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 Conference & Resource Fair
Our Annual Kinship Family Caregiver Conference and Resource Fair is free to attendees. This event features informational speakers, specialized education and resources on financial needs, legal options, medical care and educational support.
We offer representatives from government, nonprofit and private organizations who help with legal issues, mental health concerns, food support and health services are on-hand to meet with kinship caregivers.
Past presentations have included: Advocating for Your Child in School, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Kinship Legal Options and Your Child’s Physical Development.
For more information about this conference please email warmline@lssmn.org.