FREE Eight-Week Kinship Care Families Workshop

Kalamazoo, Mich.- FREE Eight-Week Kinship Care Families Workshop (relatives raising relative children) offered by Michigan State University Extension Kinship Care Families starting January 21. Kinship Care was defined in 1994 by the Child Welfare League of America as “the provision of full-time nurturing and protection of children by adults other than parents who have a family relationship bond with the children.” It includes grandparents raising grandchildren, aunts and uncles raising nieces and nephews, and siblings raising siblings.

How does this kinship care program help families? It provides support, education, access to community resources, respite, and an opportunity to meet other kinship care providers. During the eight-week workshop, the participants learn about working with schools, exploring legal issues, dealing with challenging relationships, tips on managing finances and budgeting, refining their parenting skills, and how to take care of themselves.

In addition to the eight-week workshop, the kinship care program offers single-topic workshops, inter-generational events, monthly newsletter, support groups and a children’s program.

The eight-week workshop will be held:

Wednesdays, January 21-March 11, 2009
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Sunnyside United Methodist Church
2800 Gull Road, Kalamazoo
Cost: FREE with child care, materials and light refreshments included.
Contact: Joyce Stout, 384-8054 or e-mail: stoutjo@msu.edu
Sponsored by: Michigan State University Extension
Funding provided by: Strong Families/Safe Children and Area Agency on Aging IIIA

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MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

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