May 2021 News
 Program Updates Big Announcement!We are excited to share that Project LIFE has a new website! Thanks to the feedback you all have shared with us over the last year, we have updated key parts of our site to improve how each of you accesses the information you need most – including new Regional pages that highlight your region’s events, staff, and news! We’ll be sharing more information on our social media in the coming weeks to highlight new sections of the site – so stay tuned. In the meantime, visit vaprojectlife.org and take a look around! Take me to the new site!2021 Spring Youth Conference Conference Details Dates: May 18, 19, and 20, 2021 | Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Project LIFE presents, “The LIFE Network.” This will be a virtual conference, but virtual does not mean boring. Eligible youth are encouraged to join us for fun filled days with workshops and activities around advocacy, life skills development, budgeting and credit, culinary arts, and more! Participants will show off their creative skills in our talent showcase! Youth will have the opportunity to win raffle prizes throughout the conference. All attendees will receive a gift card. We cannot wait to see you there! Register below and contact Kelly if you have any questions. Registration closes on May 11. Act now! Register Here  We need YOU to Star in LGT! Date: May 20, 2021 Can you sing? Dance? Draw? Whistle? Act? It’s your time to show it off! Send us a 1-2 minute video of you expressing your creative talent. Videos will be reviewed and compiled into the LIFE’s Got Talent show to premier at the conference. Email ktrump@umfs.org for submission directions. All participants will receive a prize to starring in LGT and one entry will receive the grand prize!  Register for the conference Here!Upcoming Statewide Events |
| Talk it Out Tuesdays Dates: May 4 + 25, 2021 | Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Feeling isolated due to COVID? Need someone to connect with? Miss talking with peers? Talk it Out Tuesdays is an open platform for youth to talk with other youth and trusted adults about anything on their minds. Hosted by Jamesia and Melissa, you can join in this social session by registering with the button below. Register Here  Parenting Together with the Basics Date: May 26, 2021 | Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Are you a parent to a young child? The baby stage is hard, and some say the toddler stage is even harder. As parents, we want to help our child grow and learn, but sometimes we don’t know where to start. Band together with other parents to connect with one another, and to learn basic ways to improve your child’s brain growth. We’ll cover 5 different topics over 5 months, and you can attend as many sessions as you want. (This will be our third one.) This second group will be facilitated by a peer and an adult expert. Register once using the button below. Contact Kelly with questions. Register Here  Virtual Real World (rescheduled!) Dates: June 3 + June 24, 2021 | Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Take two: We’ve rescheduled with the VA Cooperative Extension to offer 2 more sessions. Join us for a simulation of the Real World that concretely addresses education and employment decisions youth make in combination with lifestyle choices. The challenge will be to develop a budget on everyday needs and wants while responding to real life situational crises. There will be opportunities for discussions, re-evaluating decisions and processing information learned. Sign up for one of the sessions; space is limited to the first 20 registrants. Contact Melissa if you have questions. Register Here for June 3 or Register Here for June 24  Upcoming Regional Events Eastern Region Independent Living Coordinators Committee (ILCC) Meeting Date: May 12, 2021 | Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. All Eastern region DSS agencies and private providers are invited to attend to discuss independent living needs for youth in this region. Contact Melissa if you plan on attending or if you need more information. Central Region Healthy Relationships and Setting Boundaries Workshop Date: May 25, 2021 | Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Central youth are invited to attend this workshop with Pierre. Contact Pierre if you plan on attending or if you need more information. You can register here!  Additional Events and Resources Special Education Webinar Date: May 13, 2021 | Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Formed Families Forward is providing a webinar on special education transition through and beyond high school for foster, adoptive and kinship youth. Go here to register for this and reach out to Kelly Henderson with any questions. Mortgage Basics Info Session Date: May 18, 2021 | Time: 4:00 p.m. Impact Living Services is hosting a information session both in person and virtually at our Harrisonburg ILS office. The presentation will be given by Jon Ischinger and his team from F&M Mortgage in Harrisonburg. They will focus on the basics of the real estate market, ins and outs of first time home buyers loans, and preparation to apply for mortgage/credit usage knowledge in their early 20s. A sign-up/ announcement flyer is coming soon. Email Samantha with questions and for updates. Peer Support Groups Date: June 6, 2021 Formed Families Together are virtual & in-person support groups led by trained peer leaders with personal & professional experience. We provide a safe space for foster & adoptive parents & kinship caregivers to share their experiences, concerns, frustrations, & resources! Virtual groups will meet via Zoom on the 1st Sunday of every month starting June 6, 2021 from 7:30PM to 9PM. In-person groups will meet in Fairfax City on the 3rd Wednesday of every month starting June 16, 2021 from 7PM to 8:30PM. Interested in joining? Register here or visit their website. Registration opens May 3. |
