Kia ora everyone 

Wow, we’ve landed in March already. I hope you have been keeping well and trying to manage as best you can in these changeable times that we’re living in. Keep yourself and your whānau safe. If you need an ear, some support or advocacy, I am only a phone call away.

Next week (7th – 13th) is Foster Care Awareness Week. To all of you, Whānau, Kin or Foster Caregivers; this is a time to highlight and celebrate the awesome role you play in parenting a child/tamariki or rangatahi/young person who has come into your home to be cared for. We know this role can be hard and hopefully at times joyous, THANK YOU for your time, energy, aroha and manaakitanga.

Unfortunately, due to the increase in positive Covid-19 cases, we have needed to postpone our in-person events for Foster Care Awareness Week (7-13 March). However, Caring Families Aotearoa are excited to offer two virtual events on Wednesday the 9th of March. Come and join in from the comfort of your home (11am or 8pm). We have an international speaker, Sarah Naish (UK), providing a bespoke presentation for our Caregivers in Aotearoa! Some of you may recognise Sarah from videos we have used in previous trainings, (have a google of her YouTube recordings). I know that you will be in for an entertaining hour. Sarah has lived experience as a foster & adoptive mum and has a unique and entertaining way of sharing her journey. She has a wealth of knowledge about trauma and therapeutic parenting. I hope you can join us for either of the times available.  Click here to register.

I was excited to see that FASD-CAN have released their new website. This organisation provides some fantastic resources for parents/caregivers of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). They are a great starting point if you are unsure of where to begin in the journey of supporting your tamariki/rangatahi with FASD. You can find out more at https://www.fasd-can.org.nz/. 

We enjoy sharing our latest training, “Making Changes – Stability in Hard Times”, with caregivers across Aotearoa. This training gives space for you to learn more about yourself and explore ways you can use this understanding to create a calm, settled home environment, centered around the relationship with your tamariki and rangatahi. We offer online training with a variety of times so no one misses out. Click here for more information or to register.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koe (Huge gratitude to you)

Stephanie