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January Family Caregiver Events on the
WA Caregiver Learning Portal!
To register for an event or group or to sign up for the Learning Portal: wacaregivingjourney.com
January 2025 Events for family caregivers–all events are online, all are free! Spots in each event are limited, but there are no limits to how many events you can register for.
A wonderful feature–if you have questions, you can privately email the hosting Care Educator after the webinar for more details!
Webinars, The Care and Share Show, and similar online events are recorded, so if you can’t participate you can catch up! (you must sign up for the WA Caregiver Learning Portal to see recordings).
Journaling for Caregivers: Wednesday, January 8, 2024 (Meets weekly for 3 weeks)
2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET (11:00-12:00 AM PT) Are you looking for a way to process your caregiving journey and find moments of calm in the chaos? This 4-week series is designed to help you reflect, recharge, and reconnect. We’ll explore topics like gratitude, stress relief, and family dynamics through simple guided journaling prompts. No writing experience is required—just bring a pen, paper, and an open mind.
Relax and Recharge: Tuesday, January 7, 2024 (Meets weekly for 4 weeks)
11:00 – 11:30 AM ET (8:00-8:30 AM PT) (Anonymous–cameras and mics off) A 30-minute relaxation webinar, designed to help you unwind, recharge, and find a moment of calm in your busy lives.
Depression in Caregiving: Friday, 24, 2024 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET (9:00 AM -10:00 AM PT) This webinar will explore the relationship between depression and caregiving. Discover how to recognize the signs of depression and learn essential self-care techniques to prioritize your mental well-being.
Agotamiento Del Cuidador: Thursday, January 30, 2024 8:00 PM-9:00 PM ET (5:00 PM -6:00 PM PT) ¿Es usted un cuidador que se siente agotado, fatigado, o fatiga emocionalmente? No esta solo. Únase a nosotros en un seminario web empoderador dedicacdo a aboradar el problema critico del agotamiento de cuidadores.
New Year, Stronger You: Friday, January 31, 2024 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET (11:00 AM -12:00 PM PT) Join guest speaker, Justin Sharpe, a registered social worker specializing in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, for this webinar designed to help you start the new year with confidence and hope.
Ongoing: The Care and Share Show: Episode 5: Life’s Hardest Lesson: Thursday, January 16, 2024 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET (9:00-10:00 PM PT) Discussions will reflect on the tough, often unasked-for lessons that caregiving brings our way, how these challenges shape us, and the unexpected wisdom and strength we gain from them.
Family Camp Respite Retreats–apply soon, spaces are limited!
These free Family Camp Respite Retreats are for:
- Individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) and their families,
- Priority goes to those families have family members who identify as Black/African American, Hispanic, American Indian/Native-American/Alaska Native, Asian American, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, or Two or more races.
- The family member with I/DD and the primary family member who cares for the person with I/DD must live in Washington State.
Family Camp Respite Retreat dates are reserved for families with a Family Camp Voucher from Lifespan Respite WA.
The camps are free because Lifespan Respite WA received a grant from the Dan Thompson Account.
The camps are offered due to the determination of the late Dan Thompson-a young man with Down Syndrome – and his family. He and his family “rode on the crest of change,” and fought for his right to be valued, belong, and be included in all aspects of life in the same ways that a non-disabled person would. The Dan Thompson Account is one of Dan’s many legacies and is funding this Family Camp Respite Retreat program.
What is a Family Camp Respite Retreat?
Family camps are for families rather than individual campers. A “respite retreat” camp is when family members who usually take care of a family member with a disability can take breaks during the camp, while the person with a disability (the “camper”) goes to group activities supported by trained staff. Staff may be assigned 1:1 or 1:2 or 1:3 to campers based on what a camper needs to enjoy a particular activity.
Camps which host family respite camps/retreats offer all the usual activities you’d find at a day or overnight camp. Camps decide which activities may be available based on weather and on campers’ supports. Family members are free to join activities along with their family member with I/DD, do an activity on their own, or use camper activity time for respite while enjoying camp amenities. Siblings who meet camp age limit requirements are free to take part in activities without adult family members, and to either join an activity with their sibling with I/DD or on their own. Activities may include: