Education & Support
Support and Education Groups
Our support and education groups provide a safe and empathetic space to be among people who identify and understand the joys and challenges of kinship caregiving — caring for the child of a relative or friend. Participation in these groups can be through Zoom or by phone!
Topics may include:
- Parenting in the time of COVID-19
- Understanding mental health and substance use disorders
- Improving self-care and managing stress
- Financial support and area resources
- Legal issues of kinship caregiving
- Keeping my family strong: protective factors
- Raising a child who may have experienced trauma
- Parenting with love and limits
Kinship Family Support and Education Group
First Saturday of Every Month From 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Join with other kinship caregivers — those caring for a relative's or friend's child — to receive mutual support, resources and great information during COVID-19. We want to support each other and build upon our successes!
Parenting Across Generations Group
Every Monday from 2 – 3:15 p.m.
This group provides education, information and mutual support for kinship caregivers. We will discuss thoughtful topics that can help you in your role as a kinship caregiver such as child development, relationships with adult children, understanding trauma, mental health resources and more! This group is provided in collaboration with St. Paul ECFE Programs and co-facilitated by Chris Buzzetta, Alicia Runquist and Janet Salo.
Our sincere thanks to Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging and The Brookdale Foundation for their generous support in making these education and support groups possible.
Annual Kinship Family Caregiver Virtual Fair
Join us for this free, virtual fair for kinship families happening the whole month of March.
Learn about local resources and find support for our unique situation.
WORKSHOPS
Thursday March 11
12:00 - 12:30 p.m.
Accessing Health Care Through Teen and Child Check Ups (for Kinship Caregivers)
Presented by: Monica Jones, Senior Community Health Worker
Child and Teen Checkups services are for young people who receive health care benefits through Medical Assistance. Services staff can assist families in finding clinics, accessing transportation and interpreters, setting up those appointments, and providing community resources if needed. Learn more about accessing health care for young people and what to expect when you get there!
Register for Accessing Health Care
Tuesday March 16
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Living with Kin: Working through the Feels (for Teens)
Presented by: Lauren Donoho, MSW, LGSW, Behavioral Health Clinical contractor
Are you a teen living with a relative or kin? This is a safe space to work through the unique ups and downs of living with kin. Topics include: creating friendships, keeping connections, exploring identities and managing difficult emotions.
Saturday March 20
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Accessing County Services: How to Move Forward Successfully (for Kinship Caregivers)
Presented by: Janet Salo, LSS Family Support Specialist, Kinship Family Support Services
This session will explore how to access the alphabet soup of county services for children with special needs, such as Medical Assistance, Waivers (traditional and non-traditional), Consumer Directed Supports and more! We will uncover the best ways to work successfully with case managers and get your child’s needs met. You will be provided with tips and tools to become more confident and access the services tailored to your child’s unique needs and abilities.
Register for Accessing County Services
Thursday March 25
12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Rediscovering Gratitude: Learn How to Regularly See the Genuine Goodness in Your Life (for Kinship Caregivers)
Presented by: Charlotte Bayala, creator of the Caregiver Connection Podcast, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Think of one thing you are grateful for right now, When was the last time you remember doing this? We are all busy, stressed and tired, and we rarely remember to take time to identify the genuine goodness we have in our lives. In this session you will learn how important it is to find the good in your life and gain access to ways you can incorporate gratitude into your day.
Register for Rediscovering Gratitude
Tuesday March 30
7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Evening Youth Calming Yoga (for Youth)
Presented by: Meghan Stegemann, Co-Founder of Kids Need Yoga and Lead Teacher Trainer
You've spent all day learning...it's time to stretch and move your body! In this online yoga class, you'll practice yoga-based movements, engage in creative play, and take part in breathing and mindfulness activities that cultivate a feeling of CALM. Put on your comfiest clothes, grab a blanket, and join Miss Meg from the comfort of your own home for this evening youth yoga class. Creative imagery, meditation and relaxation are introduced to give you these important calming skills to add to your life skills toolbox.
Register for Evening Youth Yoga
For more information about this virtual fair, please email warmline@lssmn.org.