Kids and Families Together

Promoting Social Emotional Learning via Home/School Partnerships
2023-01-05 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Kids & Families Together in collaboration with Ventura County Children & Family Services, presents a new training- Promoting Social Emotional Learning via Home/School Partnerships
In this workshop, participants will learn the importance of promoting Social Emotional Learning (SEL) via Home/School Partnerships, leveraging caregiver, student, school and community connections to enhance social emotional supports for all learners.
Training Outcomes

SEL defined
Communication Strategies
Campus Capacity Community supports
Caregiver Opportunities

When: Thursday, January 5, 2023 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Where: Zoom
This training counts toward required training hours, and live Spanish interpretation will be available via Zoom.
Please see flyers below for more information.
Click Here to Register
The Zoom link will be sent to you after you register.

World Introvert Day
2023-01-02
What is the history behind World Introvert Day?
Felicitas Heyne created World Introvert Day. Heyne is a German psychologist and author. She brought it to life in 2011 to bring awareness to introverts’ distinctiveness and address the discrimination and lack of appreciation they often face.
Definitions from Merriam-Webster;

Introvert – a typically reserved or quiet person who tends to be introspective and enjoys spending time alone.
Extravert -a typically gregarious and unreserved person who enjoys and seeks out social interaction.

Introvert “I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I’ll be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.”
Extravert “I like getting my energy from active involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. I’m excited when I’m around people and I like to energize other people. I like moving into action and making things happen. I generally feel at home in the world. I often understand a problem better when I can talk out loud about it and hear what others have to say. “
While introversion and extraversion are inborn parts of personality, how they are defined, perceived and treated changes. When the concepts of extraversion and introversion were first introduced, introversion was commonly seen as largely negative – being aloof, shy or even narcissistic. Over time introversion has become more about comfort with quiet, thoughtfulness, affinity for deeper conversation or deeper relationships. Another major change in how we see this spectrum is the addition of ambivert. An Ambivert is someone who falls in the middle of the spectrum or has traits of each.

Cultural Ramifications
The US is often considered to be one of the most outgoing countries and Finland is considered to be one of the most introverted. However even with these cultural differences, the overall rates of introversion are similar in all countries – generally around 50% of the population. So the levels of introversion or extraversion for individuals do not seem to change much with the country’s level of introversion or extraversion. However, whether a country is culturally introverted or extraverted does impact how comfortable people will feel expressing themselves or how supported they feel in their communities.

One likely reason for seeing more people identify with introversion than in the past is that it is becoming more accepted in general, and less likely to be seen as a sign of a mental disorder. A great resource for seeing the value in introversion is Susan Cain’s book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Her book is a response to how introversion has typically been perceived in the US in the past. “The problem is that even though science tells us otherwise, society has come to view positive, healthy personality traits linked to extroverts and negative, pathological traits linked to introverts. Since almost half of the U.S population are considered introverts (Cain, 2012), this view of introversion is clearly problematic as it stigmatizes those that possess introverted characteristics as ”less desirable”, “not normal” or even “pathological”, and suggest they must be changed or fixed somehow.”
Liliana Nakamura is an introvert who was raised in a multicultural setting and has worked in different countries. Attached is an article sharing her personal perspective of living and working in different settings and some things that she learned. One that we can apply in a work environment is…”Organizations could focus their efforts on building psychologically safe environments. Introverts should feel accepted and comfortable to express themselves through various means, and extroverts should give room for all opinions. When designing performance management systems, collaboration tools, and reward strategies, companies need to consider all personality types.”
Check out her article “Introverts, Extroverts, and Cultural Context: A Framework for Life and Work”
Resources/Action items…

World Introvert Day 2023 Facts: World Introvert Day 2023: When, why and interesting facts – The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)
Introvert Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
Extravert Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
The Myers & Briggs Foundation – Extraversion or Introversion (myersbriggs.org)
Susan Cain: ‘Society has a cultural bias towards extroverts’ | Psychology | The Guardian
Introverts, Extroverts, and Cultural Context: A Framework for Life and Work | by Liliana Nakamura | Curated Careers | Medium

Check out the Landgeist website for maps with percentages.

Extraversion and Introversion in Asia – Landgeist
Extraversion and Introversion in Europe – Landgeist
Extraversion and Introversion in the US – Landgeist
Introverts, Extroverts, and Cultural Context: A Framework for Life and Work | by Liliana Nakamura | Curated Careers | Medium
Amidst a culture of noise silence is still golden : a sociocultural historical analysis of the pathologization of introversion (smith.edu)

New Year's Day- Office Closed
2023-01-02

National Human Trafficking Awareness Month
2023-01-01 08:00 - 2023-01-31 17:00
January is National Human Trafficking Awareness/Prevention Month.  Human trafficking is also known as modern day slavery. It involves the exploitation of children and adults for forced labor or commercial sex.  When anyone under 18 is involved in commercial sex it is a crime even if there is no force, fraud, or coercion.
Human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry annually .
(International Labour Organization, 2017).
The following video animation I Am Jasmine Strong – YouTube shows how risk factors increase a child’s vulnerability to exploitation, the grooming process, the power and control a trafficker has over a child, the resulting trauma bonds, and eventually the child’s awareness that she is a survivor of CSEC who learns there is support to heal.
Here’s a link to 13 videos of survivors sharing their stories at different points along the journey “in the life” The Life Story  (each approximately 5 minutes)
How is K&FT involved in this work against human trafficking?
In December 2022, Rachel Pletcher, Caregiver Clinical Programs Manager, trained our clinical team on using the CSE-IT tool to universal screen all kids over age 10. This tool will help identify whether a child shows a certain level of concern about possible exploitation so we can help with prevention and early intervention.  We can make internal referrals to our CSEC Family Empowerment Program.
On January 7, 2023, three K&FT team members attended the 16th Annual STOP Human Trafficking Walk and Speaker Panel put on by Soroptimist International of Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura. K&FT had a table with information on our CSEC Family Empowerment Program. Other providers were represented, including Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force.
Here are some links you can check out to learn more about human trafficking, including CSEC:

A World Free | 3Strands Global Foundation | United States
The CNN Freedom Project — ending modern-day slavery – CNN.com
Child Trafficking in the U.S. | UNICEF USA
National Human Trafficking Prevention Month – United States Department of State

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

Kwanzaa
2022-12-26 - 2023-01-01

Christmas Holiday- Office Closed
2022-12-25 - 2022-12-26

Parent Support Group
2022-12-19 15:30 - 17:00, 2022-12-12 15:30 - 17:00, 2022-12-05 15:30 - 17:00, 2022-11-28 15:30 - 17:00, 2022-11-21 15:30 - 17:00, 2022-11-14 15:30 - 17:00 | Zoom
Who: Birth Parents involved with CFS
What: Support and resource group led by para professionals with lived experience being involved with CFS and successfully reunifying with their children.
When: Mondays, 3:30-5pm
Where: Held virtually via Zoom
RSVP: Please contact Janel, (805) 978-2073

Hanukkah/Chanukah
2022-12-18 - 2022-12-26

The Cost of Caring in the Season of Giving
2022-12-15 18:00 - 21:00
Register & for More Information: Registration: The Cost of Caring, December 15, 2022 (6pm-9pm) (google.com)

Nurturing Connections: Support and Training in Becoming a Therapeutic Parent
2022-12-14 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom
Nurturing Connections: Support and Training in Becoming a Therapeutic Parent
Who Should Attend: Foster/kinship resource parents, adoptive parents, legal guardians
Description: Support and training, led by a therapist, in a safe and supportive environment where participants can share their experiences as a foster or adoptive caregiver. Participants have a chance to explore their own attachment histories and strengthen their therapeutic parenting skills. Learn about attachment, trauma, development, self-care, and more. Resource parents can earn training hours!
When & Where: Every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 5-6:30pm, Currently offered via Zoom.
English/Spanish: Group is in English with live Spanish interpretation!
Cost: Free for foster/kinship resource, adoptive, and legal guardian caregivers within the Ventura County Child Welfare System.
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ucu%20-gqTkiGdZLw6wahZz-CjGRhr4E-RVe
Contact: Please contact us at 805-643-1446 Ext. 180 or referrals@kidsandfamilies.org with questions.

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Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
2022-12-12

Human Rights Day
2022-12-10

Feast of the Immaculate Conception
2022-12-08

Parenting Styles that De-Escalate
2022-12-07 18:00 - 20:30
Oxnard & Ventura College’s FKCE Presents: “Parenting Styles that De-Escalate” with Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage.
When: Wednesday, December 7th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Where: Zoom
Please click here to register & for more information
Training hours provided!
For assistance: Email at vcfostercare@vcccd.edu

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
2022-12-07

World Aids Day
2022-12-01

Rosa Parks Day
2022-12-01

LGBTQ + Youth
2022-11-29 18:00 - 19:30
Kids & Families Together in collaboration with Ventura County Children & Family Services, presents a new training- LGBTQ + Youth
In this workshop, LGBTQ+ 101, participants will explore fundamental aspects of LGBTQ+ communities and the ways they can be supported. The workshop will begin with an exploration of key terms and concepts, such as gender expression and sexual identity. Participants will then learn the challenges members of the LGBTQ+ face, and discover strategies for allyship and advocacy. The workshop will also examine the specific needs of diverse LGBTQ+ individuals, such as those who are part of Latino/ Hispanic communities.
Register Here: Meeting Registration – Zoom
Training Outcomes

Participants will be able to define key terms related to gender expression and sexual identity.
Participants will be able to describe some of the needs and challenges LGBTQ+ people face.
Participants will be able to identify strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ people.

When: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Where: Zoom
This training counts toward required training hours, and live Spanish interpretation will be available via Zoom.

First Sunday of Advent
2022-11-27

Thanksgiving- Office Closed
2022-11-25, 2022-11-24

Who's Who on the Child Welfare Services Team
2022-11-22 18:00 - 19:00
To Register & for More Information: FKCE Registration: Who’s Who on CWS Team, November 22, 2022 (6pm-7pm) (google.com)

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Transgender Day of Remembrance
2022-11-20
“Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”
– Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith
Create a Safe Environment for LGBTQI+ Youth
It is important to build a safe environment for all LGBTQI+ youth.  Parents, schools, and communities can all play a role in preventing bullying and helping LGBTQI+ youth feel physically and emotionally safe.

Encourage respect for all students.
Prohibit bullying, harassment, and violence against all students.

Conduct social-emotional learning activities in school to foster peer-relationships and help students develop empathy.
Identify “safe spaces,” such as counselors’ offices or designated classrooms, where LGBTQI+ youth can receive support from administrators, teachers, or other school staff.
Encourage student-led and student-organized school clubs that promote a safe, welcoming, and accepting school environment (e.g., gay-straight alliances or gender and sexuality alliances). Schools must allow these clubs or groups if they have other “non-curricular” clubs or groups. Learn more about the right to form a GSA under the Equal Access Act.
Ensure that health curricula or educational materials include HIV, other STD/STI, and pregnancy prevention information that is relevant to LGBTQI+ youth.
Use inclusive language and avoid making assumptions. The words we use can make help people feel acknowledged and create a sense of belonging. For example, using “y’all” when referring to a group conveys gender equality rather than using “guys.” Use gender-neutral pronouns like “they” or “them” instead of “he/she” or “him/her.” You can also use words like “parent” instead of “mother” and “father.”
Use students’ chosen names and pronouns.
Train school staff on how to create safe and supportive school environments for all students, including LGBTQI+ youth.
Facilitate access to community-based providers who have experience providing health services, including medical, counseling, social, and psychological services, and HIV/STI testing for LGBTQI+ youth.

Resources/links

‘A Murder Over a Girl,’ by Ken Corbett – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021 | PFLAG
Transgender Day of Remembrance | GLAADText

To learn more from our JEDI page, please click here.

Blending Different Traditions & Cultures for the Holidays
2022-11-17 18:00 - 21:00
Register & for More Information: FKCE Registration: Blending Traditions & Cultures, November 17, 2022 (6pm-9pm) (google.com)

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Transgender Day of Remembrance, Ventura County
2022-11-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, CA, 93030, United States
Transgender Day of Remembrance, Ventura County
Wednesday, November 16, 6-8pm
Join us during Transgender Awareness Week for Ventura County’s powerful event to honor the transgender folks we’ve lost this year and to celebrate the strength and resiliency of our community. This is the 8th year of this event in Ventura County. There will be food, refreshments, support services, on-site counselors, and an ofrenda memorializing our fallen community members. Find more details on The Transverse website.
