Foster Kinship

💙 What is Fictive Kin?

When a child cannot safely remain with their parents, a biological relative isn't always available to step in.

Sometimes it's the child's teacher. A family friend. A trusted neighbor. The unofficial auntie or uncle. A church member. Someone who has already built a loving, meaningful relationship with the child.

These trusted adults are known as fictive kin.

For many children in Southern Nevada, where extended family may live in another state or not be available, fictive kin placements help children remain connected to familiar people and avoid being placed with strangers.

At Foster Kinship, we proudly support both relative caregivers and fictive kin caregivers. In fact, when we talk about kinship caregivers, we're referring to both.

Whether you're raising a grandchild, a niece or nephew, or the child of a close friend who has become family, you deserve the same support, resources, education, and community.

Because family is built through love, trust, and commitment. 💙

Have you heard the term fictive kin before? Tell us in the comments!

In observance of Juneteenth, Foster Kinship will be closed on Friday, June 19th.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and serves as a time to reflect on freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice.

Our office will reopen on Saturday, June 20th, and we look forward to serving our families then. Wishing everyone a meaningful and reflective Juneteenth. 💙

💙 Volunteer Spotlight 💙

A huge thank you to Nina and Nisha for joining us for their very first volunteer experience with Foster Kinship!

From lending a helping hand to creating a welcoming environment for the families we serve, your time, energy, and kindness made a real difference. Volunteers like you help make our programs possible and remind our community that no family has to navigate this journey alone.

We are so grateful you chose to spend your time with us, and we hope this is just the first of many opportunities to serve together! ✨

Interested in making an impact in the lives of kinship families? We'd love to have you join our volunteer community.

Thank you again, Nina and Nisha, for showing up with such generous hearts! 💕

There's something for everyone at Foster Kinship this week! 💙

Whether you're looking for support, connection, education, or resources, we're here for you.

✨ This week's highlights include:
☕ Espresso Yourself caregiver coffee meetup
🛒 Caregivers Corner Market
👶 Car Seat Safety Class
🤝 Multiple caregiver support groups (including en español!)
📚 Trauma-Informed Parenting Strategies
🏛️ Kinship Advocacy Network Meeting
🎓 Kinship Licensing & TBRI classes
💬 Peer Parent Support Group

Please note that Foster Kinship will be closed on Friday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth, but we'll be back with programming on Saturday!

No matter where you are on your journey, raising a relative, navigating permanency, working toward reunification, or simply looking for community, you don't have to do it alone.

Save this schedule, share it with another caregiver, and we'll see you this week! 💕

✨ A huge thank you to Lilit Karapetian and her mom, Erik Karapetian, for their incredible donation to Foster Kinship! 💛

After a local store closing, they chose to turn an opportunity into an act of generosity by donating an amazing collection of collectibles, backpacks, purses, hats, gifts, and other fun items for the children and families we serve.

These kinds of donations do so much more than fill our shelves. They create moments of excitement for children, help caregivers stretch their budgets, and remind families that their community is thinking of them.

Thank you, Lilit Karapetian Real Estate Agent in Las Vegas  and Tamara Karapetyan for your kindness and for helping bring a little extra joy to the families we serve. We are so grateful for your support! 💙

Sometimes what looks like a "bad" behavior is really an overwhelmed nervous system.

Our sensory room gives children a safe, calming space to regulate, explore, and reset in a way that meets their individual needs.

As part of our trauma-informed programming, this space helps children build emotional regulation skills through play, movement, and sensory experiences while caregivers receive support from our team.

Healing doesn't always happen sitting in a chair talking. Sometimes it starts with swinging, building, climbing, or simply having a safe place to breathe. 💙

We're proud to offer spaces that help children feel safe, connected, and understood.

🌳💙 Our Thriving After Park Parties may be on summer break, but we're already planning for the next season!

Hosted by adoptive parents and legal guardians, these monthly gatherings create space for connection, friendship, and community at local parks.

We're so grateful for our incredible current Park Party Hosts who have built such meaningful communities across the valley. 💕

Now we'd love to expand our reach so even more families can find connection close to home.

If you've adopted or become a permanent legal guardian and would enjoy hosting a simple once-a-month park meetup in your community, we'd love to hear from you! Foster Kinship provides the support, you bring your heart for connecting with other families.

Interested? Contact Angie Bevel at [email protected].

Because healing happens in community, and sometimes it starts with meeting another family at the park. 💙

🌳💙 ¡Nuestras reuniones en el parque de Thriving After están en su descanso de verano, pero ya estamos preparándonos para la próxima temporada!

Organizadas por padres adoptivos y tutores legales, estas reuniones mensuales crean un espacio de conexión, amistad y comunidad en parques locales.

Estamos profundamente agradecidos con nuestros increíbles anfitriones actuales, quienes han creado comunidades tan especiales en todo el valle. 💕

Ahora queremos ampliar nuestro alcance para que aún más familias puedan encontrar apoyo y conexión cerca de casa.

Si has adoptado a un niño o eres su tutor legal permanente y te gustaría organizar una sencilla reunión mensual en un parque de tu comunidad, ¡nos encantaría hablar contigo! Foster Kinship te brindará apoyo durante todo el proceso; tú solo necesitas traer el deseo de conectar con otras familias.

¿Te interesa obtener más información? Comunícate con Angie Bevel en [email protected].

Porque la sanación ocurre en comunidad, y a veces comienza conociendo a otra familia en el parque. 💙

When people think about child welfare, they often think about children or caregivers.

But healing families also means supporting parents. 💙

Many parents are working every day to overcome trauma, navigate complex systems, strengthen their parenting skills, and rebuild relationships with their children. That journey isn't easy, and it shouldn't have to be walked alone.

Through Family Forward, Foster Kinship provides trauma-informed education, support, and connection for parents working toward reunification or navigating family transitions. Our goal isn't just to help families through a crisis. It's to help create lasting stability and healing for everyone involved.

When parents have the tools and support they need to grow, children benefit too.

Because stronger parents create stronger families. And stronger families create stronger communities.

Healing doesn't happen in isolation. It happens together. 💛

⚠️ Support Group Update ⚠️

Please note that Kinship Caregiver Support Group at Canyon Ridge Christian Church is canceled for tonight, June 9.

Canyon Ridge is hosting its summer camp this evening, and the campus will be extremely busy. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to gathering with everyone again at our next support group in July! 💙

In the meantime, if you're looking for something to do with the kids this summer, don't forget about Nevada Summer Meals for Kids! 🍎☀️ 

https://nvsummermeals.com/

Children ages 2–18 can enjoy free meals at locations throughout the valley. Simply enter your address to find a participating site near you, and it can be a great opportunity to get out of the house, meet up with other families, and enjoy a meal together.

Thank you for your understanding, and we'll see you next month! 💛

💙 Your next connection, resource, or moment of encouragement could be waiting for you this week.

Whether you're joining us for Kinship Caregiver Support Group, meeting other caregivers at Espresso Yourself, shopping at Marcie's Heart Caregiver Corner Market, attending Family Forward, completing Kinship Licensing, or learning more through our TBRI training, we're here to support you and your family every step of the way.

This journey wasn't meant to be walked alone. Our programs are designed to help caregivers build community, access resources, learn new skills, and find support from people who truly understand.

✨ This week's Espresso Yourself meetup is in North Las Vegas! Join us Wednesday from 10:30–11:30 AM at Scoops y Cafe for coffee, conversation, and connection with other caregivers.

We hope to see you this week! 💛

If you're not sure which program is the best fit for your family, give us a call or text at 702-546-9988. We're always happy to help you find your next step.