Meeting Register Page

Third Thursday Foster Parent Support Group: Parenting Children with Challenging Behaviors

Youthnet offers ongoing support groups to our foster families, and these meetings are open to all DCYF, Youthnet, and other agency licensed foster parents on the third Thursday each month.

These groups contain a training component focused on parenting children with challenging behaviors, hosted by foster/adoptive parents Tif Junker and Larisa Koenig M.Ed.

Tif is a Regulation & Resilience Coach and creator of the R.I.S.E. Model. She speaks to her own experience and parenting transformation as a foster and adoptive parent. Tif is a board alumni and active member of the Attachment and Trauma Network, a professional member of the National Foster Care Association, an active part of the resiliency movement in Washington state, and in 2017 was awarded the National Angels in Adoption Award by Senator Patty Murray for building awareness for families and children with high trauma needs. Larisa works with Youthnet to provide support and advocacy for our Native youth and caregiver families. Larisa previously served as a foster parent liaison for Fostering Together, supervisor of tribal child welfare, mental health counselor for Native American children in foster care, classroom teacher, and dean of students. Larisa is a certificated school administrator and a foster adoptive parent with years of child welfare experience.

These groups are interactive and conversational. Foster parents are encouraged to ask questions and participate over video. We ask that participants refer to cases in general terms and avoid sharing confidential information about their children and their families.

Youthnet is a non-profit foster care agency. We provide support services to children, youth, and families in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island, San Juan, King, Pierce, Kitsap, Clallam, Jefferson, and Gray's Harbor Counties.

Please use the dropdown menu below to register for a meeting. We encourage you to register in advance, mark your calendar, and join us every month!