| Ventura County Foster Parent Association |
"What we love to do and why!"
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| Infants |
| "Encouraging the training and education of personnel for work in the field of foster care. Encouraging the recruitment and retention of foster homes, and making children's lives better" |
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| For more information, call your local program office. Ventura College 805-654-6327 Moorpark College 805-378-1400 ext. 1891, Oxnard College 805-986-5800 ext. 2018 or send an email to chowell@vcccd.edu rcarlson@vcccd.edu debbieflowers@vcccd.edu Please note: The Ventura County Community College Programs provide these classes at NO COST to anyone wanting to attend. In all cases, first priority will go to Foster Parents and Kinship Providers. A book/workbook fee of $10-$20 may be charged for those who are not foster/kinship providers. All classes are subject to cancellation. Classes may be cancelled due to lack of pre-registration. To enroll fax or mail the pre-registration form to your local FKCE office. |
| Foster Parents Do you have a service or item to sell? Do you have a need for a service or items? Check out our classifieds page. |
| "Securing a Safe and Foster Care System" |
| Infant Soothing and Building Attachment (West County) Trainer: Pattie Hunt Tuesday, January 26th 1:00-2:00pm @Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center, 555 Mahoney Ave. Oak View This program of extremely effective techniques can be used to calm a crying infant so that you will be able to answer your child's cries lovingly and effectively. The circle of security you create for your infant will enhance the vital connection of bonding and attachment your child will need for future healthy relationships and positive self esteem. Instructor Pattie Hunt has been a foster parent to 45 infants over the past 8 years. Sponsors: Moorpark College FKCE and Ojai Valley Birth Resource & Family Support Cornerstone Training Network: Loving Touch Massage for our Children (East County) Trainer: Melinda Mark, MPT, Certified Infant Massage Instructor Saturday, February 13th 9:30am-noon @ Cornerstone Church 2080 Winifred St., Simi Valley, Room 10 Infant and child massage is a bonding activity between parents and their children. In the most basic terms, infant or pediatric massage refers to the process of stroking the muscles of the child using a variety of specialized massage techniques. Vocalization, eye-to-eye contact, and other positive behavioral reinforcements are also important components of the massage. “Being touched and caressed, being massaged, is food for the infant; food as necessary as minerals, vitamins, and proteins.” ~ Frederick Leboyer. Please bring a small doll to class. Limited childcare available for children pre-registered by 2/10 only. Sponsor: Moorpark College FKC Caring for Your At-Risk Infant (East County) Trainers: Pattie Hunt & Wendy Homan Monday, February 15th 6:30–8:30pm in Westlake Village – location provided with pre-registration This program originates from the Pediatric Interim Care Center in Washington that models ways to provide a safe and healthy start for newborns going through withdrawal from heroine, methadone, cocaine, methamphetamines and other illicit and prescription drugs. Signs of withdrawal in the infant, knowing when withdrawal begins and helpful techniques for caring for and calming this child will be discussed. Sponsor: Moorpark College FKCE Baby Signs®: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk (series) (Central County) Trainer: Pattie Hunt, Certified Baby Signs® Instructor 3 Wednesday mornings, February 10th, 17th, & 24th 9:30–11:30am Pleasant Valley NfL @ El Descanso Elementary School 1099 Bedford Drive, Camarillo The Baby Signs® Institute website asks: “Do you ever wonder what your baby is thinking? Or why your baby is crying?” This Baby Signs® course will help you answer these questions. We all have seen how a baby can understand and communicate in simple gestures or signs like waving a hand to indicate bye-bye. You will learn how to teach your child gestures to communicate his/her needs through the Baby Signs® Program. Research indicates that this natural process helps enhance early parent-child communication as well as promote your child’s language and social-emotional development. Sponsors: Pleasant Valley NfL and Moorpark College FKCE Baby Basics and Beyond (Two Locations and date/times) Trainer: Mariana Abarta, R.N. (East County) 2nd Monday evening monthly: Feb. 8th 7:00–9:00pm 781 Devore Avenue, Simi Valley Trainer: Pattie Hunt (West County) 2nd Tuesday morning monthly: Jan. 12th, Feb. 9th 9:30–11:30am 63 W. Calle El Prado, Oak View Are you a new parent or caring for an infant as a foster or adoptive parent? It is likely that your little one came with a host of question marks (?????) Come, bring your infant and ask some of those questions of experienced foster parent and mentors, Mariana Abarta and Pattie Hunt. Topics include: Calming the crying baby; Sleep issues; Feeding Issues; Red flags and other medical issues… Learn about the expected and unique needs of each infant. Build confidence and increase your joy in nurturing your infant. Sponsor: Moorpark College FKCE |