Strengthening Families for Caregivers is an eight-week program that focuses on providing strategies for adults to build positive relationships with children who have experienced trauma. However, the strategies that are shared are excellent for anyone who provides support to children.
The program uses scenarios to guide discussion, provides tangible tools to use, and provides opportunities to build skills. Participants will learn how trauma affects children; how a child’s trauma can affect caregivers; and how to create a safe environment, help understand and manage feelings and behaviors, develop connections and healing, and learn how to become an advocate for the children you support. Each session builds on the prior session, so it is important that a participant attends each session if possible. Understanding how busy life can be and that things come up, they will work to keep everyone caught up if a session is missed.
Creating a safe environment for learning is paramount, and participants will never be asked to speak to their own trauma or their child’s trauma. Program facilitators UNDERSTAND that the material shared can evoke strong feelings and emotions and COMMIT to allowing participants to take the space and time they need and WILL be available for participants after sessions if they need to process.
The program is offered free virtually via Zoom on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; begins Tuesday, March 1; and concludes on Tuesday, April 19. To register go to bit.ly/SFSReg. For more information, contact Casey Hanson at [email protected]; Renee Krueger at [email protected]; Debbie Moellendorf at [email protected] or via phone at 715-539-1077;Brenda Rasmussen at [email protected]; or Kristine Shorey at [email protected]