ALLEGAN

Kinship Care Support Group - (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM): Meetings are free, and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. This group sponsored by Bethany Christian Services in Holland, and is for grandparents and other relatives who are primary caregivers for children under the age of 18. Child care and pizza are provided. For more information contact Lindsey Iverson at (616) 396-0623, ext. 113.Location: The Lodge, Calvary Christian Reformed Church, 410 Beeline Rd., Holland

HOLLAND

Foster Care Orientation & Older Child Adoption Option – (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) April 5, May 3, June 7, July 12, September 13, October 4, November 1 For more information please contact Jame Maatman at 6116.796.9163 or jmaatman@bethany.org Location: Bethany Christian Services - Holland

PRIDE Dates – (9:00 AM – 3:30 PM) March 20 & 27; May 15 & 22; July 24 & 31; September 18 & 25; November 13 & 20 The first Saturdays of the months are sessions 1,2, 3. The second Saturday of the months are sessions 4 and 6. For more information please contact Jamie Maatman at 6116.796.9163 or jmaatman@bethany.org Location: Bethany Christian Services - Holland

INGHAM

Michigan Association for Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Parents – Spring Training Conference – April 29 – May 2, 2010 2010 Annual State Training Conference “Every Child, Every Family, One Michigan” www.mafak.org Contact: Conference coordinator, Alma Schmidt, at 248.425.1655 or almaprill@aol.com Location: Causeway Bay Hotel & Convention Center, Lansing, MI

KENT

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention - (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) April 3; June 8 (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) June 5; All Bethany foster parents need to attend one orientation meeting and required trainings. Please contact the Jennifer Reister at 616.224.7481 or email jreister@bethany.org. Dinner is provided! Registration Required. Location: All trainings held at the conference center at Bethany Christian Services at 901 Eastern Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49501

Refugee Orientation - (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM) April 7; May 5; June 23 All Bethany foster parents need to attend one orientation meeting and required trainings. Please contact the Jennifer Reister at 616.224.7481 or email jreister@bethany.org. Dinner is provided! Registration Required. Location: All trainings held at the conference center at Bethany Christian Services at 901 Eastern Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49501

Foster Care Orientation - (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) April 6; May 4; June 22 All Bethany foster parents need to attend one orientation meeting and required trainings. Please contact the Jennifer Reister at 616.224.7481 or email jreister@bethany.org. Dinner is provided! Registration Required. Location: All trainings held at the conference center at Bethany Christian Services at 901 Eastern Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49501

PRIDE Training – (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) March 19; March 20; March 26; March 27; May 11; May 13; May 18; May 20; May 25; May 27; June 3 All Bethany foster parents need to attend one orientation meeting and required trainings. Please contact the Jennifer Reister at 616.224.7481 or email jreister@bethany.org. Dinner is provided! Registration Required. Location: All trainings held at the conference center at Bethany Christian Services at 901 Eastern Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49501

PRIDE Training (Focus on Adoption) – (6:30PM – 8:30PM): March 16; March 23; March 30; April 6 Adoption Training – informational training, parent panel, family adjustments. FREE. Registration Required: Contact Tara Herman at 616.774.0199 or therman@dablodgett.org. Location: D.A. Blodgett for Children

PRIDE Training (Focus on Foster Care) – (6:30PM – 9:30PM): April 15, April 22, April 29, May 6 FREE. Registration Required: Contact Mary Lou Bomgaars at 616.451.2021 or mbomgarrs@dablodgett.org. Location: D.A. Blodgett for Children

MACOMB

MUSKEGON

Parent Training Beyond Consequences III, IV, V – (6:00PM – 8:00 PM): April 8 Call for deadline sign-up dates and further information, Nancy Wittkopp, 231.726.4735 or nwittkopp@ccwestmi.org

ADOPTEENS – (3:30PM – 5:00PM): March 16; April 20 Call for deadline sign-up dates and further information, Nancy Wittkopp, 231.726.4735 or nwittkopp@ccwestmi.org Location: 1095 Third Street, Muskegon, MI 49441

Parent Support Group – (10:00AM): March 25; April 29 Call for deadline sign-up dates and further information, Nancy Wittkopp, 231.726.4735 or nwittkopp@ccwestmi.org Location: 1095 Third Street, Muskegon, MI 49441

Family Activity – Plaza Theatre Movie Evening: April 5 Call for deadline sign-up dates and further information, Nancy Wittkopp, 231.726.4735 or nwittkopp@ccwestmi.org Location: Plaza Theatre PRIDE- Session 1 & 2 – (5:00 – 9:00 PM): April 15th At Catholic Charities West Michigan. Contact Amy Simpson at 231.726.4735 to reserve a space. Location: 1095 Third St., Muskegon, MI 49441

PRIDE- Session 3 & 4 – (5:00 – 9:00 PM): April 22th At Catholic Charities West Michigan. Contact Amy Simpson at 231.726.4735 to reserve a space. Location: 1095 Third St., Muskegon, MI 49441

PRIDE- Session 4 (cont.) & 6 – (5:00 – 9:00 PM): April 29th At Catholic Charities West Michigan. Contact Amy Simpson at 231.726.4735 to reserve a space. Location: 1095 Third St., Muskegon, MI 49441

OAKLAND

Foster Youth Leadership Conference: (8:30 AM – 6:00 PM): May 8 Former Foster Care Alum & U of M Graduate, Cherish Thomas, Presents 2nd Annual Rising Above the Odds Against Me: 2010 Foster Care Youth Leadership Conference. FREE. Specifically for foster care youth ages 14-22. We will give out prized, you wil obtain resources, life skills: emotional, spiritual, and educational. More information to be posted at www.fosterclub.com. Contact Cherish with any questions at fyi.leadership09@gmail.com. Location: Oakland University Campus

Foster Care Orientation: (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM): April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6, November 3, December 1 Open to the public. Registration Required. Contact person for questions/registration is Karen Lawson, 248.593.2171 or klawson@orchards.org Location: Orchards Children’s Services Location: Southfield Office, 30215 Southfield Rd., Suite 100, Southfield, MI, 48076

Foster Care Orientation: (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM): March 17, April 21, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 10, December 15 Open to the public. Registration Required. Contact person for questions/registration is Karen Lawson, 248.593.2171 or klawson@orchards.org Location: Orchards Children’s Services Location: Southfield Office, 30215 Southfield Rd., Suite 100, Southfield, MI, 48076

Adoption Orientation: (10:00 AM – 11:30 AM) & (6:30 PM – 8:00PM): April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9, December 14 Open to the public. Registration Required. Contact person for questions/registration is Karen Lawson, 248.593.2171 or klawson@orchards.org Location: Orchards Children’s Services Location: Southfield Office, 30215 Southfield Rd., Suite 100, Southfield, MI, 48076

Parent Support Group: (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): March 31, April 28, May 26, June 30, July 28, August 25, September 29, October 27, November 17, December 15 Open to the public. Registration Required. Contact person for questions/registration is Karen Lawson, 248.593.2171 or klawson@orchards.org Location: Orchards Children’s Services Location: Southfield Office, 30215 Southfield Rd., Suite 100, Southfield, MI, 48076

Adoption Orientation: (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM): March 16, April 21, May 18 Open to the public. Please call to reserve a space. Angela Barney or Carmaine Segars at 248.353.0922 or abarney@childhelp.org Location: Childhelp

OTTAWA

Kinship Care Support Group - (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM) Kinship care support group meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday. There is no cost and child care and a meal are provided at each meeting. For more information contact Lindsey Iverson at (616) 396-0623. Location: The Lodge, Calvary Christian Reformed Church 410 Beeline Rd., Holland

WASHTENAW

"Helping Hands, Waiting Families" Group - (7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Hands Across the Water is offering this group for all families who are waiting: waiting for a referral, waiting to travel. Group meets the second Wednesday of every month FREE! Please call to register. (734) 477-0135.Location: Hands Across The Water, 2890 Carpenter Rd., Ste. 600, Ann Arbor

Parenting on Your Own – (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM): Every Tuesday from March - June 2010 Cost: FREE; Call 734.484.2989 or 734.222.3943 for more information. Location: 518 Harriet St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Siblings without Rivalry Parenting Program – (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): May 13, May 20 Cost is $23.00 per couple. To register call 734.222.3943 Location: Ann Arbor Preschool & Family Center, 2775 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Living on Less – (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM): May 12, 2010 Register by May 10, 2010 by calling 734.222.3943 Location: Friends in Deed. 1196 Ecorse Rd, Ypsilant, MI 48198

Living on Less – (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) Register by April 15, 2010 by calling 734.22.3943 Location: LRC Bldg, 4135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Budgeting 101 – (10:00 AM – 11:30 AM): June 9

Register by June 7, 2010 by calling 734.222.3943 Location: MSU Extension, 705 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103

WAYNE

Overrepresentation of Children of Color in Michigan’s Child Welfare System – April 22, 2010 Wayne State University School of Social Work

Infant Massage Classes – (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM): March 15, March 22 To enroll please contact Crystal Shilling at 734.727.3114 Location: Starfish Family Services, 30000 Hiveley Road, Inkster, MI 48141

Parenting Teens – An Introduction to Parent/Teen Relationships – (11:00AM – 12:30PM): Every Thursday in March 4, 11, 18, 25 To register, please contact the Family Resource Center at 734.727.3114 Location: Starfish Family Services, Family Resource Center, 30000 Hiveley Road, Inkster

Do Your Kids Stress You Out? – (1:00PM – 2:30PM): March 17, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21, April 28 This class uses the Love and Logic curriculum for Early Childhood. FREE class, snack and childcare! To register please contact Crystal Shilling at 734.727.3114 Location: Starfish Family Services, Family Resource Center, 30000 Hiveley Road, Inkster

Mom-2-Mom Support Group – (5:00 PM – 6:30 PM) Every Thursday Learn about a wide variety of parenting topics, socialize with other moms, share experiences. For specific dates and registration information please call 734.727.3114. Location: Starfish Family Services, Family Resource Center, 30000 Hiveley Road, Inkster

Making Inclusion Work with Transdisciplinary Teaming Conference – (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM): April 17, 2010 Save Our Children Coalition. UM-Dearborn, School of Education. Call 313.593.5052. www.saveourchildrencoalition.org