Animal Welfare Professionals

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Safe at Home - Engaging Communities," a conversation with @Stephanie Medrano, Director of Operations, and @April Gaspar, Community-based Programs Manager, for Stray Cat Alliance. 

The innovative Safe at Home program saves the lives of kittens, who are the most often euthanized in shelters. Unweaned, newborn kittens are an estimated 20% to 40% of the cats impounded in municipal shelters. Because they require bottle feeding and round-the-clock continuous care which most shelters do not have the staff or resources to provide, these kittens are most at risk of euthanasia.

Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. The program also supplies all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States but it doesn't have to be! The hope is to expand to as many communities as possible.

April and Stephanie will share how their lived experiences informs their engagement with community members. It can be discouraging for community members to seek help at the shelter and be told they're doing something wrong. They take the time to talk to people about the reality of rescue, shelters, fostering, adopting, TNR, and how this work can't be done without the public's help. They encourage everyone to become an advocate in their community and share practical ways to start.

This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary staff and volunteers, and community members who are advocates for themselves and the kitties - but all are welcome! 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Meet people where they're at with skills and knowledge. 

• Trust your community! You can't do this work alone.

• Look internally and set your goal based on your capacity. Know that even just 10 cats rescued from the shelter, ARE 10 CATS RESCUED! Celebrate your wins. 

Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
------------------------------

Thanks to our speakers, @Stephanie Medrano and @April Gaspar - and everyone who joined us today! 

We would love to hear from you in response to today's reflection question: How have you tapped into your community and met them where they're at to work together?

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Safe at Home - Engaging Communities," a conversation with @Stephanie Medrano, Director of Operations, and @April Gaspar, Community-based Programs Manager, for Stray Cat Alliance. 

The innovative Safe at Home program saves the lives of kittens, who are the most often euthanized in shelters. Unweaned, newborn kittens are an estimated 20% to 40% of the cats impounded in municipal shelters. Because they require bottle feeding and round-the-clock continuous care which most shelters do not have the staff or resources to provide, these kittens are most at risk of euthanasia.

Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. The program also supplies all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States but it doesn't have to be! The hope is to expand to as many communities as possible.

April and Stephanie will share how their lived experiences informs their engagement with community members. It can be discouraging for community members to seek help at the shelter and be told they're doing something wrong. They take the time to talk to people about the reality of rescue, shelters, fostering, adopting, TNR, and how this work can't be done without the public's help. They encourage everyone to become an advocate in their community and share practical ways to start.

This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary staff and volunteers, and community members who are advocates for themselves and the kitties - but all are welcome! 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Meet people where they're at with skills and knowledge. 

• Trust your community! You can't do this work alone.

• Look internally and set your goal based on your capacity. Know that even just 10 cats rescued from the shelter, ARE 10 CATS RESCUED! Celebrate your wins. 

Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
------------------------------

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Safe at Home - Engaging Communities," a conversation with @Stephanie Medrano, Director of Operations, and @April Gaspar, Community-based Programs Manager, for Stray Cat Alliance. 

The innovative Safe at Home program saves the lives of kittens, who are the most often euthanized in shelters. Unweaned, newborn kittens are an estimated 20% to 40% of the cats impounded in municipal shelters. Because they require bottle feeding and round-the-clock continuous care which most shelters do not have the staff or resources to provide, these kittens are most at risk of euthanasia.

Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. The program also supplies all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States but it doesn't have to be! The hope is to expand to as many communities as possible.

April and Stephanie will share how their lived experiences informs their engagement with community members. It can be discouraging for community members to seek help at the shelter and be told they're doing something wrong. They take the time to talk to people about the reality of rescue, shelters, fostering, adopting, TNR, and how this work can't be done without the public's help. They encourage everyone to become an advocate in their community and share practical ways to start.

This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary staff and volunteers, and community members who are advocates for themselves and the kitties - but all are welcome! 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Meet people where they're at with skills and knowledge. 

• Trust your community! You can't do this work alone.

• Look internally and set your goal based on your capacity. Know that even just 10 cats rescued from the shelter, ARE 10 CATS RESCUED! Celebrate your wins. 

Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
------------------------------

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Safe at Home - Engaging Communities," a conversation with @Stephanie Medrano, Director of Operations, and @April Gaspar, Community-based Programs Manager, for Stray Cat Alliance. 

The innovative Safe at Home program saves the lives of kittens, who are the most often euthanized in shelters. Unweaned, newborn kittens are an estimated 20% to 40% of the cats impounded in municipal shelters. Because they require bottle feeding and round-the-clock continuous care which most shelters do not have the staff or resources to provide, these kittens are most at risk of euthanasia.

Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. The program also supplies all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States but it doesn't have to be! The hope is to expand to as many communities as possible.

April and Stephanie will share how their lived experiences informs their engagement with community members. It can be discouraging for community members to seek help at the shelter and be told they're doing something wrong. They take the time to talk to people about the reality of rescue, shelters, fostering, adopting, TNR, and how this work can't be done without the public's help. They encourage everyone to become an advocate in their community and share practical ways to start.

This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary staff and volunteers, and community members who are advocates for themselves and the kitties - but all are welcome! 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Meet people where they're at with skills and knowledge. 

• Trust your community! You can't do this work alone.

• Look internally and set your goal based on your capacity. Know that even just 10 cats rescued from the shelter, ARE 10 CATS RESCUED! Celebrate your wins. 

Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
------------------------------

Unanswered question from the chat: 

"We get a lot of people willing to foster and just need the support you are taking about.  Is there a contact we can refer to?" - @Christy Schilling

------------------------------
Community Conversations
Community Conversations Committee
Maddie's Fund
CA

Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2026 12:42 PM
From: Sheila Kouhkan
Subject: Community Conversations - 02/23/2026 - Safe at Home - Engaging Communities

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Safe at Home - Engaging Communities," a conversation with @Stephanie Medrano, Director of Operations, and @April Gaspar, Community-based Programs Manager, for Stray Cat Alliance. 

The innovative Safe at Home program saves the lives of kittens, who are the most often euthanized in shelters. Unweaned, newborn kittens are an estimated 20% to 40% of the cats impounded in municipal shelters. Because they require bottle feeding and round-the-clock continuous care which most shelters do not have the staff or resources to provide, these kittens are most at risk of euthanasia.

Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. The program also supplies all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States but it doesn't have to be! The hope is to expand to as many communities as possible.

April and Stephanie will share how their lived experiences informs their engagement with community members. It can be discouraging for community members to seek help at the shelter and be told they're doing something wrong. They take the time to talk to people about the reality of rescue, shelters, fostering, adopting, TNR, and how this work can't be done without the public's help. They encourage everyone to become an advocate in their community and share practical ways to start.

This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary staff and volunteers, and community members who are advocates for themselves and the kitties - but all are welcome! 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Meet people where they're at with skills and knowledge. 

• Trust your community! You can't do this work alone.

• Look internally and set your goal based on your capacity. Know that even just 10 cats rescued from the shelter, ARE 10 CATS RESCUED! Celebrate your wins. 

Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
------------------------------

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Safe at Home - Engaging Communities," a conversation with @Stephanie Medrano, Director of Operations, and @April Gaspar, Community-based Programs Manager, for Stray Cat Alliance. 

The innovative Safe at Home program saves the lives of kittens, who are the most often euthanized in shelters. Unweaned, newborn kittens are an estimated 20% to 40% of the cats impounded in municipal shelters. Because they require bottle feeding and round-the-clock continuous care which most shelters do not have the staff or resources to provide, these kittens are most at risk of euthanasia.

Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. The program also supplies all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States but it doesn't have to be! The hope is to expand to as many communities as possible.

April and Stephanie will share how their lived experiences informs their engagement with community members. It can be discouraging for community members to seek help at the shelter and be told they're doing something wrong. They take the time to talk to people about the reality of rescue, shelters, fostering, adopting, TNR, and how this work can't be done without the public's help. They encourage everyone to become an advocate in their community and share practical ways to start.

This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary staff and volunteers, and community members who are advocates for themselves and the kitties - but all are welcome! 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Meet people where they're at with skills and knowledge. 

• Trust your community! You can't do this work alone.

• Look internally and set your goal based on your capacity. Know that even just 10 cats rescued from the shelter, ARE 10 CATS RESCUED! Celebrate your wins. 

Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
------------------------------

Unanswered question from the chat: 

"How do you deal with some volunteers giving others the wrong or bad advice?" - Claire Ruppert

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Safe at Home - Engaging Communities," a conversation with @Stephanie Medrano, Director of Operations, and @April Gaspar, Community-based Programs Manager, for Stray Cat Alliance. 

The innovative Safe at Home program saves the lives of kittens, who are the most often euthanized in shelters. Unweaned, newborn kittens are an estimated 20% to 40% of the cats impounded in municipal shelters. Because they require bottle feeding and round-the-clock continuous care which most shelters do not have the staff or resources to provide, these kittens are most at risk of euthanasia.

Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. The program also supplies all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States but it doesn't have to be! The hope is to expand to as many communities as possible.

April and Stephanie will share how their lived experiences informs their engagement with community members. It can be discouraging for community members to seek help at the shelter and be told they're doing something wrong. They take the time to talk to people about the reality of rescue, shelters, fostering, adopting, TNR, and how this work can't be done without the public's help. They encourage everyone to become an advocate in their community and share practical ways to start.

This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary staff and volunteers, and community members who are advocates for themselves and the kitties - but all are welcome! 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Meet people where they're at with skills and knowledge. 

• Trust your community! You can't do this work alone.

• Look internally and set your goal based on your capacity. Know that even just 10 cats rescued from the shelter, ARE 10 CATS RESCUED! Celebrate your wins. 

Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
------------------------------

Updated 2/23/26 at 2:24 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

Enter here for a chance to win the February Community Conversations giveaway after watching live or on-demand.

Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie's Fund. 

We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Safe at Home - Engaging Communities," a conversation with @Stephanie Medrano, Director of Operations, and @April Gaspar, Community-based Programs Manager, for Stray Cat Alliance. 

The innovative Safe at Home program saves the lives of kittens, who are the most often euthanized in shelters. Unweaned, newborn kittens are an estimated 20% to 40% of the cats impounded in municipal shelters. Because they require bottle feeding and round-the-clock continuous care which most shelters do not have the staff or resources to provide, these kittens are most at risk of euthanasia.

Safe at Home empowers community members to serve as foster care givers, playing an integral part in saving animal lives. At the South Los Angeles shelter, Stray Cat Alliance community engagement counselors intercept people, before kittens are impounded, and mentor and support them as fosters, providing training on all aspects from bottle feeding through adoption. The program also supplies all food and medical care. This is one of the few programs of its kind in the United States but it doesn't have to be! The hope is to expand to as many communities as possible.

April and Stephanie will share how their lived experiences informs their engagement with community members. It can be discouraging for community members to seek help at the shelter and be told they're doing something wrong. They take the time to talk to people about the reality of rescue, shelters, fostering, adopting, TNR, and how this work can't be done without the public's help. They encourage everyone to become an advocate in their community and share practical ways to start.

This session is especially relevant for adoptions and foster staff & volunteers, veterinary staff and volunteers, and community members who are advocates for themselves and the kitties - but all are welcome! 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Meet people where they're at with skills and knowledge. 

• Trust your community! You can't do this work alone.

• Look internally and set your goal based on your capacity. Know that even just 10 cats rescued from the shelter, ARE 10 CATS RESCUED! Celebrate your wins. 

Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

Looking forward to being in community with you! 

#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#EducationandTraining
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Sheila Kouhkan
Senior Education Specialist
Maddie's Fund
CA
------------------------------