Wisconsin Family Connections Center

Family Fun Day at Chippewa Falls Public Pool: Chippewa Falls
2025-08-23 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Chippewa Falls Public Pool, 1 Bridgewater Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI, 54729
Join the WiFCC at the Chippewa Falls Public Pool on Saturday, August 23rd, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The pool will be exclusively rented for our group. The pool features a zero-depth wading area and a waterslide. To learn more about the pool and the guidelines & rules, check out the website here: https://chippewafallswi.myrec.com/info/facilities/area_info.aspx?FacilityID=14716&AreaID=14728.
This event is intended for adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families. If you have any questions about this event, please 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.

August Support Group: Wellness (Evening)
2025-08-21 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Virtual
Engage in a discussion with a parent education expert about the highs and lows of parenting using evidence-based strategies for overcoming challenges, enhancing the joys of parenting, and fostering a deeper connection with your children.

Presenter: Ann-Marie St John, MS – Community Education Coordinator at Parents Place
Ann-Marie develops and facilitates educational opportunities for parents, caregivers, and professionals. She received her BA in Elementary Education from UW-Platteville and her MS in Administrative Leadership from UW-Milwaukee. She is a Level 16 and a Tier 3 Trainer through The Registry as well as a Technical Assistance Professional.

Live Webinar: Building Strong Relationships With Felt Safety
2025-08-21 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Wisconsin Family Connections Center Classroom
You’ve created a consistent and loving space—now, how do you help a child truly feel safe in it?
Safe and secure relationships are essential for healthy families, but children who have experienced adversity may need more than just a safe environment—they need to feel that safety in their body and mind. In this webinar, we’ll explore the concept of felt safety and how playful, consistent connection can help children begin to trust and connect with their caregivers. You will walk away with practical strategies, a personalized plan for strengthening felt safety at home, and creative ideas to weave playful relationship-building into everyday routines.
Presenter: Shanna Sullivan (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™. She is a Training for Adoption Competency-Trainer and Consultant for the Center for Adoption Support and Education. Shanna has dedicated her career to helping kids and families impacted by traumatic separation and complex developmental trauma. In addition to her diverse perspective as a trauma therapist and advocate for adoption competency education, Shanna also brings lived and learned experience as an adoptive parent.
Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 6:00-7:30 PM
Free | Registration is limited to 500 participants. Register for the live webinar by clicking here! Licensed foster parents will receive 1.5 training credits for participation in this webinar. Each individual participant must register separately to receive credit. Questions? Call us at 1-800-762-8063 or email info@wifamilyconnectionscenter.org

School Success
2025-08-20 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Virtual
Learn strategies for how to set the tone for a successful school year!
Presenter: Ann-Marie St John, MS – Community Education Coordinator at Parents Place
Ann-Marie develops and facilitates educational opportunities for parents, caregivers, and professionals. She received her BA in Elementary Education from UW-Platteville and her MS in Administrative Leadership from UW-Milwaukee. She is a Level 16 and a Tier 3 Trainer through The Registry as well as a Technical Assistance Professional.

Special Considerations for Serving Kin Post-Permanency
2025-08-19 14:00 - 15:00 UTC | Zoom
In this Center Chat, participants will hear from Dr. Crumbley on identifying ways that they can adapt their post-permanency programs and services to meet the needs of kin. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in an open conversation with the presenter and other child welfare professionals about kinship caregivers and post-permanency services.

End of Summer Day at the Ball Park: Appleton
2025-08-17 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Fox Cities Stadium, 2400 North Casaloma Drive, Appleton, WI, 54913
Attention adoptive, foster, guardianship & relative/kinship families! It’s an end-of-summer day at the ballpark! Jockey Being Family and the WiFCC is sponsoring an event for your families at Fox Cities Stadium for a Timber Rattlers game! We have reserved three loft suites for our families! Included in the experience will be an all-you-can-eat buffet starting 90 minutes before game time and a ticket to the Kids Zone. Each attendee receives a ticket to the game, access to the all-you-can-eat buffet and three non-alcoholic beverages per person.
You do NOT need to register for a child that is two years old and younger if they do not occupy a seat. They will not need a ticket, so you DO NOT need to include them in your number of attendees. In order to make attendance possible for the greatest number of families, each family can reserve up to 6 tickets.
*Digital Game Tickets will be sent to you via email the week prior to the game.
If you have any questions regarding this event, 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.

Family Fun Day at Little Amerricka: Marshall
2025-08-17 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Little Amerricka Amusement Park, 700 East Main Street, Marshall, WI, 53559, United States
Adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative/kinship, and reunified families, please join us for an afternoon of family fun at Little Amerricka Amusement Park! Little Amerricka is an old-fashioned amusement park featuring 26 rides and attractions, including a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, tilt-a-whirl, bumper boats, bumper cars, go karts, 18-hole mini-golf, the Whiskey River Railway, and much more! Carry-in food and drink are allowed in the park, and food is available for purchase as well.
Each ticket holder will receive a wristband that allows unlimited riding on all the rides and includes miniature golf and the Whiskey River Railway as well. Some of the rides do have height requirements. See https://www.littleamerricka.com/faq for more information.
Advance registration is required. On the day of the event, registered families can meet us at the picnic shelter anytime between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to check in and pick up their wristbands. Each family will also be required to sign Little Amerricka’s liability waiver at that time. Families are welcome to stay at the park all afternoon. The park closes at 5 pm.
Space is limited, so please register your family as soon as possible (for up to 6 tickets). Additional tickets are available for purchase separately if more are needed. If you have any questions about this event, 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.

Foster Care in Our Community: August 16, 2025
2025-08-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
Learn about what is happening right here in our Wisconsin community…foster parents and social work professionals will be here to share their experiences and answer questions. This virtual meeting is FREE and there is no obligation other than listening and asking questions! Hosted by Norris foster parents and foster care staff.
Reserve your spot here: https: https://forms.gle/fAHc1ob2uDkuKdrx9
Or visit the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1316652626214779
Questions? Call 262-222-2000 or email tfc@norriscenter.org

Adult Adoptee Coffee Meetup: Eau Claire
2025-08-16 10:30 - 11:30 UTC | Kahvi Coffee House & Cafe, 3830 Talmadge Road, Eau Claire, WI, 54701
Adult adoptees ~ Please join us at Kahvi Coffee House & Cafe (in their private meeting room) in Eau Claire for a morning of coffee or tea and conversation! This event is casual and intended for adult adoptees to connect with other adult adoptees, but please note you are welcome to also register another trusted adult to attend with you if you wish. The first $15 in coffee and/or food is on us! Feel free to bring a resource or any questions you need input or advice on, if you would like.

Caregiver Coffee Meet Up: Madison
2025-08-16 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Mercies Coffee, 1748 Eagan Road, Madison, WI, 53704
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.

Teen & Caregiver Football Bowling at 1st and Bowl: Wauwatosa
2025-08-14 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | 1st and Bowl, Wauwatosa, 2969 N 114th St, Wauwatosa, WI, 53222
Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for an evening of connection and fun! This event is for adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified teens and their caregivers.
This 2-hour event at 1st and Bowl will be a fun one! We will have two lanes of football bowling for an hour, 30 minutes of basketball connect four, and FCFS cornhole games. Additionally, we will provide pizza and soda for the group in our designated area.
Teens ages 12-18 in families impacted by adoption or out-of-home care are welcome to attend. If you have any questions or need accommodations, please reach out to Christy at ctimm@cclse.org. Please view the 1st and Bowl website for more information about them here: https://firstandbowl.com/
Tickets for this event are limited. Also, please note that this event allows one caregiver and one teen per ticket, and up to two tickets (two caregivers and two teens, or one caregiver and two teens) per household. Please arrive promptly by 5 pm, as we will only have access to certain activities for a limited time.
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.

Foundations of Tribal Child Welfare Casework Practice Training Institute
2025-08-14 10:30 - 17:00 UTC | Virtual
This training is geared toward tribal and First Nations child welfare workers who want to gain insight and increase their skills on the basics of tribal child welfare. The training is geared toward front-line workers and newer supervisors in carrying out the day-to-day duties of tribal child welfare. Topics covered include: engaging and assessing families using the relational world-view model, best practices for court preparation including writing reports and providing testimony, children and family engagement, utilizing supervision for success in serving families, and basic case management unique to tribal workers.
Register by July 31, 2025

Teen & Parent/Caregiver Splatter Room Glow Session-LK Art Bucket: Rice Lake
2025-08-12 15:30 - 16:30 UTC | LK Art Bucket, 2900 South Main Street, Rice Lake, WI, 54868
Caregivers and teens, join WiFCC at LK Art Bucket on Tuesday, August 12th. Our group will participate in a glow session in the splatter room from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Your registration includes an 8X10 canvas, protective poncho or coveralls, goggles, and shoe covers. To learn more about LK Art Bucket and the glow session splatter room, check out their website here: https://www.lkartbucket.com/.
Please note: sensitive individuals may not be able to stay in the room for the entire 55 minutes, as it can be a bit overwhelming with the darkness and glowing lights.
Please register for one ticket per person. This workshop is designed for caregivers and teens aged 12 and above. Please note that at least one ticket should be purchased 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.

Parent/Caregiver Coffee Meet-up at Coffeeville: Brookfield
2025-08-12 09:00 - 10:30 UTC | Coffeeville Company, 2825 N Brookfield Rd, Brookfield, WI, 53045
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 Coffeeville Company in Brookfield, WI. Each registrant will receive a food or drink purchase of up to $15. You can view their menu here: https://www.coffeevilleco.com/
Registration is required for this event. Contact Jamie at jsocolick@cclse.org or (414) 242-5573 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.

Teens & Caregiver Summer Rec Room Par-Tee -Brookfield Clubhouse: Brookfield
2025-08-11 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Brookfield Clubhouse, 3540 N 126th St, Brookfield, WI, 53005
Caregivers and teens, join the WiFCC for a Rec Room Private Par-Tee at the Brookfield Clubhouse on Monday, August 11th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. The Brookfield Clubhouse is a two-story rec room that boasts a full indoor golf simulator, basketball shooting game, pool table, dartboard, foosball table, air hockey table, arcade games, and much more! Come hungry as WiFCC will be providing Q-doba catering.
Visit Brookfield Clubhouse at https://www.brookfieldclubhouse.com for more information about the facility. A unique gate code will be provided to each registrant one week prior to the event for entrance into the 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.

Family Fun Day at Beaver Creek: Fall Creek
2025-08-09 09:00 - 10:30 UTC | Beaver Creek Reserve, S1 County Hwy K, Fall Creek, WI, 54742
Join the WiFCC at Beaver Creek Reserve on Saturday, August 9th, starting at 9:00 am. Please plan on arriving no later than 10:30 am to check in with WiFCC staff. The facility is open until 4:00 pm – feel free to spend the whole day exploring! Breakfast will be provided and served until 11:00 am. Beaver Creek offers nature trails, a butterfly house, a storybook hike, and much more! To learn more about Beaver Creek, check out their website: https://www.beavercreekreserve.org/.
This event is intended for adoption, foster, guardianship, relative caregivers, and reunified families.
Due to the popularity of family events, please let your local WiFCC specialist 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.
If you have any 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.

WiFCC Summer Baseball and Fireworks with the Wausau Woodchucks
2025-08-08 18:30 - 21:30 UTC | Wausau Woodchucks, 2401 N. 3rd Street, Wausau, WI, 54403, United States
Please join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for a Friday night baseball game! This event is open to foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship/relative caregiver, and reunified families. Each registrant will receive their ticket to the game along with a brat/hot dog and drink (water/soda). If you would like any additional items, those will have to come from your funds.
Our tickets are all together near the left side of the ballpark behind home plate. The seats include a backrest and a cup holder.
Registrants should plan to arrive close to 6:30 pm to get their tickets. The game will begin at 6:35 pm and will feature the Wausau Woodchucks vs the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. There will be a fireworks show after the game that you can stay and watch!
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 families, but we 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 any questions about this event, 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.

August Support Group: Wellness (Afternoon)
2025-08-07 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | Virtual

Foster Parent and Adoptive Parent Support Group - Fond du Lac
2025-08-05 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

Parent/Caregiver Night at Board & Brush: Eau Claire
2025-08-05 16:30 - 18:30 UTC | Board and Brush–Eau Claire, 1402 South Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI, 54701
Foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers, join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center to craft and connect at Board & Brush on Tuesday, August 5th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. During this event, each participant will be provided with instructions and materials to create and design a personalized wood sign or project.
Registration is required for this event. Contact Madeline at mcurry@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 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.

Bridging Success: Empowering Every Learner (WI FACETS Endless Possibilities Conference, Waukesha)
2025-08-05 08:00 - 15:00 UTC | Waukesha County Technical College, 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI, 53072
Teamwork makes the dream work! We’ve all heard this phrase, but how can we create teams to make that dream a reality? The Endless Possibilities conference will provide resources and tools to build effective teams to support our students with disabilities to succeed in school as well as in life!
Through accommodations, technology, and innovation, educators and families can help students thrive in school and prepare for success after school. We will learn about Augmentative and Assistive Communication, how to support engaged readers, and learn what others are doing to support positive outcomes for students with disabilities to achieve their goals.
The conference will be held in person at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC).
Find more details and information on the conference web page: https://wifacets.org/2025-endless-possibilities-conference/
Registration closes Friday, July 25th, 2025.
