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June 2026

Two CaRES team members in blue CaRES shirts, standing behind a table filled with CaRES items and flyers.

At Alliance CaRES, we believe caregivers thrive when connected to each other, practical resources, and the broader community.

Support groups that fit your schedule! Find a calendar of CaRES’s events plus a map with your local events on our website: AllianceCaRES.org

All groups, trainings and events are open to all families under the umbrella term of “Caregiver.” Whether you are a relative (also called kinship), foster, fictive kin, guardianship, or adoptive parent, we are here for you. 

To see and register for a training, you will need to be logged into Intellum. If you have questions or need help registering for a caregiver training account, please reach out to AllianceSupport@uw.edu  

Statewide Online Events

Peer Support + Caregiving Skills — Support Groups and Special Events with Training Hours available this month. Visit our Support Groups page for the full list of our offerings. 

Earn training credit with CaRES by talking with other kin and foster caregivers in our Topic Support Groups (TSGs) and learning from experts in the field about timely topics in our Special Events. 

A child and a caregiver sitting on a couch reading together.
A CaRES team member speaking with a group of caregivers, as they sit around a table.
A picnic table has the CaRES blue tablecloth on it with items that event participants can take. A table of caregivers and kids is in the background.

Local Events

Community Groups are a way for you to gain support, build networks, feel heard, solve problems, and learn from others who share this unique parenting experience. You might even leave with new connections for respite care!

E-Learning & Webinars

Find our extensive catalog of E-Learnings and webinars for kinship and foster parents at RiseWithTheAlliance.org.

Screenshot of a CaRES special event, held over zoom. The presenter and a CaRES team member are showing, with a slideshow about guardianship.

CaRES Mentors are always available to provide peer support. Request a Mentor contact at AllianceCaRES@uw.edu.

Statewide Online Events

Topic Support Group (TSG)

Caregivers say they wish they could get training credit for talking with other kin caregivers and foster parents. CaRES Topic Support Groups are the answer! Caregivers participate in a topic-based conversation guided by a CaRES Mentor. There are a wide range of topics to help caregivers build the skills and strategies they need through peer experience and Mentor guidance. All topic support groups provide an Alliance training certificate. Find all TSGs here. 

Special Events

Stay in the know about important topics, policy updates, and statewide programs unique to you with CaRES Special Events. These events are offered on a one-time basis, and recordings are available on our YouTube channel. 

Getting Ready for Summer and the New School Year
When: 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jun. 1
Speaker: Stacey Klim
Join us in exploring simple, practical ways to maintain student progress and academic readiness to ensure children stay on track academically and emotionally during the Summer break. We will discuss what to do if there are changes in placement over the summer, how to make transitions smooth and how to make sure kids don’t fall behind. Plus, we’ll cover a few helpful end-of-year to-do’s—like gathering school records, touching base with teachers, and getting organized for what’s next.
 
Introduction to Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth
When: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jun. 23
Speaker: Nathan LaChine
Join us to learn implementation strategies for providing meaningful support and creating safe, affirming environments that support the identity formation and self-expression of our LGBTQIA+ youth in foster care.

Local events this month! Use this map to find events closest to you by selecting a location pin near your home. Each location will include all upcoming details about the event. Scroll down on this page to find a full description and links for each event. 

Region 1

Ephrata Park & Play 
When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jun. 6 
Where: Lion’s Park Playground, 598 Parkway Blvd, Ephrata
RSVP: Lori at MosesLakeCaRES@gmail.com or 206-850-4464  

Load up the car and meet us at the park for a morning full of fun. Let the kids run out some energy while the grown-ups share experiences as foster, kinship, adoptive or guardianship parents. We’ll share wisdom, resources, and support and take home tired children. 

Spokane Park Meetup
When:  2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jun. 7 
Where: Sky Prairie Park, 8501 N Nettleton Ct, Spokane 
RSVP: Hope at CaRESpokane@gmail.com or 509-731-3678 

Join a group of foster and kinship parents for fun at Sky Prairie Park’s Upper Playground. There will be yard games for the big kids, so bring the whole family! 

Wenatchee Splash Pad & Sandwiches 
When:  6-8 p.m. Monday, Jun. 22 
Where: Rotary Park Splash Pad, 1401 Kirby Ln, Wenatchee 
RSVP: Jenny at CaRESWenatchee@gmail.com or 509-670-9411 

Gather with other foster and kinship families in the Wenatchee area for an evening of summer fun and togetherness. We’ll bring sandwiches, chips, and lemonade for your crew. Pack the beach towels and let’s get splashing! 

A CaRES team member in a blue CaRES t-shirt, standing behind a table with CaRES items and backpacks for families.
Visit the Region 1 Page

Region 2

Tri-Cities Support Group  
When: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, Jun. 13
Where: Canyon Lakes Park, 1601 Canyon Lakes Dr, Kennewick
RSVP: Rebecca at CaRESTriCities@gmail.com or 509-492-2185 

Spend the morning with foster and kinship families like yours. While the kids burn off some energy, the grown-ups will recharge by sharing experiences and support.

A picnic table inside of an arcade. The table has the CaRES blue tablecloth on it and snacks.
Visit the Region 2 Page

Region 3

Mount Vernon Caregiver Meet Up 
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jun. 8
Where: Jungle Playland, 2901 Martin Rd, Mount Vernon
RSVP: Sarah at CaRESArlington@gmail.com (RSVP by Jun. 5)

Bring the whole family for this free event at Jungle Playland (directions here)! While the kids run around and play, connect with CaRES Community Connector Sarah and fellow foster, kinship, and adoptive caregivers. RSVP by Friday, Jun. 5 to receive free pizza and soda for your family. 

Caregivers and familes gather around tables in an event space.
Visit the Region 3 Page

Region 4

Science of Soccer Night at the KidsQuest Museum 
When: 4-7 p.m. Friday, Jun. 26 
Where: KidsQuest Museum, 1116 108th Ave NE, Bellevue  
RSVP: Liz at CarnationCaRES@gmail.com

Meet CaRES Community Connector Liz at the KidsQuest Museum for Super Science Night: Science of Soccer! Fun activities for kids of all ages will run 4-6:30 p.m., but the museum will stay open until 7 p.m. The first 15 caregivers and kids to RSVP will receive free admission! After all free tickets are distributed, tickets are $5 per person. If you need financial support to participate, please contact Deshanna at dbrown27@uw.edu. 

Chill Out with Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream Science
When: 4-5 p.m. Monday, Jun. 29  
Where: Woodinville Library, 17105 Avondale Road NE, Woodinville
RSVP: Liz at CarnationCaRES@gmail.com

Join CaRES Community Connector Liz and fellow caregiver families at the King County Library System’s Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream Science event! Together, we’ll watch the amazing magic of liquid nitrogen experiments and sample the ice cream they create. RSVP to Liz, so we know that you’ll meet us there. Please note that this event is ages 5 and up. 

CaRES Mentor Lisa sits next to another person at a table with an information about CaRES.
Visit the Region 4 Page

Region 5

Grow with CaRES Park Event  
When: 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jun. 14 
Where: Nelson Park, 20296 3rd Ave NW, Poulsbo 
RSVP: Molly at CaRESKitsapCounty@gmail.com or 360-524-2675   

Craft and recharge with CaRES Community Connector Molly and fellow foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers. Bring the whole family for springtime crafts and fun at the Nelson Park in Poulsbo.

A CaRES team member standing in front of a car with the trunk open. The trunk holds items for caregivers and families at a Trunk or Treat event.
Visit the Region 5 Page

Region 6

Vancouver Caregiver Park Meetup   
When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jun. 16 
Where: Curtain Creek Community Park, 7605 NE 129th St., Vancouver 
RSVP: Aric at CaRESVancouver@gmail.com or 360-931-4458

Come play at the Curtain Creek Community Park in Vancouver! Join CaRES Community Connector Aric and fellow foster, adoptive, and kinship parents for an evening connecting with other caregivers while we enjoy the park’s pickleball courts, soccer fields, basketball courts, and space for the kids to run and explore. We invite you to optionally bring a picnic dinner for your family.

Meet Mauri’s Coastal Caravan
Stop #1 – Paradise Point State Park
When: 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday, Jun. 13 
Where: Paradise Point State Park, 33914 NW Paradise Park Rd, Ridgefield 
RSVP: Mauri at GraysHarborCaRES@gmail.com or 253-392-7223 

Stop #2 – Rainbow Falls State Park
When: 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday, Jun. 27 
Where: Rainbow Falls State Park, 633 Leudinghaus Rd, Chehalis
RSVP: Mauri at GraysHarborCaRES@gmail.com or 253-392-7223 

Join your local CaRES Community Connector, Mauri, and fellow foster, adoptive, and kinship parents for an afternoon of community and connection at Paradise Point State Park in Ridgefield or Rainbow Falls State Park in Chehalis. Both events will have a potluck BBQ style gathering, so bring a dish to share! Kayaks, fishing poles, sand buckets, kites, and crafts will be available for families to enjoy, and there will be prizes too! RSVP to receive the exact meeting location. 

This event is part of a special summer series, “Meet Mauri’s Coastal Caravan,” as CaRES Community Connector Mauri makes stops along her road trip and holds fun events for caregivers and their families. Mark your calendars for the next gatherings at these state parks: Pacific Beach (Jul. 11), Bogachiel (Jul. 25), Maryhill (Aug. 8), Millersylvania (Aug. 29), Fort Worden (Sep. 19), Fort Flagler (Sep. 26), Belfair (Oct. 10), and Cape Disappointment (Oct. 24). 

A caregiver and a child look at an interactive exhibit at a museum.
Visit the Region 6 Page

We believe caregivers thrive when connected to each other, practical resources, and the broader community. Refer a caregiver for a personal Mentor contact at AllianceCaRES@uw.edu.

Find the May 2026 CaRES Newsletter here. 

The statewide CaRES team stands together, wearing blue CaRES jackets, in front of a colorful mural.
The Alliance CaRES Team gathered on October 24, 2025 for training, team building, and program planning.
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The Alliance CaRES offices are closed Monday, September 4th, in observance of Labor Day. Thank you caregivers, social workers, and staff for all you do to care for families, youth, and children!
CaRES offices are closed today, July 4th, in honor of Independence Day.