Tēnā Koutou Katoa

I thank you for your understanding and patience as I manage to adjust to the recent changes to the region. Hawkes Bay, I look forward to engaging with you over the coming months and know that I am here to listen and walk this journey with you.

I have a few thank yous to get through, so please join me in congratulating the following people and organisations.

Well done to our Lower North Recipients of the Excellence in Foster Care Awards. We are encouraged to keep at our journey because of stories like yours.

⭐ Pip and Stu Henry from Clive, East Coast
⭐ Andrea Neil from from Palmerston North
⭐ Rachel Puru from Whanganui
⭐ Katie and Albert Van Dalen from Wairarapa.

Our Support Group Liaisons who hosted appreciation morning teas during Foster Care Awareness on behalf of Caring Families Aotearoa. It was wonderful highlighting the importance of support groups within our organisation, and that we have like-minded people to lean on and find support. Thank you to:

⭐ Judith Williams, Manawatu Foster Care Assocation
⭐ Claire Stevens, Wairarapa Foster Care Support Group
⭐ Natalie Joyce, Wellington Family and Foster Care Association
⭐ Bev McKay, Palmerston North Support Group
⭐ Jan Ladhams, Levin PACE Support Group
⭐ Nigel Christie, Taranaki Support Group.

A big thank you to our amazing donors for helping to make our Foster Care Awareness events possible:

• L’Oréal
• Tleaf
• Whittakers Chocolate
• Cheese Cake Shop, Palmerston North
• Premier Meats, Wairarapa
• The Clareville Bakery, Wairarapa
• Pak n Save, Petone
• Pak n Save, Palmerston North
• Lewis Farms, Levin,
• New World, Foxton
• Woolworths, Feilding
• Subway, Feilding

And finally, our regional committee team who volunteer their time to plan, organise and participate in our regional events, thank you!

⭐ Lucky Sullivan
⭐ Natalie Joyce
⭐ Nikki Duru
⭐ Fleur Deavin
⭐ Rebecca Beddell

Events

Training

I am delighted to announce that in Term Two we will launch our much-anticipated new self-directed learning platform. This has been developed in response to feedback from you about making training more accessible for everyone to take part in. To find out more about the first two courses we are releasing, please click here.

We also have our last facilitated online training on our old platform this month.

Helping Children Feel Safe – 3 & 4 April
The emotional age of some tamariki growing up in care can be very different from their actual age. Lisa, our Canterbury Regional Coordinator will host this workshop over two 1.5 hour sessions, helping you to learn more about therapeutic parenting and how to use structure and supervision to help a child feel secure.

To find out more and register, please click here.