Saddleback holds workshops that care
Free workshops available on Saddleback College campus for caregivers. Saddleback College will be offering a training workshop starting on September 27th, 2010 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The class is targeted at caregivers and foster parents, which will be held on the fourth Monday of every month.
The FKCE is a program of the California Community College Chancellor’s office and was established in 1984 (over 67 participating community colleges in the state.) After Cypress College no longer wanted the program, Saddleback was able to acquire funding to start the program in 1999. There mission statement is “to provide quality education, and support opportunities to caregivers of children and youth in out-of-home care, so that these providers may meet the foster children’s educational, emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs.”
“This year we hope to continue expanding our program, reinvigorate, and develop a new series,” said Nicole Loftus, Program Director of FKCE. Recently collaborating with the OC Children and Family Services Agency, they offer a bi-monthly adoption series for those interested the foster-to-adopt path. FKCE stands behind the free and quality educational classes that address the behavioral, emotional, and developmental needs of foster children. Apart from the training workshops available at Saddleback College, a wide variety is also offered through out Orange County.
Some of the additions included in the new specialized training series are, “Love ‘n’ Logic”, and “From Foster Families to Future Families.” The workshop on September 27th is “Promoting Education at Home: Special Education Doesn’t End When the Bell Rings.” The workshop focuses on strategies parents and caregivers can implement to promote the educational process of children. The workshop will focus on specific reading, writing, math, and computer skill strategies. Other core topics and workshops include, substance abuse or exposure, cultural diversity, and prevention of teenage pregnancy.
“The Saddleback College Foster & Kinship Care Education Program is dedicated to serving the local community of foster parents and relative caregivers by offering support, knowledge, and resources so that they can provide optimal care to these special children. All are welcome to attend!” said Nicole Luftus. For more information go to www.saddleback.edu/fkce and to register, call: (949) 582-4884 or email [email protected].