Finally Home’s 2021 Family Strengthening Program
Raising Healthy Kids: 4 Week Winter Small Group Series
In this four-part series, you will gather with a group of other foster, adoptive, and kinship families to discuss some key components of raising socially and emotionally mature kids. Topics include things like, “how to teach your kids the importance of following through on their personal goals,” “why we need (and want) rules and boundaries,” and “how to effectively talk over issues with people in authority.”
Group Times & Leaders
Please pick one group to join by clicking on the link below the listed dates and time.
Amanda and Ryan Visser
Finally Home certified instructors and kinship-adoptive family.
Trevor and Lindsey Sides
Finally Home certified instructors and kinship-adoptive family.
Deb Lukasaweicz
Deb is the Family Resource Director of Finally Home since 2017. She is the mother of 5 biological children, 4 adopted children and grandmother to 4 beautiful grandchildren. Deb worked as a speech and language pathologist before changing careers to a full-time teacher. In addition, she has coached tennis for many years and is an avid tennis player. She enjoys all outdoor activities and traveling across the country to visit her family.
One-Time Trainings
These 1-hour trainings are open to everyone. Please use links below each topic to sign up.
Building Your Team:
How to have a healthy marriage in the midst of raising trauma impacted kids.
Mark and Kristin Orphan
Finally Home founders, Mark and Kristin Orphan have been married for 28 years. In 2001, they expanded their family through kinship care and in 2004 through foster care and adoption. They are passionate about building and strengthening marriages. Over the years, they have taught engaged couples’ seminars and mentored couples in all stages of family life. Certified in 2008 by Family Wellness Associates as marriage strengthening educators, they have blended life experience with research-based skills to lead dozens of seminars and retreats.
The Impact on My Biological Kids' Lives
Acknowledging the cost of foster care and adoption and multiplying the positives in the lives of everyone in the family.
Kristin Orphan
Kristin Orphan is married with four children, two of whom joined her family through emergency foster care placement many years ago. As a result of her personal experience, she founded Finally Home in 2008 to support others on a similar journey. Kristin currently serves as the Executive Director of Finally Home. She has her Master’s in Mental Health and Wellness with an emphasis on Family Dynamics.
Parenting is a Relationship, Not An Equation:
Reminders of why what we do matters whether or not we see immediate results.
Kristin Orphan
Kristin Orphan is married with four children, two of whom joined her family through emergency foster care placement many years ago. As a result of her personal experience, she founded Finally Home in 2008 to support others on a similar journey. Kristin currently serves as the Executive Director of Finally Home. She has her Master’s in Mental Health and Wellness with an emphasis on Family Dynamics.
Problem Solving Workshop:
Learn how to implement a step-by-step plan for working through family problems.
Deb Lukasaweicz
Deb is the Family Resource Director of Finally Home since 2017. She is the mother of 5 biological children, 4 adopted children and grandmother to 4 beautiful grandchildren. Deb worked as a speech and language pathologist before changing careers to a full-time teacher. In addition, she has coached tennis for many years and is an avid tennis player. She enjoys all outdoor activities and traveling across the country to visit her family.
Balancing Act:
The importance of making sure everyone in the family receives love and attention (including You!)
Kristin Orphan
Kristin Orphan is married with four children, two of whom joined her family through emergency foster care placement many years ago. As a result of her personal experience, she founded Finally Home in 2008 to support others on a similar journey. Kristin currently serves as the Executive Director of Finally Home. She has her Master’s in Mental Health and Wellness with an emphasis on Family Dynamics.
Homeschooling Tips:
Advice from an experienced Homeschool mom and curriculum developer.
Deb Lukasaweicz
Deb is the Family Resource Director of Finally Home since 2017. She is the mother of 5 biological children, 4 adopted children and grandmother to 4 beautiful grandchildren. Deb worked as a speech and language pathologist before changing careers to a full-time teacher. In addition, she has coached tennis for many years and is an avid tennis player. She enjoys all outdoor activities and traveling across the country to visit her family.
Self-Care:
Know when it’s time to get outside help for yourself.
Kristin Orphan
Kristin Orphan is married with four children, two of whom joined her family through emergency foster care placement many years ago. As a result of her personal experience, she founded Finally Home in 2008 to support others on a similar journey. Kristin currently serves as the Executive Director of Finally Home. She has her Master’s in Mental Health and Wellness with an emphasis on Family Dynamics.
Implications of Being Born Addicted
Deb Lukasaweicz
Deb is the Family Resource Director of Finally Home since 2017. She is the mother of 5 biological children, 4 adopted children and grandmother to 4 beautiful grandchildren. Deb worked as a speech and language pathologist before changing careers to a full-time teacher. In addition, she has coached tennis for many years and is an avid tennis player. She enjoys all outdoor activities and traveling across the country to visit her family.
*Participation in the above offerings is free and generally qualifies for foster and adoptive parent certification hours. Please consult your case worker to confirm eligibility. All participants will receive a completion certificate and be asked to fill out a brief post-training survey.
Thank you to our Church Sponsors!
Endorsements
"We loved the virtual discussion groups hosted by Finally Home! The groups helped us to stay connected with the foster/adopt community during a time that we were craving connection. They also gave us practical tools to implement in our home. The session about change came at a time when our whole family was experiencing the pains of sudden and unexpected change. Thanks Finally Home for continuing to support us in an uncertain and stressful time!”
“We have loved the trainings. The instructor takes the time to engage everyone and includes great optional family exercises to further the conversations after the training is finished. The training content is relevant and interesting, and it is a great way to connect and hear from other foster families. We would highly recommend the trainings.”
Support the Whole family
Additional Resources
The Little Cloud - Children's Book:
Kalia Orphan is 15 years old. She was adopted into her family when she was twelve months old. She loves to express herself through music and creative writing. She hopes this book will be an encouragement to people of all ages that even on the grayest days, something beautiful can grow.
Click here to contact us to get your copy of The Little Cloud
Encouragement from the Heart Family Devotional:
The call to foster care and adoption is a beautiful mess. It is a mix of every day miracles, disappointments and breathtaking grace. It gives us a glimpse into the heart of a Father who chose us before time and sacrificed himself, before we were able or willing to acknowledge our need for him, let alone return his love.
Encouragement from the Heart is a collection of short scripture-based devotional readings meant to remind you that God is always speaking. His Word is alive and able to challenge, correct and comfort like nothing else.
Click here to contact us to get your copy of this family devotional
