Kia ora koutou Canterbury Caregivers!
Foster Care Awareness Week is next week! We at Caring Families Aotearoa want you to know that you are doing an outstanding job of caring for your tamariki and rangatahi. You make a positive difference in our society by nurturing and healing our tamariki and rangatahi in care. So, thank you so much for EVERYTHING you do. If you haven’t registered to come to one of our Foster Care Awareness week free events, please do so, then we can indulge you and personally say thank you.
If you are unable to attend one of our events, please remember to practice self-care. As important as self-care is, it may not feel easy or comfortable, especially if you are not used to it. But having that pause, that time for you, is beneficial to both your brain and your body.
So here is some self-care, free activities to try out:
Canterbury Regional Coordinators
Jared Porter – 03 281 7495 / 027 501 0392
Caroline Graetz – 03 470 1277 / 027 501 0005
Go On a Date with Yourself
Spend an hour doing something that nourishes you on your own (reading, practicing a hobby, visiting a museum or gallery, etc.)
Dance It Out!
Put on your favourite music and have that impromptu dance party with yourself. It helps you let go of the stress for a while.
Pretend You’re Your Best Pal.
What can you tell yourself right now if you were to say it to yourself in the mirror?
Don’t Move For a While.
For a few minutes, sit somewhere green and be quiet.
Write It Down.
One of the examples of self-care practices that I swear by is writing down your feelings. There is no better feeling than to be able to vent out your emotions on a blank piece of paper. Give it a go.
Turn Off All Electronics For One Hour.
Turn everything off, including social media and email, and you’ll be free of all disturbances.
Focus On the Things You Don’t Focus On.
Focus entirely on anything you regularly do on autopilot, such as brushing your teeth, driving, eating, or going through your morning routine.
Take A Cloud-Watching Excursion.
Relax while lying on your back and gazing at the sky.
Unplug Before Bedtime
Try to unplug all your electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime. It helps with the quality of your sleep and switches your mind for a while.
Can you share any tips for self-care? Feel free to share what you do on our Caring Families Aotearoa Canterbury Support Facebook group page.
SUPPORT
Sometimes just having someone on the other end of the phone to talk to is all we need. It is our goal to ensure that you do not care in isolation. So please feel free to contact –
Jared on 027 501 0392 OR Caroline on 027 501 0005
We also have 4 x NEW Support Groups! Check them out:
- Christchurch South Kaitiaki Group
- North Canterbury Group
- Permanent/Home for Life Group (Canterbury wide)
- Canterbury Men’s Group
Permanent Home for Life Group has been created by Jared as he is a permanent home for life caregiver and knows first-hand that the journey of healing tamariki continues even after custody is finalised. The first hui (meeting) will be – Friday 17th March from 12.00pm-2.00pm, at Level 1, 250 Colombo Street, Sydenham.
Please keep an eye out for upcoming dates this year for the other groups, and don’t forget our Facebook page, another great way to connect with other members.
Caring Families Aotearoa Canterbury Support Facebook Group
Our Office Hours
Ours days of work are MONDAY – FRIDAY 8.00am-5.00pm. We may be away for training and support, but we hope for the majority of the time to have one of us in the office so please ring/text us if you wish to pop in.
TRAINING & LEARNING
We are so excited to deliver face-to-face training, we know when travelling around and speaking with you, this was a frequent request from our members. Therefore, we would love to introduce a BRAND-NEW workshop; Helping Children Feel Safe. This workshop is full of strategies and tips to help you provide structure and supervision for tamariki in your care.
Jared looks forward to seeing you all on the 20th of March 2023. Please register here.
Don’t forget about our online training options which might fit into your routine better. Check out the Training Calendar below for all the training options.
EVENTS
Foster Care Awareness Week is just around the corner! We can’t wait to celebrate you and all that you do. Have you registered for one of our events?
Appreciation Roast Lunch
Date: Sunday 5th March 2023
Time: 12pm-2pm
Location: Pomeroys Old Brewery Inn, 292 Kilmore Street, Christchurch
Included: Sunday Roast Lunch, Spot prizes and goodie bags
REGISTER BELOW
Christchurch
Pamper & Pudding
Date: Monday 6th March 2023
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Location: 250 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
Included: Cakes & Puddings from local bakeries and cake makers, beverages, massages, facials, makeup artist & hair stylist demonstrate L’Oréal product, goodie bags, spot prizes
REGISTER BELOW
Tiaki i a koutou anō, look after yourselves!
Jared & Caroline