Unique women’s retreat aims to serve foster and adoptive mothers
Foster and adoptive moms have a unique opportunity to receive restoration and encouragement at a women’s retreat unlike any other in Montana.
The Radiant Women’s Retreat is an annual, 3-day retreat created specifically for women who care for children from foster care. Designed, organized and hosted by the non-profit foster care support organization, Child Bridge, it is the only event of its kind in the state.
Radiant began in 2021 and has since featured nationally and world-renowned speakers from the realm of foster care, including authors Jamie Finn, Ruth Graham and Jessica Mathisen. Hosted this year in Butte from November 8-10, the retreat welcomed author, trauma expert and adoptive mom, Lisa C. Qualls, to the main stage. Through her practical wisdom on caring for children with trauma and her own personal story, Qualls led 90 women into a tear-filled space of healing, learning and refreshment.
"I am so grateful for all of the hard work that so obviously went in to blessing us as mom,” said Holly Hauskins, a mom from Bozeman. “It was so lovely to be loved on and feel so seen. I feel so much hope and so much lighter.”
This child-free, women only event aims to give these selfless mothers not only a physical break from their daily duties but practical advice and spiritual encouragement to keep them going. This year’s main sessions featured talks on how to reconnect with a child in your care, a panel discussion about building relationships with a child’s birth family and an interview between Qualls and her biological daughter, AnnaRose Sanchez Qualls, about the impact foster care had on her daughter’s life.
The weekend schedule also offers topical breakout sessions for moms to pick from that range from fun crafts to high-intensity workouts to unique opportunities to grieve in a safe space. Each evening features an energetic activity like this year’s Mom Prom or the fan favorite Bingo night.
<photo grid> or download photos link
These activities and sessions provide attendees from across the state with the chance to connect and form friendships with other women who understand their journey and can help carry them through the tough days ahead. Alternatively, the fully optional nature of the schedule also allows attendees to choose when and how to participate. While some eagerly engage in various activities, others use this valuable time to simply rest and relax.
"It truly was a very refreshing time, and I felt seen and loved. Ya'll just have the perfect balance of knowing how to make us open up to share, cry and laugh. I can't wait till next time!" said Larissa Swartzentruber of Kalispell.
The retreat is rooted in Christian faith, offering spiritual encouragement through times of worship, personal prayer and other faith-based activities. Moms do not have to subscribe to the faith, however, to be welcome and refreshed by the weekend.
Radiant aims to honor the daily sacrifices these women make in order to help children who’ve suffered unimaginable abuse and neglect find healing. They manage unexplained fears and behaviors, forge relationships with birth parents, advocate for vulnerable children in numerous ways and carry the heartbreaking stories that brought those children to them.
While Child Bridge’s generous donors cover the majority of the cost to put on the retreat, attendees do have to purchase a ticket to the event and cover the cost of their hotel stay over the weekend. However, friends, family, churches and anonymous donors have begun stepping up in recent years to provide scholarships that allow mothers to attend at no cost to them.
For more information about Radiant and other foster/adoptive family resources and services, contact Mary Cloud Vander Ark at marketing@childbridgemontana.org.
Unique women’s retreat aims to serve foster and adoptive mothers
Foster and adoptive moms have a unique opportunity to receive restoration and encouragement at a women’s retreat unlike any other in Montana.
The Radiant Women’s Retreat is an annual, 3-day retreat created specifically for women who care for children from foster care. Designed, organized and hosted by the non-profit foster care support organization, Child Bridge, it is the only event of its kind in the state.
Radiant began in 2021 and has since featured nationally and world-renowned speakers from the realm of foster care, including authors Jamie Finn, Ruth Graham and Jessica Mathisen. Hosted this year in Butte from November 8-10, the retreat welcomed author, trauma expert and adoptive mom, Lisa C. Qualls, to the main stage. Through her practical wisdom on caring for children with trauma and her own personal story, Qualls led 90 women into a tear-filled space of healing, learning and refreshment.
"I am so grateful for all of the hard work that so obviously went in to blessing us as mom,” said Holly Hauskins, a mom from Bozeman. “It was so lovely to be loved on and feel so seen. I feel so much hope and so much lighter.”
This child-free, women only event aims to give these selfless mothers not only a physical break from their daily duties but practical advice and spiritual encouragement to keep them going. This year’s main sessions featured talks on how to reconnect with a child in your care, a panel discussion about building relationships with a child’s birth family and an interview between Qualls and her biological daughter, AnnaRose Sanchez Qualls, about the impact foster care had on her daughter’s life.
The weekend schedule also offers topical breakout sessions for moms to pick from that range from fun crafts to high-intensity workouts to unique opportunities to grieve in a safe space. Each evening features an energetic activity like this year’s Mom Prom or the fan favorite Bingo night.
<photo grid> or download photos link
These activities and sessions provide attendees from across the state with the chance to connect and form friendships with other women who understand their journey and can help carry them through the tough days ahead. Alternatively, the fully optional nature of the schedule also allows attendees to choose when and how to participate. While some eagerly engage in various activities, others use this valuable time to simply rest and relax.
"It truly was a very refreshing time, and I felt seen and loved. Ya'll just have the perfect balance of knowing how to make us open up to share, cry and laugh. I can't wait till next time!" said Larissa Swartzentruber of Kalispell.
The retreat is rooted in Christian faith, offering spiritual encouragement through times of worship, personal prayer and other faith-based activities. Moms do not have to subscribe to the faith, however, to be welcome and refreshed by the weekend.
Radiant aims to honor the daily sacrifices these women make in order to help children who’ve suffered unimaginable abuse and neglect find healing. They manage unexplained fears and behaviors, forge relationships with birth parents, advocate for vulnerable children in numerous ways and carry the heartbreaking stories that brought those children to them.
While Child Bridge’s generous donors cover the majority of the cost to put on the retreat, attendees do have to purchase a ticket to the event and cover the cost of their hotel stay over the weekend. However, friends, family, churches and anonymous donors have begun stepping up in recent years to provide scholarships that allow mothers to attend at no cost to them.
For more information about Radiant and other foster/adoptive family resources and services, contact Mary Cloud Vander Ark at marketing@childbridgemontana.org.