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
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!
April 2025 Class List
All classes are on Zoom, unless otherwise shown. All classes meet written directives for Resource Parent training.
Fostering Nourished Families
Tackle nutrition and feeding challenges in foster care by introducing and implementing new creative approaches that promote healthy mental well-being, physical health, and interpersonal family dynamics.
Wednesdays, April 2 & April 9, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Renee Cervantez & Nora Hayes
Register & More Info on Nourished
Daytime! Personal Boundaries and Modeling Consent
Learn how to create healthy boundaries that nourish strong, long-lasting relationships!
Thursday, April 3, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Boundaries
New! Time for the Talk - Sexual Awareness Discussions with Kids
Explore the importance of each stage and age in regard to sexual development, awareness, and boundaries.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on The Talk
Daytime! Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder and Working with Youth
From fundamentals to discipline, the knowledge you gain from this class with help you understand ASD and choose the best support for your child with special needs.
Friday, April 11, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Autism
Turning Dreams into Degrees: Preparing for Higher Education
Support your 11th and 12 grade youth’s educational goals by gaining practical steps in educational planning, from helping with colleges applications and learning about resources, financial support to the new FAFSA guidelines!
Monday, April 14, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Cindy Mendoza (VCOE)
Register & More Info on D2D 2
Helping your Youth Handle Peer Pressure
Learn about the importance of positive and negative peer pressure in addition to the dangerous consequences of peer pressure for youth in foster care.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 6-9pm (or attend part 1 only from 6-7:30pm)
Instructor: Lori Switanowski
Register & More Info on Peer Pressure
Daytime Series! Five Protective Factors
Strengthen your family by building protective factors that mitigate the long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect.
Wednesdays and Thursdays, beginning April 23, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Instructor: Nora Hayes
Register & More Info on Five Factors
Grandparents as Parents: Finances and Budgeting
Join us in this new series to connect with other kinship caregivers who may be experiencing the same challenges and experiences as you, and learn about specific services and connections you can be making in the community to help you and your kinship family thrive!
Last Thursday of the Month, April 24 2025, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Register & More Info on Grandparents as Parents
New! Helping a Child Heal from Sexual Abuse
Gain a trauma-informed understanding of the effects of sexual abuse and the tools to create safety, build trust, and support healing in children who have experienced sexual trauma.
Monday, April 28, 2025, 5:30-7pm
Instructor: Anne Rodriguez
Register & More Info on Heal
Creative Healing: How Art Supports Trauma Recovery
Learn how art can be a helpful tool and coping technique to allow children to express pain & joy.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 6-8pm
Instructor: Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Register & More Info on Creative Healing
May 2025 Save The Date
Thursday, May 1, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Five Factors: Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development w/ Nora Hayes
Monday, May 5, 2025, 6-8pm
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC): Building Awareness w/ Carrie McAuliffe Sandoval
Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Five Factors: Concrete Support in Times of Need w/ Nora Hayes
Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 6-8pm
Being Aware of Caregiver Compassion Fatigue w/ Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Thursday, May 8, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Five Factors: Children's Social & Emotional Competence w/ Nora Hayes
Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6-9pm (or attend part 1 only from 6-7:30pm)
Understanding the Brain and Mental Illness w/ Lori Switanowski
Monday, May 12, 2025, 5:30-7pm
The First Seven Years: Shaping the Mind and Brain w/ Anne Rodriguez
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 10:30-11:30am
Resilience, Consistency & Reliability w/ Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage
Monday, May 19, 2025, 5:30-7pm
Collaboration with Child Welfare Services for Permanence/ Permanency Planning w/ Anne Rodriguez
Thursday, May 29, 2025, 6-7:30pm
Grandparents as Parents: Therapeutic Supports w/ Pam Lehtonen
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! Nuestro equipo está aquí para ayudarte aprender a usar Zoom y hasta puedes acompañarnos por teléfono si se te hace más fácil. Por favor revisa nuestra lista de clases en español. Todos los detalles de cada clase los recibirás en un correo electrónico después de cada registración.
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
Lista de Clases En Español
Todas las clases siguen en Zoom
Consejos de Crianza Positiva
Aprenda como crear una base de seguridad, consistencia y conexión para abordar los desafíos de conducta.
martes, 15 de Abril, 2025, 6:30-8:30pm
Instructor: Raquel Montes
Registración y más información sobre la clase Consejos Positiva
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Stay Up-To-Date | Mantengase Informado
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¡Nuestras clases han comenzado! Para recibir nuestro boletín mensual y anuncios de clases cuando se publiquen, puedes consultar aqui regularmente o suscríbase a nuestros correos electrónicos.
Office Closures | Nuestra Oficina estará cerrada:
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December 24 - January 1: Holiday Break