INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION INFORMATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS

Family Connections, Inc. offers free educational workshops for New York State families who are interested in learning more about International Adoption. The educational workshops will provide information regarding the joys, the challenges, and the processes of international adoption to ensure families have a joyful and uncomplicated adoption experience.

The educational workshops will include information regarding the 1) children waiting for families in foreign institutions and foster care; 2) international adoption process including the completion of a home study, dossier, and Citizenship and Immigration Services approval, 3) travel to the child’s home country or escort possibilities, and 4) adoption (and readoption) process for an international child. The workshops will also speak about how to choose an international adoption placement agency. Family Connections, Inc. will feature the international adoption programs of World Child International, a service partner of Family Connections in support of international adoption for New York families.

Educational workshops will be held:

Hopewell Junction: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at East Fishkill Public Library, 348 Route 376 Hopewell Junction, NY 12533. Meeting will be held on Tuesday evenings.

Williamsville: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Amherst Lutheran Church, 5125 Main Street, Williamsville, NY. Meetings will be held on Tuesdays: October 2, 2007, November 6, 2007 and December 4, 2007

Rochester: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 761 Elm Grove Road, Rochester, NY. Meetings will be held on Tuesday evening: January 23, 2008.

Please contact Family Connections, Inc. (607) 756-6574 or 1-800-535-5556 to register for a specific workshop.

ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION SYMPOSIUM

Family Connections, Inc. sponsors an annual one-day international adoption symposium to support the growth of families formed through international adoption. Workshops are presented by international adoption professionals and adoptive parents. The symposium is designed to educate and support prospective adoptive parents, newly formed families, and experienced parents.

The 2007 Symposium:
Date: Saturday, November 3rd, 2007
Time: 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Place: Crossroads Church
Cicero, New York

Workshops:
Joys and Challenges of International Adoption
How to Afford International Adoption
Transracial Parenting
Attaching in Adoption
Risks & Resiliency – Parenting Post-Institutionalized Children
Adoptive Parent Question and Answer Panel

To Register – www.onchildinternational.org or LisaG@onechildinternational.org
or call Lisa at 315-413-0709

FAMILY CONNECTIONS, INC. SPEAKERS BUREAU

The professional staff of Family Connections, Inc. is available to provide educational workshops for adoption professionals, other professionals touched by adoption (e.g. medical professionals, school staff, early intervention specialists), prospective adoptive parents, and adoptive parents.

Ethics in Adoption (2 hour presentation)
Target Audience: Adoption professionals
Summary: The application of ethical principles and decision-making models to clinical practice. An interactive dialogue and debate among the participants and presenter regarding ethical issues in adoption.
Speaker: Renee Hettich, L.M.S.W., Adoption Social Worker

How to Adopt – Domestically (2 hour presentation)
Target Audience: Prospective adoptive parents
Summary: An overview of domestic adoption and how to be successful in the adoption process.
Speaker: Anita F. Stevens, Executive Director

How to Adopt – Internationally (2 hour presentation)
Target Audience: Prospective adoptive parents
Summary: An overview of international adoption and how to be successful in the adoption process.
Speaker: Anita F. Stevens, Executive Director

Joys and Challenges of International Adoption (2 hour presentation)
Target Audience: Prospective adoptive parents; New adoption professionals
Summary: An exploration of international adoption – children in need, the adoption process, the unique needs of the children, becoming an multi-cultural family, and the joys of becoming an international family.
Speaker: Renee Hettich, L.M.S.W., Adoption Social Worker

Openness in Domestic Adoption
Target Audience: Prospective adoptive parents
Summary: A discussion of open adoption practice in domestic adoption. Helpful hints on open adoption – is it right for you.
Speaker: Anita F. Stevens, Executive Director

Risks & Resiliency: Young Children Adopted from Foreign Orphanages (1 ½ hour presentation for parents; 3 hour presentation for adoption professionals)
Target Audience: Prospective adoptive parents; Adoptive parents; and Adoption professionals
Summary: The risks and resiliency of children adopted from orphanages. The impact of institutionalization and adoption on a child’s cognitive, motor, language, sensory, and social/emotional development.
Speaker: Renee Hettich, L.M.S.W., Adoption Social Worker

Are Those Your Kids? How to Respond to Questions from Family, Friends and Strangers (1-2 hour presentation)
Target Audience: Prospective adoptive parents; Adoptive parents; and Adoption professionals
Summary: Strategies for respectful responses to awkward questions regarding your adoptive family from family, friends, and strangers.
Speaker: Renee Hettich, L.M.S.W., Adoption Social Worker

Fostering Positive Cultural and Ethnic Identity in Children Adopted Transracially and Transculturally
Intended Audience: Prospective adoptive parents and adoptive parents
Summary: An exploration of four major factors that influence a child’s development of a healthy, positive, and integrated racial and cultural identity.
Speaker: Renee Hettich, L.M.S.W., Adoption Social Worker

The Life Cycle of Adoption (1-2 hour presentation)
Target Audience: Prospective adoptive parents; Adoptive parents; and Adoption professionals
Summary: A discussion of how children experience adoption through their lifetime and how parents can support their children’s development.
Speaker: Mary Capocefalo, L.M.S.W., Adoption Social Worker

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