to decorate, a box to take the cookies home, along with the recipes and step-by-step instructions. Everyone will receive a thank you bag with a cookie cutter, some piping bags, and some chocolates.
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.

Frosty Fun Skate Day: Ice Skating at Monona
2026-02-07 10:30 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Lake Ridge Bank River Rink, 6320 Inland Wy, Monona, WI, 53716
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite. (will start Dec. 22, 2025)

Adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregivers, and reunified families, join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for a fun filled morning ice skating at the Lake Ridge Bank River Rink in Monona, WI. We will have the rink reserved for the morning/early afternoon. Each registered skater will receive a free skate rental, and all attendees (skater or non-skater) will receive a hot cocoa and a snack. Please note there are tickets for skaters and non-skaters. If you will not be skating but plan to attend, please select a non-skater ticket.
This event will take place from 10:30am-12:30pm. Lake Ridge Bank River Rink is located in the heart of Monona. This ice rink offers the opportunity to make fun memories and, not to mention, an opportunity to show off your skills.
Due to the popularity of this event, please let us 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. Please note there will be a maximum of 6 tickets per household.
If you have any questions, please contact Megan at mmiller@cclse.org.
Hope to see you there!
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in

Caregiver Wood Board Art: Wausau
2026-02-06 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Clay Corner Studio LLC, 1801 Sherman Street, Wausau, WI, 54401, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Caregivers impacted by adoption or out-of-home care, join WiFCC at Clay Corner Studio for a Friday night of art and connection! This event will begin at 6:00 p.m. Your registration includes all supplies needed to make your craft. Please register for one ticket per person. Information on how to pick your project will be sent via email before the event.
This workshop is designed for caregivers only. If you have any questions about this event, contact Chelsey at ccoulthurst@cclse.org or 715-491-7243.
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.

Live Webinar - When Caring Hurts: Navigating Anxiety and Fear in Trauma-Informed Caregiving
2026-02-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | WEBINAR
Caring for children who have experienced trauma can be both rewarding and challenging. This webinar is designed specifically for caregivers navigating the emotional complexities of supporting children with a history of childhood trauma. We will explore how anxiety arises within our physical and emotional systems, helping caregivers better understand their own reactions when fear and stress surface. Through this lens, we’ll identify practical, trauma-informed strategies to add to your “toolbox” for managing anxiety and maintaining emotional resilience in the caregiving journey.
Register

Foster Parent and Adoptive Parent Support Group - Fond du Lac
2026-02-03 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Grace and Truth Christian Fellowship, N5776 County Rd D, Fond du Laz, WI, 54937
This group will have training opportunities, help and guidance with questions and concerns, and help to build relationships with others who are walking similar roads. Led by fellow foster parents.
A time of encouragement, support, and community.
Light refreshments and childcare will be provided. Please notify us if you will be utilizing childcare so we can plan accordingly.
Meeting on the first Tuesday of every month.
Email Lydia Duke for more info joelandlydia13@gmail.com

Teen and Parent/Caregiver Craft at Board and Brush: Eau Claire
2026-02-03 16:30 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | Board and Brush–Eau Claire, 1402 S Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI, 54701
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite. (will start Dec. 29, 2025)

Parent/caregivers and teens impacted by adoption or out-of-home care, join WiFCC at Board and Brush on Tuesday, February 3rd for an afternoon of creativity! This event will start at 4:30pm. Your registration includes all supplies needed to make your craft. Please register for one ticket per person. Information on how to pick your project will be sent via email prior to the event.
This workshop is designed for 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 about this event, contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org or 715-491-4752.
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.

Child Painting Party at Brushes & Bubbly: Wisconsin Dells
2026-02-01 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | Brushes & Bubbly, S2634 County Highway BD Suite 3, Baraboo, WI, 53913
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the WiFCC for a child painting party! This is a fun opportunity for children to create and connect while being led through the process of completing their own one-of-a-kind painting to bring home. This is open to artists of all skill levels but is designed for school-aged children. Please note that your clothing will be exposed to paint and could be stained. Dress accordingly.
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite. Each ticket will reserve only one space per registrant. Please note that families registering multiple children will need to register each child separately to secure their ticket/space. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver/adult at all times.
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.

Badger Mens Basketball Game Sponsored by Jockey Being Family: Madison
2026-01-31 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | The Kohl Center, 601 W Dayton St., Madison, WI, 53715
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite. (starts Dec. 11, 2025)

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for an afternoon of basketball featuring the Badger Men’s Basketball team vs. Ohio State. Come cheer for your favorite team at 1:00 PM at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.
Each registered attendee will receive one ticket with a maximum of 6 tickets per family. For information on directions and parking, visit: https://uwbadgers.com/sports/2015/08/21/GEN_20140101150. Please note that parking is not included with your tickets.
This event is being sponsored by Jockey Being Family. To learn more about Jockey Being family, visit their website here: https://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/
Registrants will receive tickets via email prior to the game.
If you have any questions regarding this event, or have any special accommodation requests, please contact Megan at mmiller@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.

BirthmomsConnect Virtual Support Group
2026-01-29 20:00 - 21:00 UTC | Zoom
Our BirthmomsConnect support calls are held via Zoom and available to anyone who has given birth to a child, anywhere, no matter their affiliation with On Your Feet Foundation or when they placed. The only requirements to participate are as follows:

You gave birth to and placed a child for adoption, and your placement is final.
You agree to be respectful at all times.
What is said in the group remains in the group.

To participate, please download the Zoom app. Registration is required to join the calls.
Please note: BirthmomsConnect Calls are open to anyone who has given birth to and placed a child for adoption. If you are an adoption professional, social worker, birthfather, or other individual who is interested in learning more about our virtual support groups, please contact Jennifer Adams. Do not register for the calls. This is a safe space and we ask you to be respectful of that.
If you are a birthparent of color, LGBTQIA+ individual, birthfather, or birth family member and are interested in a support call specifically for individuals who share your story and experience, please let us know by sending an email to Jennifer Adams.

On Your Feet Foundation is committed to fostering a community that celebrates the uniquely individual experiences that have brought each of us to adoption. We strive to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space in order to create a culture of safety and belonging for all of our stakeholders, one in which each voice is valued and heard.
Unmoderated/Drop-in Calls :: Thursdays* 8PM CST | 9PM EST | 6PM PST
The 1st, 3rd, 4th (and in months that have one, 5th) Thursday of each month are drop-in-calls, meaning that there is no specific topic being discussed and it is an opportunity for birthparents to connect and talk. Please remember to listen and be respectful of one another. This call may be moderated by an On Your Feet staff member and any concerns will be brought to the attention of Case Management staff.
*Please note there will not be a drop-in call on Halloween (October 31st) or Thanksgiving (November 28th).

Thinking About Supported Decision Making
2026-01-28 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | WEBINAR
This online session explains what families need to know about decision-making supports and other legal tools for soon-to-be adults in Wisconsin, including alternatives to guardianship. This session is most helpful for families with children ages 14 and older with disabilities and the providers and educators who work with them.
Sign Up
After you sign up you will get an email with information about joining the Zoom.

Parent/Caregiver Night with Loving the Loaf Sourdough: Rice Lake
2026-01-27 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Badger Brew Coffee, 2304 S Main St., Rice Lake, WI, 54868
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Parents and caregivers, join WiFCC for a beginner class on how to make your own sourdough! Your registration includes everything needed to make and bake a loaf of bread and knowledge how to keep it going. Please register a spot for each attendee. There is a maximum of 2 tickets per household.
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.
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.

Families Rising Webinar: Adoption Tax Credit
2026-01-26 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | WEBINAR
Have questions about how to claim the adoption tax credit and what the recent changes to the credit mean for you? Families Rising’s adoption tax credit expert, Josh Kroll, presents a webinar on the federal adoption tax credit outlining the steps to file. The focus is on filing for the 2025 tax year, but also covers applying for the credit for adoptions as far back as 2020. Josh explains how more parents will benefit from the 2025 changes and what parents need to do to take advantage of the credit.
This webinar recording will be shared with all registrants.
Register

WiFCC Family Bowling Day: Wausau
2026-01-24 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Day’s Bowl-A-Dome, 1715 Stewart Ave., Wausau, WI, 54401
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Please join WiFCC for a Saturday of bowling with the family! This event is intended for Wisconsin adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified families. Each registrant will get two hours of bowling, shoe rental, and two slices of pizza with unlimited soft drink refills.
If you have any questions or accommodation needs, please contact Chelsey at ccoulthurst@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.

Colorful Connections: Watercolor Workshop - Parent & Caregivers
2026-01-22 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Ginger Birch, 622 George St, De Pere, WI, 54115
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center at Ginger Birch for an engaging evening where caregivers and parents can connect through watercolor art. This interactive workshop includes your choice of watercolor pads to take home, along with brushes and palettes. Snacks and drinks will be provided. The event is designed for foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers.
If you have any questions, 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.

Live Webinar - Building Strong Relationships: Parenting with Courage
2026-01-22 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Champions Classrooms
Building strong relationships with our children begins with us, the caregivers. This session will explore the concept of parenting with courage and the capacity to focus on courage as a parenting skill. Through self-reflection and values-based exploration activities, caregivers will explore a parenting perspective grounded in strength and parenting without fear. This webinar is ideal for caregivers who are seeking personal growth and inspiration on their parenting journey.
About the presenter: Shanna Sullivan (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, and Early Childhood Family Specialist (ECMH-E®). She is a national trainer and consultant for the Center for Adoption Support and Education. She has dedicated her career in mental health to helping kids and families impacted by traumatic separation and complex developmental trauma. In addition to her perspective as a trauma therapist and advocate for adoption competency education, Shanna also brings lived and learned experience as an adoptive parent.

Virtual Group: KINnect Relative Caregivers of Children
2026-01-22 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
A virtual group to support relative caregivers, caring for children.

Join us for this opportunity to connect with other relative caregivers who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as a way to share the joys and challenges of being a relative caregiver. Our meetings will continue to be held virtually on one Thursday every month from 11am-12pm.
You will need to have an internet connection, computer or phone with the free Zoom app, a webcam and microphone. Please contact Breanna at bcalko@cclse.org with questions.
This group is offered through the Wisconsin Family Connections Center, a program funded by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
All dates for 2026 are Thursdays at 11AM.

January 22
February 19
March 19
April 23
May 21
June 18
July 23
August 20
September 17
October 22
November 19
December 17

As a reminder this is for Wisconsin Residents who are relative caregivers of children.
