Wisconsin Family Connections Center

Community Viewing of the 2nd Annual Adoptee Film Festival: Brookfield
2026-03-29 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Marcus Majestic Cinema, 770 N Springdale Rd, Waukesha, WI, 53186
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Family Night at the Children's Imaginarium: Wausau
2026-03-28 16:30 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | Children’s Imaginarium, 195 N. 2nd St., Wausau, WI, 54403, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Please join WiFCC for a night at the Children’s Imaginarium! This event is for adoptive, guardianship, foster, kinship, and reunified families. We will have the Imaginarium rented exclusively for our group. Pizza and soft drinks will also be provided for attendees.
For more information about the Imaginarium, please check out their website here: https://childrensimaginarium.org/
If you have any questions about this event, contact Chelsey at ccoulthurst@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Family Fun Indoor Minigolf: Madison
2026-03-28 12:00 - 15:00 UTC | Vitense Golfland, 5501 Schroeder Rd, Madison, WI, 53711
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.
Join WiFCC for a fun-filled day at the #1 rated miniature golf course in Wisconsin! Vitense Golfland’s 18-hole indoor mini golf course offers entertaining and interactive experiences for all ages. Even if you don’t care much for putting, there are still plenty of entertaining features to maintain your interest, making it fun for all family members and friends. This event is open to foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship/relative caregiver, and reunified families. Please note that all children at this event need to be accompanied by a supervising adult.
This event will include a pass for their indoor minigolf course and an all-catered lunch for each registrant, which will include pizza, salad, and some dessert. Learn more about Vitense Golfland here: https://www.vitense.com/
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all families, but we encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
If you have any questions or accommodation needs, please contact Megan at mmiller@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Parent/Caregiver Terrarium Workshop-Down to Earth Garden Center: Eau Claire
2026-03-28 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Down to Earth Garden Center, 6025 Arndt Lane, Eau Claire, WI, 54701
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite. (on sale February 27, 2026 @6pm)

Foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers, join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center at Down to Earth Garden Center on Saturday, March 28th from 10:00am to 11:00am for a terrarium workshop!
This workshop will be transforming a simple glass container into a self sustained tropical oasis! Learn how to put together a glass terrarium that creates a perfect growing environment for humidity-loving plants.
Registration is required for this event. Contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org with any questions.
Please note: This is an adult only event, and no childcare will be available on site. Please make arrangements accordingly. A $25 childcare reimbursement is available, one per family, for participants who must secure childcare in order to attend, if not already covered by another funding source.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Community Viewing of the 2nd Annual Adoptee Film Festival: Altoona
2026-03-28 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | Fish House at Altoona City Park, 418 9th St. West, Altoona, WI, 54720
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

The Wisconsin Family Connections Center invites the community to join us for this special event focusing on the experience of adoption. Together, we will view the second annual Adoptee Film Festival, spotlighting Adoptee Filmmakers telling Adoptee Stories. This year’s Adoptee Film Festival line-up features 6 short films with a total run-time of approximately 1.5 hrs.
This event is free to attend and will be held in the Classroom at The Fish House in Altoona, WI. Light refreshments will be provided, as well as the opportunity for discussion after the films. Registration via Eventbrite is required. Please note: due to the mature themes of the films, this is an adults-only event.
For more information about the Adoptee Film Festival, visit https://www.adopteefilmfest.com or follow them on Instagram @adopteefilmfest.
If you have any questions about the event, please contact creppe@cclse.org.
FILM LINEUP
‘In Trans*lation’ by Erika Lau
A linguist reflects on their childhood, tracing the names and stories that have shaped their identity. Through language and memory, they navigate their transnational adoptee experience and emotional complexities.
‘MARY MEETS GRACE’ by Faryl Amadeus
When a stranger appears in Grace’s life with disturbing news about her long-lost birth mother, she must fight to untangle herself from a dangerous and sinister plan.
‘One of My Own’ by Analei Song
When a young Chinese girl becomes more aware of her differences in her adopted caucasian family, she attempts to find her place of belonging with others and herself through artistic expression.
‘The Goldfish’ by Ashley Paige Brim
An adopted woman is forced to confront her darkest fear about motherhood at her sister’s baby shower.
‘Yellow Balloon’ by Summer Luu
In 1996, a Vietnamese-American kid named Ái Vân from San Jose, California, is adopted by their paternal immigrant grandparents in Vancouver, Washington. On their journey, Ái Vân processes their identity, the unspoken rules of complex social dynamics, and discovers the reality of letting go.
‘What Remains’ by Elizabeth Berkman
As Mark waits for a phone call from his daughter, he begins to suspect that Maya, his in-home care nurse, is keeping something from him. While they both struggle with his cognitive decline, they must discover what family looks like in the face of Alzheimer’s.

Empowering Care, Strengthening Connections: Foster Care Coordinators’ Conference 2026
2026-03-26 - 2026-03-27 | Chula Vista Resort, 2501 River Rd, Wisconsin Dells, WI, 53965, United States
Empowering Care, Strengthening Connections: Foster Care Coordinators’ Conference 2026
When: Thursday, March 26 (9:00 am–5:00 pm) through Friday, March 27 (9:00 am–12:00 pm)
Where: Chula Vista, Wisconsin Dells
We’re busy planning an exceptional conference designed specifically for Wisconsin’s Foster Care Coordinators. This annual gathering is your opportunity to connect with colleagues, strengthen your skills, and recharge your commitment to the children and families you serve.
Stay tuned for more details about sessions, speakers, and programming!
Questions? Contact us at info@coalitionforcyf.org.

More Than One Identity: Resilience and Belonging for Black and LGBTQ+ Adopted People (Shania Ives)
2026-03-25 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
This talk explores the lived experiences of adopted people who navigate multiple marginalized identities, focusing on Black and queer adopted people. It examines how intersecting identities shape mental well-being, relationships, and the sense of belonging, and highlights the unique challenges and resilience of adopted people living at these intersections. Attendees will gain insight into how adoption professionals and parents can better understand, support, and advocate for adopted people whose identities exist at the crossroads of race, sexuality, and adoption.

Family Movie Night - Hoppers: De Pere / Sponsored by Jockey Being Family
2026-03-23 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Get Reel Cinemas, 905 George Street, De Pere, WI, 54115
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite. (starts February 2, 2026 @ 6pm)

Please join WiFCC and Jockey Being Family for Hoppers in theaters! Adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified families are welcome to attend. Each family can have up to 8 people from their household come to this event.
We have the auditorium rented out exclusively for our group. Each attendee will receive a movie ticket, a 20 oz fountain beverage, popcorn, and candy of their choice.
Plan to arrive between 5:00pm and 5:20pm to check in and grab your drinks/snacks before the movie starts at 5:30 pm.
Movie Information:
Hoppers (2026)
Rated PG
Due to the popularity of family events, please let your local WiFCC specialist know ahead of time if there is any reason you can no longer attend or need fewer tickets than you originally signed up for. We would like to accommodate as many families as possible.
If you have any questions regarding this event or have any special accommodation requests, please contact Val at vzegers@cclse.org. This event is being sponsored by Jockey Being Family. To learn more about Jockey Being family, visit their website here: https://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

ECCT Disney's Frozen the Musical at Pablo Center: Eau Claire
2026-03-22 13:30 - 15:30 UTC | Pablo Center at the Confluence, 128 Graham Ave, Eau Claire, WI, 54701
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join Wisconsin Family Connections Center on Sunday, March 22nd, at the Pablo Center for Disney’s Frozen the Musical. The musical begins at 1:30 pm. For this event, there is a maximum of 5 tickets per household.
About this showing: This blockbuster musical about the powerful bond and love between sisters features all the memorable music from the animated film, plus five new songs. Loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Disney’s Frozen the Musical brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life on stage.
This event is intended for adoption, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families.
Due to the popularity of family events, please let your local WiFCC specialist know ahead of time if there is any reason you can no longer attend or need fewer tickets than you originally signed up for. We would like to accommodate as many families as possible.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Caregivers Afternoon Out: Woodburning in Baraboo
2026-03-22 12:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Brushes & Bubbly, S2634 County Highway BD Suite 3, Baraboo, WI, 53913
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

WiFCC parents & caregivers, join us for a fun afternoon in Baraboo! Each caregiver will learn to create a wood burned design onto a cutting board! Pick your design from hundreds of options and create something unique. As a reminder this is an adult only event. For caregivers who need to secure childcare back home in order to attend, a $25 childcare stipend, one per family, will also be available.
If you have any questions, please contact Breanna Calko at bcalko@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.
This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Caregiver Coffee Meet Up: Madison
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Mercies Coffee, 1748 Eagan Road, Madison, WI, 53704
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for this opportunity to meet with other caregivers and make connections! Come enjoy a meal and cup of coffee on us and get to know other adoptive, guardianship, foster, kinship, and reunified caregivers in your area.
We will meet at Mercies Coffee in Madison, WI. Each registrant will receive up to $15.00 towards the purchase of food or drink (non-alcoholic beverages) during our time together. You can view the menu here: https://merciescoffeewi.com/#our-menu
This is a great opportunity to bring any questions, resources, or fun facts to a group of other caregivers. If you have any questions, please contact Megan at mmiller@cclse.org.
Please note: This is an adult only event, and no childcare will be available on site. This event is specific for adoptive, guardianship, foster, kinship, and reunified caregivers.
Register

Live Webinar - Two Spirit/ Past and Present
2026-03-19 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Chicago) | WEBINAR
In this webinar, we will learn about the meaning of “Two Spirit” and the rich and beautiful history of Two Spirit people. We will also learn about the impact of colonialism on Two-Spirit individuals, as forced assimilation nearly erased the sacred and revered place they held in many Indigenous cultures. Lastly, we will hear about the movement to revitalize the traditional and honored Two Spirit identity.
Presenter Joseph Torrez (pronouns he/him) is an enrolled member of the Oneida tribe of Wisconsin on his mom’s side, but also part Mexican and Pueblo on his dad’s. He is number 11 out of 13 children and was raised on the Oneida reservation, but says he never really felt part of the community. He identifies as a proud Gay man and Two Spirit individual. He graduated in May of 2023 from UW-Green Bay with a double major in First Nation Studies and Business Administration. He has been studying Two Spirit culture and presenting on it for almost a decade.
Register

Virtual Group: KINnect Relative Caregivers of Children
2026-03-19 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
A virtual group to support relative caregivers, caring for children.

Join us for this opportunity to connect with other relative caregivers who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as a way to share the joys and challenges of being a relative caregiver. Our meetings will continue to be held virtually on one Thursday every month from 11am-12pm.
You will need to have an internet connection, computer or phone with the free Zoom app, a webcam and microphone. Please contact Breanna at bcalko@cclse.org with questions.
This group is offered through the Wisconsin Family Connections Center, a program funded by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
All dates for 2026 are Thursdays at 11AM.

April 23
May 21
June 18
July 23
August 20
September 17
October 22
November 19
December 17

As a reminder this is for Wisconsin Residents who are relative caregivers of children.

Lunch-N-Learn: Equipping Youth to Lead and Advocate
2026-03-18 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
Designed for youth and the adults who support them, this training builds confidence, communication skills, and advocacy tools so young people can effectively use their voices in real-life settings. Through storytelling, role play, and reflection, participants learn how lived experience becomes leadership and how youth voice can influence decisions that shape their lives.
Register
