Presented by Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE) and CASA of Ventura County
Instructor: Pam Lehtonen
Research and statistics have shown that children and youth placed in the care of a relative or non-relative extended family member have less impact of trauma from out-of-home-care & more positive outcomes in life. This Kinship Care Awareness month recognize, understand, and appreciate the vital role that kinship caregivers play in the lives of their relative children and youth in foster care! From the perspective of our Kinship Care Specialist & Adoptive Parent to her granddaughters, participants will:
Appreciate the unique lifelong journey of the kinship caregiver
Understand the depth and complexity of dual and shifting roles
Recognize the physical, emotional, social & financial toll on the caregivers
Gain awareness of the misconceptions of kinship care
Explore the judicial process of kinship to adopt & kinship to guardianship
From the "traditional" role of the fun grandparent, aunt, or sibling, to now the full-time caregiver, learn how we can understand, support, and honor our kinship caregivers in their pivotal roles.
Pam Lehtonen is a Certified Parent Educator. For over thirty-five years, she has taught in the corporate workplace, public and private schools, churches and counseling centers. Some of her favorite topics as a public speaker and adult educator, include parenting, communication skills, marriage enrichment, and the Five Love Languages of Children. Pam and her husband Bill of 42 years are continuing their parenting journey by raising three of their five granddaughters. The youngest two are adopted from Foster Care.

CE Hours: 1.5