[Spring Summit] Child to Parent Violence
2026-03-03 14:15 - 15:45 (America/Chicago) | MN
Child to Parent Violence (CPV) is an often misunderstood and under-recognized form of family violence that leaves parents feeling overwhelmed, ashamed, isolated, and unsure where to turn for help. This training provides a comprehensive, trauma-informed exploration of child to parent violence, examining the complex interplay between early attachment experiences, relational trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and family systems that contribute to aggressive, controlling, or violent behaviors directed toward caregivers.
Participants will learn how CPV differs from typical childhood defiance or behavioral challenges and why traditional behavior management strategies often fail to address the root causes of these behaviors. Drawing from attachment theory, developmental neuroscience, and relational trauma research, this training reframes child to parent violence not as willful “bad behavior,” but as a signal of unmet needs, chronic stress, and maladaptive survival responses within the brain and body. Special attention will be given to how early adversity—including neglect, emotional abuse, disrupted attachment, exposure to domestic violence, and chronic relational stress—can shape a child’s capacity for regulation, impulse control, and safe relational engagement.

Support Group: General Parenting Support
2026-03-04 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-03-11 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-03-18 09:00 - 10:30 | MN
Virtual weekly support for adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers.
Click on the Support Group Link to join.
Facilitated by Julie Peterson
Parent Support Specialist

Virtual Kinship Support & Education Group
2026-03-06 09:30 - 11:00, 2026-03-20 09:30 - 23:00 | – Online Webinar/Training, Support Group, or Meeting, MN, United States
1st & 3rd Fridays of the Month
9:30-10:45 am on Zoom
Facilitator: Janet Salo, Kinship Navigator
Providing education, information and mutual support for kinship caregivers-those caring for a relative’s or friend’s child. Thoughtful topics that help you in your role as a kinship caregiver such as child development, relationships with adult children, understanding trauma, mental health resources and more!

In-Person Kinship Support and Education Groups
2026-03-07 10:00 - 11:30 | Peace Lutheran Church, 4512 France Ave N, Robbinsdale, 55422
Our Kinship Support and Education Groups are open to all kinship caregivers- those caring for a relative’s or friend’s child. We offer both virtual and in-person group sessions. Virtual sessions occur the first and third Friday of every month, while the in-person sessions take place the first Saturday of every month.
Join us when you can for mutual support, ideas.

Support Group: Sunday Night Owl Group
2026-03-08 21:00 - 22:00, 2026-03-15 21:00 - 22:00, 2026-03-22 21:00 - 22:00 | MN
Weekly late-night virtual support for adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers.
Click on the Support Group Link to join.
Facilitated by Nitara Frost
Senior Parent Support Specialist

Foster Care and Education Classes – Online
2026-03-10 12:00 - 13:00 | – Online Webinar/Training, Support Group, or Meeting, MN, United States
The online track is best suited for individuals who want flexibility, have limited business hour availability, and/or those who prefer virtual learning.
Couples may complete their education together or pursue it separately. Either way, each participant must attend the entirety of their chosen track.
In this track, you will complete your education over a four-week period. In addition to pre- and post-tests to assess your learning, you will participate in a required, pre-scheduled check-in with our education facilitators each week.
This class is available in Spanish upon request.

Support Group: Transracial Families Support
2026-03-11 05:30 - 19:00 | Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, 55121
Join us for our in-person support for caregivers & youth in transracial families. Youth will engage in a separate activity while caregivers meet. Refreshments provided.
Childcare provided for youth 8 and under.
Pre-registration is required. Click on the Support Group Link to register.
Facilitated by Nitara Frost, Senior Parent Support Specialist and Carissa Franklin, Youth Engagement Specialist

Share and Support Group
2026-03-11 12:00 - 14:00 | – Online Webinar/Training, Support Group, or Meeting, MN, United States
Support Groups are an excellent tool where families are able to share experiences and encourage each other in a confidential, non-judgmental setting. Support Groups are facilitated by North Homes case managers, with years of experience in both adoption and foster care fields. It is an opportune time for families to network, problem solve and gather information on available resources and trainings.

Support Group: Transracial Families Support (virtual)
2026-03-11 19:00 - 20:30 | MN
Virtual monthly support group for adoptive, foster, and kinship transracial families.
*Caregivers only*
Click on the Support Group Link to join.
Facilitated by Nitara Frost, Senior Parent Support Specialist and Carissa Franklin, Youth Engagement Specialist

Support Group: Kinship Caregivers Support
2026-03-12 09:00 - 10:30 | Zoom Link
Join us for a monthly virtual support group for kinship caregivers.
Click on the Support Group Link to join.
Facilitated by Katie Neuman
Parent Support Specialist

Foster Care and Adoption Education Classes – Hybrid
2026-03-13 09:00 - 16:00 | Children’s Home – St. Paul Office, 1605 Eustis Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, United States
This education option is the balance between the in-person and online options. It is best suited for individuals who want to move swiftly and prefer a blended learning style.
Your education will begin with an online pre-test as well as introductory and a guest speaker section of online learning. This can be completed at your convenience prior to the one required live session. The live session is a shorter, in-person day of learning. Following the in-person session, you will finish by viewing content from two more guest speakers, closing online material, and a post-test.

Support Group: Central MN Lunch Bunch
2026-03-13 11:00 - 12:30 | Central Minnesota, Details and pre-register here using the link.
Join us for a monthly meetup to connect with other foster, adoptive, and kinship parents to talk over lunch for emotional and parent resource support. We will meet monthly at various locations.
Pre-registration is required. Click on the Lunch Bunch Link to view details and pre-register.
Facilitate by Katie Neuman
Parent Support Specialist

Caregiver Connections
2026-03-14 14:00 - 14:30 | – Online Webinar/Training, Support Group, or Meeting, MN, United States
UMOJA MN’s Caregiver’s Connection is back! Join us on March 14th, from 2-3:30 PM for a virtual connection. We will have a presentation on Adoption and Foster Trauma Informed Parenting.
Caregivers Connections is a safe space for Minnesota parents and caregivers of Black fostered or adopted youth to connect, share experiences, and discuss topics related to Black culture, identity, anti-racism, and raising Black children.
Click below to receive the virtual link. We hope to connect with you all!

Relative & Kinship Share & Support Group
2026-03-16 12:00 - 13:00 | – Online Webinar/Training, Support Group, or Meeting, MN, United States
This is a welcoming virtual space for caregivers of relative and kin youth – whether through foster care or informal arrangements – to connect, share experiences, and support one another.

Webinar: Technology, the Teenage Mind, and Experiences of Loss
2026-03-17 13:00 - 14:30 | – Online Webinar/Training, Support Group, or Meeting, MN, United States
Join Us for a Webinar: Technology, the Teenage Mind, and Experiences of Loss
Tuesday, March 17th from 1-2:30 pm (CT) via Zoom
Young people today are growing up in a world where online and offline experiences are deeply intertwined. For some teens, especially those who have experienced loss, instability, or major transitions, digital spaces can be both a source of comfort and connection and a place where risks are harder to see. In this interactive online session, Erin Walsh draws on adolescent brain science, research on digital wellbeing, and real-world examples to explore the core protective factors for young people in the digital age. Participants will leave with practical strategies for setting thoughtful digital boundaries, opening ongoing conversations about online experiences, and supporting safer, more resilient digital habits grounded in trust and care.
Presented by Erin Walsh
Erin Walsh is co-founder of Spark & Stitch Institute and author of It’s Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence. She has worked with communities across the country who want to better understand child and adolescent development and cut through conflicting information about kids and technology. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Edutopia, Parents.com, Psychology Today, and Minnesota Public Radio. She co-authored the Tenth Anniversary Edition of the national bestseller Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen and has worked with schools, school districts, parent groups and other youth serving organizations throughout the United States and Canada on issues related to digital media, parenting, and child and adolescent development.

Camp Advisory Council
2026-03-17 17:00 - 18:00 | – Online Webinar/Training, Support Group, or Meeting, MN, United States
Have you been to UMOJA MN’s Black Heritage Camp?
Be a part of our Camp Advisory Council, where you can help make an impact in how camp operates. Provide feedback and solutions.
Date: March 17
Time: 5-6 PM
Location: Virtual

Click the link to join!

LUNCH-N-LEARN
2026-03-18 11:00 - 12:00 | https://wearefamiliesrising.org/lunch-n-learn-equipping-youth-to-lead-and-advocate-with-kenisha-coon/
We need to hear young people’s voices in the child welfare system, ESPECIALLY those with lived experience in adoption and foster care. How can we champion our kids to use THEIR voice in real-life settings?

Minnesota Caregivers: At registration, enter your information and verify that you are an adoptive, foster, or kinship caregiver to waive the fee!

MARCH LUNCH-N-LEARN
Amplifying Youth Voice: Equipping Youth to Lead and Advocate
with Kenisha Coon

March 18 at 11:00 AM CST

[Spring Summit] Human or Alien? The Long, Difficult, and Troubling Road for Intercountry Adoptees and US Citizenship
2026-03-19 09:00 - 10:30 | MN
This presentation discusses the history of US citizenship for intercountry adoptees as well as present-day citizenship and immigration issues that intercountry adoptees continue to encounter. It outlines the issues that make an intercountry adopted person vulnerable for immigration issues and further discusses what state and care workers should know about citizenship and immigration for underage youth in care. Finally, the presentation will present solutions to various problems surrounding citizenship for intercountry adoptees, including federal legislation that could ultimately solve the issue. Practical tips and resources will be also provided.

[Spring Summit] Ready, Set, Launch! Coaching Teens into a Future They’re Prepared For
2026-03-19 10:45 - 12:15 | MN
Launching a teen into adulthood requires clarity, support, and connection—especially for adopted youth who may be navigating additional layers of identity work, anxiety, or developmental gaps. This workshop equips parents and caregivers with practical tools to guide teens toward independence while honoring both their strengths and their vulnerabilities.
In this future-focused session, you’ll learn how to build routines that strengthen executive functioning, emotional resilience, and self-leadership. You’ll discover how to replace conflict with curiosity, create structure without power struggles, and set boundaries that inspire accountability and confidence.
As the world continues to shift rapidly, teens need far more than academic preparation. They need emotional grounding, identity security, and real-world readiness. This workshop empowers parents and caregivers to step into the role of supportive coach, guiding their teens toward adulthood with clarity, compassion, and confidence.
Designed with adoptive families in mind, this training integrates trauma-informed practices and identity-sensitive strategies that support both independence and connection. It is rooted in action: real tools, concrete systems, and co-created plans that help families move from uncertainty to direction.

Support Group: Metro Lunch Bunch
2026-03-19 11:00 - 12:30 | Metro Lunch Bunch, Use the link to pre-register.
Join us for a monthly meetup to connect with other foster, adoptive, and kinship parents to talk over lunch for emotional and parent resource support.
We will meet monthly at various locations. Pre-registration is required. Click on the Lunch Bunch Link to view details and pre-register.
Facilitated by Julie Peterson
Parent Support Specialist

[Spring Summit] Navigating Child Welfare as a Relative Caregiver
2026-03-19 12:30 - 14:00 | MN
Keeping Families Connected Minnesota prevents family separation through interdisciplinary legal services and equity-based child welfare policy reform. In this session, Joanna, Fionna and Kelli will provide an overview of relative caregiver rights, how to advocate outside the system to support children in your family, and how to work with child welfare professionals to support the needs of your family.

[Spring Summit] The Upside of Stress: Why Stress is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It
2026-03-19 14:15 - 15:45 | MN
Stress is unavoidable. But is it always harmful? Stanford psychologist and award-winning author Kelly McGonigal, PhD, offers a surprising new view of stress — one that reveals the upside of stress, and how to capitalize on its benefits. The latest science shows that stress can make us smarter, stronger, and more resilient. Stress can even help you connect with what you care about most and strengthen close relationships. This session will explore both what makes stress good for you, and what you can do to get good at stress. Learn how to cultivate a mindset that helps you thrive under stress, and simple strategies for transforming the biology of your stress response, to improve health and well-being. The new science of stress resilience will give you a renewed sense of optimism about your own ability to handle whatever challenges life brings.

Foster Care and Adoption Education Classes – In-Person
2026-03-20 09:00 - 2026-03-21 17:00 | Children’s Home – St. Paul Office, 1605 Eustis Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, United States
The in-person track is best suited for individuals who need or desire to complete their education quickly, prefer in-person learning and/or those who have previously completed education and want a refresher course.
This track will primarily take place during two live consecutive days (Friday/Saturday) with minimal use of the online learning management system which includes introductory sessions as well as a pre- and post- test.

Support Group: General Parenting Support (evening)
2026-03-23 18:30 - 20:00 | MN
Virtual monthly support for adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers.
Click on the Support Group Link to join.
Facilitated by Katie Neuman
Parent Support Specialist

Support Group: Central MN Parenting Support
2026-03-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud, 56301
Join our in-person support group for foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers in St Cloud and surrounding area.
Childcare and dinner are provided.
Pre-registration is required. Click on the Support Group Link to pre-register.
Location: 1300 W. St. Germain St. Room 268
Facilitated by Katie Nueman
Parent Support Specialist
