Transracial Parenting Workshop in Bellingham, Sat. April 26th, 9am - 4pm

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Free ALP Classes Online through November - Check it out!!

 

http://www.adoptionlearningpartners.org/catalog/courses/tough-starts-matters-package.cfm

In my experience, these classes have been a wonderful opportunity for adoptive families to receive good education prior to bringing challenging children into their family.  I highly recommend them.

Have you heard of BraveLove?

I just stumbled upon this website today.  And I am loving it already.  Visit their site at: http://bravelove.org

"BraveLove's goal is to help change the way people think about adoption."

 

"Our mission is to change the perception of adoption through honest, informative, and hopeful communication that conveys the heroism and bravery a birth mother displays when she places her child with a loving family through adoption."

 

Check out BRAVELOVE and please let us know if you know of any other positive adoption websites.  We would love to share them and hope to support and promote a positive view of adoption. 

 

Thank You! Thank you! Thank you!!

We want to shout out a very special THANK YOU to everyone who helped with and attended the Avenues to Adoption Education Event which was held on Saturday, June 22nd.  It was a great learning opportunity and I know everyone who attended gained additional information regarding adoption options and the overall adoption experience.  

The first presenter, Mary Moo from WACAP gave a great overview of the services WACAP provides both in their International Program as well as their domestic US Kids Program.  It was exciting to learn that if a couple is interested in working with another agency they can have their home study completed at WACAP and shared with another agency.  This is definitely something to ask more about!!  She explained the role WACAP has as an advocate for the adoptive parent in navigating the foster to adopt system.  For those who were not able to hear Mary's presentation, I highly recommend attending one of their Information Meetings which are typically held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 7-9pm at the WACAP office in Renton, WA.

Our second presenters, Corey and Julie Pogue, were a delight.  They shared their story of inspiration and love and how their family was blessed by adopting 4 children from the State.  They are more than happy to share more of their story to those who are looking for an insiders view of adopting through the state system. Email us at families.supporting.adoption@gmail.com if you are interested in the contact information for Corey and Julie.

Our final presenter,  Susan Lawrence from Kids2Families is an amazing local resource for adoption advocacy.  It was informative to hear about their advocacy program and vision of having all children in loving homes. She was informative and can be a resource to anyone trying to navigate building their family through adoption.  It was exciting to hear about the orphanage that Kids2Families is running in Ecuador and their goal of having these children adopted locally by Ecuadorians.  She can be a resource to families who want to adopt, but have financial concerns.  She would love to have more volunteers and she hopes to see all of us at the Kids2Families Annual Family Adoption Walk in November.

A special thanks to Chriss Butt who did a ton of work to make this event (and many other things) possible.  She is currently serving as the Chair for the FSA board and many people benefit from the time she spends advocating for adoption.  THANKS CHRISS!  

We hope to host another similar education event soon.  (Maybe November)???  Be sure to join our Facebook Group to learn about more about any upcoming events and for an opportunity to share information regarding adoption.

We Cordially Invite You to Our

Avenues to Adoption

Education Event

Saturday, June 22^nd

12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

34815 Weyerhaeuser Way South, Federal Way, WA 98001  

Come hear from World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP), The Pogue Family, Kids 2 Families and learn more regarding a variety of adoption agencies and options for building families through adoption. The presenters all have experience primarily with adopting non-infant children.   

Please R.S.V.P. if possible - but feel free to show up spontaneously too.

Contact Chriss Butt at:
families.supporting.adoption@gmail.com or
call her at (801) 259-3959 with questions.

 

Note: Current adoptive applicants, please consult with your caseworker regarding the option of earning adoption education credit for attending this event.

Looking for a good adoption related read?

Check out this suggested reading list by Adoptive Families.  They offer a large variety of information regarding adoption but I especially liked these pre-adoption suggested reads.

If you are interested in learning more about "taking about adoption" they have some great ideas here.  Overall, Adoptive Families has some helpful information and resources that are totally worth checking out!

A Free Course on the Adoption Tax Credit from Adoption Learning Partners (ALP)

 Updated Adoption Tax Credit Course: 

January, 2013 for the 2012 tax year!

This FREE course takes into account changes instituted by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 which was signed January 2, 2013.

This course will help you:

• Determine your eligibility for the adoption tax credit
• See how the adoption tax credit applies to different types of adoption and varying financial situations
• Prepare for year-end planning to better work with a tax professional

 

Take Adoption Tax Credit Now!

Renton Office Adoption Education, Sat. 9/29, 10am

If you are a current adoptive applicant with LDS Family Services and need your adoption education hours, please plan to attend on Saturday, September 29th from 10 am - approximately 4pm at the Renton Office. Dress casually, bring some snacks and bring or plan to buy lunch nearby.  Those needing adoption education, who cannot attend this session, can purchase adoption education through Adoption Learning Partners. If you have questions, please contact your caseworker. 

More Details on Adoption Learning Partners

 
This adoption education will be required by LDSFS for ALL new adoptive applicants applying after October 1st regardless of if this is a second adoption. 

You are welcome to REGISTER NOW:

www.AdoptionLearningPartners.org/LDSFS

Total Approximate Total Cost Per Individual = $129

(Which is approximately $258 per couple).

Let’s Talk Adoption 2 credit hours

·         Understand why talking about adoption is important to you, your child and family.

·         Identify your personal barriers to discussing adoption.

·         Recognize how your child’s understanding of adoption changes as he grow.

Open Adoption 101  2 credit hours

·         Understand the different degrees of openness.

·         Become familiar with the process of creating an open adoption.

·         Make openness work for your family.

·         Learn to maintain connections with birth families.

The Journey of Attachment  2 credit hours

·         Learn to see attachment as a lifelong process.

·         Identify factors that affect attachment.

·         Recognize signs of attachment.

·         Apply strategies to encourage attachment.

Finding the Missing Pieces:  Grief and Loss  2 credit hours

·         Recognize the signs of grief in adopted children at different developmental stages.

·         Identify situations that may trigger grief responses.

·         Develop strategies for helping children grieve. 

 

Elective Courses – One (1) elective course is required by LDSFS. You can choose from the classes listed below or may attend a Webinar. (Please select one where a certificate is available).

Conspicuous Families (1.5 hours)	Tough Starts: Brain Development Matters (1 hour)
Discipline and the Adopted Child (2 hours)	Tough Starts: Treatment Matters (1 hour)
Creating an Adoption Profile (2 hours)	Tough Starts: Parenting Matters (2 hours)
Adopting the Older Child (2 hours)	Tough Starts: Family Matters (1 hour)