Melissa, this is exactly the gap I keep running into. We are running four foster types at AAF right now (Foster-to-Train, Finder-to-Foster, Temporary Crisis, and standard placements) and the ongoing support layer is the piece I have not figured out yet. New fosters get a packet, an animal, and then a black hole.
A monthly bootcamp with existing-fosters-mentoring-new-fosters built into it is exactly the structure I want. That peer network is what keeps fosters in the system past the first hard placement.
A few things I am curious about as you shape it:
What format are you planning? In-person, hybrid, virtual? LA is a big footprint to cover.
Content rotation: same core curriculum every month with rotating modules, or a different topic each month?
How are you measuring success? Active foster count at 6 months? Animals placed per foster? Length of foster tenure?
Are you connecting it to a behavioral framework? Your "Reducing Animal Stress" tagline suggests yes, and that piece tends to get skipped in standard foster onboarding.
Also opening this up to anyone else in the thread running something similar. We are building toward this for AAF and would rather learn from people already doing it than start from scratch.
Happy to compare notes off-forum if useful. calendly.com/animal-angels.
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BJ Adkins
Founder/Director
Animal-Angels Foundation
Pinson, AL
bjadkins@animal-angels.organimal-angelsfoundation.org
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-13-2026 03:34 PM
From: Melissa Klaskin
Subject: Monthly foster bootcamp
Hello,
I am hoping to start a monthly foster bootcamp in Los Angeles to entice new fosters, give support to existing fosters, have existing fosters mentor new fosters, and give on-going information and resources about fostering. Has anyone done the same and if so can you offer any tips?
Thank you,
Melissa Klaskin
Los Angeles
#FosterPrograms
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Melissa Klaskin
psychologist
Reducing Animal Stress
CA
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