Kia ora koutou katoa,
Next week is Foster Care Awareness week, firstly I want to acknowledge you all for the wonderful job you are doing in providing a safe, loving and healing home for your tamariki. Secondly, I would like to invite you to join us in celebrating you in Tauranga on the 11th of March. Bring your tamariki and enjoy some activities, kai and drinks, train rides, and mini golf and don’t forget to bring their skateboards and scooters for the skate park!!!! Details are below in the event section.
I would also like to share that this week will be my second year anniversary in my role as the Central North Coordinator. What can I say apart from what a blessing and a privilege it has been for me. Many of you have heard me say this before “I wish I had learnt about therapeutic parenting, especially PACE, when I was raising my biological children”. I am very grateful to have come across Caring Families Aotearoa when I did, and what a difference it has made not only with raising my tamariki, but the knowledge I have obtained has impacted other areas of my life which has also been life changing for me.
Christine Frost
Central North Regional Coordinator
Ph: 07 281 1137
Mob: 027 501 0393
Equally, I am also very grateful to all of you I have met face to face and even on a call! Having the opportunity to walk along side you on this caregiving journey is a privilege and I will continue to do what I can to support, advocate and pass on the tools and strategies to you in assistance on your journey.
SUPPORT
Our Support Groups will be starting back in March so keep an ear out for what’s happening in your area.
Tauranga Support Group
Friday 3rd of March, 10:00am – 12:00pm
56 Eighteenth Ave, Tauranga
Rotorua Support Group
Friday 24th of March, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Unit C, 1192 Pukuatua Street, Rotorua
Taupo Support Group
TBC – Watch this space! Coming soon!
If you are available on these days please come along, it is a safe place to share your journey with other caregivers. Enjoyed with a coffee and kai!
Feedback from a caregiver about Support Groups:
“The support group has provided me with different points of view which has given me alternative options on how to care for my children. It’s a supportive environment and I always get something out of every meeting I attend.”
My days of work are Tuesday to Friday 8.45am-3.30pm. At times I’m away travelling around our region for training and support so please ring / text me if you’d like to pop into my office for a cuppa or catch up ph/text: 027 281 1137.
We are also eager to help members connect and share with one another. If you want to start a Caregiver group in your area, please let us know so that we can get one up and running this year.
TRAINING
We have a new learning module in term one, Helping Children Feel Safe! This workshop is full of strategies and tips to help you provide structure and supervision for tamariki in your care. Come along and join us if you can, on the 17th of March in Tauranga & the 23rd March in Rotorua – you won’t regret it!
We also have face to face training in Whakatane for Difficult Behaviours – Managing Confrontations and Intimidating Interactions.
As well as online training on the 2nd and 3rd of March – What’s Behind the Behaviour. So if you haven’t registered already please do so!
For more information on all our courses, and to register, click below.
EVENTS
Foster Care Awareness Week, (6-12th of March), is the week where we celebrate you – our amazing caregivers. We will hold the following event in Tauranga to celebrate all our wonderful caregivers.
Foster Care Awareness Week Extravaganza
SATURDAY 11TH MARCH, 10:00AM – 1:00PM
Memorial Park, Seventh Ave, Tauranga
Bring your tamariki along for a day of fun activities, food and drink, spot prizes, and goodie bags for tamariki and caregivers. Bring your picnic blankets and snacks and enjoy! To register your whānau, please click below.
I look forward to catching up with you this term, please do not hesitate to call or email me if you need. I am here even if you need just a listening ear.
Nga mihi nui
Christine