CAFFA - Chicago Area Families For Adoption

WORKSHOP DETAILS

1A. Domestic Adoption: How to Make a Legal & Safe Plan                             Kathleen Hogan Morrison

   Audience: Pre, FP, Pro                        Emphasis: D, F            

This workshop is intended for pre-adoptive couples and single persons, to learn about the law applicable to Illinois and interstate adoptions. Participants will learn why Illinois is a "good" state for adoption. This seminar is designed to take the mystery out of adoption law, to demonstrate the ways legal risk involving birth fathers and fraud can be minimized, and to reassure the attendees that safe and legal adoption is within their grasp. Participants will also learn about the financial aspects of adoption so they can think creatively about ways to meet adoption costs.

1B. "International Adoption 101"                                                                        Azur Idali Walters

      Audience:  Pre                        Emphasis:  I

This workshop will cover: the current state and the current options for international adoption; an overview of the steps involved in the international adoption process; preliminary questions to ask yourself when deciding if international adoption is right for you and your family; things to consider when choosing an international adoption program; resources for more information on international adoption.

1C. Negotiating the Waiting Child List                                                                    Todd J. Ochs

      Audience: Pre, Pro                  Emphasis: D, I, F

The Waiting Child List sounds so simple and straight-forward -- it's not.  Trying to understand a child's potential medical condition and what needs to be done, as well as the variety of outcomes and unknowns, makes the decision to adopt and parent a waiting child a potentially insurmountable task.  The lecture portion will look at a simpler way to organize the data and issues, and ways to access adoption pediatricians.  This is especially necessary, in view of the new Chinese Waiting Child List.

1D. Community for the Adoptive Family                                             Jeana Lindell & Sonja Iribarren

      Audience:  Pre, FP, Pro, AP-All         Emphasis:  D, I, F

Adoptive parents benefit from creating a healthy community to support their families. A panel of adoptive parents will share how they have built the community that supports the needs of their families. Topics addressed will include: connecting with families that look like ours; waiting families; travel; post-adoption support; accessing state early intervention services; early childhood services through the school district; educational needs; adoption and therapeutic parenting; connecting with the best professionals when needed; and creating a safety net to support the needs of our families now and later.  Many adoptive families also  struggle with memories of the many children that remain in the orphanages where their child lived during their early life.   Families will be given concrete suggestions for ways that they can support the children that remain behind.

1E. Ain't Misbehavin':  Discipline & Adoption                                                      Judy Stigger

      Audience:  FP, Pro, AP-All       Emphasis:  D, I, F

When discipline works, children learn life-skills. Children who can trust, wait for things, and moderate their temper, interact more successfully at school and with friends and family. Attendees will learn specific discipline approaches and consider how parental expectation impact children's behavior.

1F. Understanding the Impact of Parenting Traumatized Children on Adoptive Parents

                                                                                                                         Jayne Schooler             

      Audience:   FP, Pro, AP-All      Emphasis: D, I, F                                          
Adopting a child who enters the family from a history of abuse, neglect and trauma can have a serious impact on all members. This workshop will examine what life looks like when loving and living with a traumatized child. We will discuss signs of crisis in the family and what parents need to know to take care of all family members.

1G. Perspectives on Adoption Preparation-A Group Approach

                                                                          Susan Kell & Elizabeth Thomas-Colwell          

      Audience: Pro                         Emphasis: I                                      

In order to meet new State of Illinois and The Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption requirements, agencies are required to provide 10 hours of adoption preparation training.  We will discuss the benefits of in-person adoption preparation in a group format, share feedback from adoptive parents, and review successful strategies.   Providing adoptive parents with a forum to express concerns and have their questions answered by an adoption professional and other adoptive parents is invaluable. 

2A. Trusting In a Stranger For The Sake Of a Child                                                  Patricia Dischler

      Audience:  Pre, BP, Pro, AP-All         Emphasis:  D, I

Adoptive parents will hear first hand the emotional journey experienced by a birthmother in choosing to place her child. Hearing this honest account will help adoptive parents to understand a birthmother's choice and respect her experience. Patricia shares her journey in building a trusting relationship with her son's adoptive parents, creating a road map for others to follow. Facing fears in adoption is emphasized and participants will learn how to take those first steps of trust. Understanding a birthmother's loving choice will also help adoptive parents in closed adoptions by giving them the information they need in order to talk with their child about the love behind the choice. 

2B. Legal Aspects of Adoption                                                                                    Shelley Ballard

      Audience: Pre                         Emphasis:  D, I, F

This workshop will provide an overview of the different types of adoption (domestic, international, foster care) and the legal issues for each type.  Topics include the basic rules of Illinois adoptions, legal risk, financial considerations, interstate placements, avoiding scams and the impact of The Hague on international placements.

2C. Medical Issues in All Adoptions and Foster Care                                                 Todd J. Ochs

      Audience: Pre, FP, Pro, AP-All Emphasis: D, I, F

After the decision to adopt, prospective parents have many questions.  As they ponder giving the rest of their lives to children they've not yet met, they become rightfully concerned about the unknowns.  Shedding light on medical issues present in international and domestic adoptees, and in foster children, will provide parents and adoption professionals with valuable tools to go forward.

2D. 101 Ways to Enhance Your Adoption                                         Stephanie Mainock & Kristi Finn

      Audience:  Pre, AP-All             Emphasis:  D, I, F

Join us for 101 tips on welcoming your child with care, consideration and compassion.  Learn how fun and playful activities help to build a child's capacity for bonding and attachment with you.  Explore healthy adoption development and where to go for help if you have concerns. Live demonstration, role plays and educational material will be presented by adoption therapists who provide counseling to adoptive families through a grant from the state of Illinois at Metropolitan Family Services in Cook, Grundy, and the collar counties.

2E. Parenting with Love and Logic                                                                                Kelvin Gott

      Audience:  BP, FP, Pro, AP-All Emphasis:  D, I, F

Parenting with Love & Logic is a time-tested approach to the challenging task of modern parenting, focusing on developing parent/child relationships and thus improving the odds of raising responsible children.  Kel will present techniques and offer solutions to the most troubling challenges parents face today.  He will offer suggestions for guiding children to solve their own problems.

2F. Adopting from Foster Care                                                                                      Denise J. Patton

      Audience: Pre, FP, Pro            Emphasis:  F

This informative workshop will cover the types of children available for adoption through the foster care system including "waiting children" and "legal risk placements".  We will also explore what is involved in becoming a foster parent, and how a child becomes eligible for adoption.  This workshop will go on to explain the adoption process for foster children once they become eligible to adopt, and conclude by showing you how to get started in becoming a foster parent!

2G. Telling the Truth to your Adoptive Child                                                                Jayne Schooler

      Audience: Pre, BP, FP, Pro, AP-All                         Emphasis: D, I, F

"When do I tell my child about his history?  What do I say?  How do I say it?"  This interactive workshop will examine these questions and other frequently-asked questions by adoptive parents. The workshop prepares adoptive parents for the crucial task of telling the truth to their adopted child.

SESSION 3   1:10pm - 2:20pm

3A. Interstate Adoptions: What to do for the Interstate Compact                    Sheila A. Maloney

      Audience: Pre, Pro                  Emphasis: D             

In this day of using internet resources to pursue adoption, the cases of interstate adoptions are on the rise. Each state's laws vary dramatically & prospective adoptive families need to know what to expect, once the match is made. We will cover the purpose of the ICPC and the steps required to ensure the speedy approval of the packet so the adoptive family can return home as soon as possible with their child.

3B. "The Hague": What it Means for Your Adoption Plan                            Azur Idali Walter

      Audience:  Pre, Pro                 Emphasis: I

As of 04/01/08, The Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption ("The Hague") is the Law of the Land for most US international adoptions. Requirements addressing family background checks, the adoption study, visa approval, in-country communication and more are identified by The Hague and by US implementation, and will likely play a role in your adoption. Learn more about The Hague and what it means to you as an adoptive family.  We will cover matters related to adoptive family paperwork, effects on overall timing, Hague or non-Hague countries and accreditation.  We will discuss the future of international adoption.

3C. Domestic Adoption:  Medical Information You Need to Know                   Christine Poulos

      Audience: Pre                         Emphasis:  D                          

Topics will include:  medical information you need to know when preparing for domestic adoption of a newborn or an older child; reviewing prenatal testing and medical terminology used for infants and birthmothers, as well as pre-natal drug exposure and effects on the newborn and growing child; what you will need for taking a newborn home; and general pediatric information on caring for a newborn and young child.

3D. The Magic of Culture Camp                                                       Cherie Jones Das

      Audience:  Pre, FP, Pro, AP-All         Emphasis:  D, I, F

This workshop will explain how various Culture Camps operate and give you information so that you can locate camps across the US.  Culture Camps are an important tool in promoting healthy identity development in adoptees.  Camps give transracially and transculturally adopted children and teens an opportunity to immerse themselves in self-discovery with peers, experience positive mentoring and friendships, share their common experiences, support one another, and learn about their rich heritage and traditions through specialized hands-on activities and classes.  A video showing actual Culture Camp scenes will be shown.

3E. Ages & Stages in Adoption                                                                  Nancy Golden

      Audience: Pre, FP, Pro, AP-All Emphasis: D, I, F

What do many pre-schoolers, middle-schoolers, and pre-adolescents think and feel about their adoptive status?  How can parents and professionals understand and help?  This workshop will focus on basic child development with special emphasis on how children perceive and experience adoption at each stage of development. Participants will learn techniques to enhance their child's sense of belonging and positive sense of self.  Family games and activities which promote a sense of connection will also be included.  Emphasis is on the older child.  

3F. Power of Unmet Expectations                                                             Jayne Schooler

      Audience: Pre, Pro                  Emphasis:  D, I, F

Building a family by adoption is an exciting journey for parents. However, sometimes expectations for themselves as parents, their child, their extended family and friends doesn't match what happens in real life. This workshop examines ten common parental expectations for new parents and how to manage those expectations.

3G. Attaching, Acculturating and Leaving Again                                  Nicole Stenke & Lisa Lovett

      Audience: Pre, Pro, AP-PTO    Emphasis: I

Needs of internationally adopted children placed at or near adolescence are discussed, as these placements may be more challenging for adoptive parents.  Many developmental needs of new parents may not be realized by the international adoption of an adolescent, and challenges may be encountered early in the process of family formation, long before the child has sufficient time to acculturate and perhaps before strong attachments have formed.  Adoption professionals will gain information about how to prepare adoptive families who are considering adolescent adoption, and adoptive parents considering or already parenting these children will gain an understanding of what children this age experience when making this transition to a new family.

SESSION 4    2:30pm - 3:40pm

4A. Meet the Birthparents                                                                                              Vicki Twomney

      Audience: Pre, BP, Pro, AP-All Emphasis: D

A panel of four birthparents from multiple adoption agencies in Illinois will tell their adoption stories. They will describe the relationships they currently have with their children's adoptive parents, and with the child they placed, and how those relationships have evolved through the years.

4B. Positively Possible: How to Adopt an HIV+ Child                                                   Margaret Fleming

      Audience: Pre, Pro, AP-All       Emphasis: I

Prospective families will learn the facts related to the adoption process of HIV+ adoption, and take comfort, as the many misconceptions and myths of this very special population are dispelled. Emphasis will be placed on the information needed by prospective parents in order to effectively consider adopting a child with HIV.  In addition, Margaret will discuss what it is like living day by day with her own HIV+ children.  A short and moving video will be shown following one little girl's journey from an orphanage in Ethiopia to her new home in Chicago.

4C. Special Education and Your Child                                                                       Jill M. Dressner

      Audience: Pre, FP, AP-All        Emphasis: D, I, F

Learn to advocate effectively for your special needs child by gaining an understanding of special education law. A special education law attorney will answer your questions, provide an overview of the law, highlight recent changes to state and federal special education law, and provide tips on how you can ensure your child receives all appropriate educational services provided under current special education law.

4D. From Life Books to Face Book - Traveling through My Space

                                                                                                  Michaelyn Sloan & Amy Silverbrandt

      Audience:  AP-All                    Emphasis: I                            

In putting together the pieces of their identity, it is important for adoptees to make a "real time" connection with their place of birth, and beneficial if they can do that while being supported and mentored by positive role models.  More and more, the adoption community is realizing that these factors are among the most significant in the identity building process of international adoptees: adoptive families are exploring their adoption heritage, and kids are having amazing experiences.  The right atmosphere can provide a profound and positive foundation upon which children can build, as they continue to find a comfortable and meaningful "self".

4E. When Love Seems Threatening: The Attachment Dance             Maria E.J.  Kuhn & Jennifer Otte

      Audience: Pre, BP, FP, Pro, AP-All    Emphasis:  D, I, F        

This workshop will explore the various issues related to attachment, affection, physical touch and paternal bonding.  We will explore the role of trauma in child development and transition to family life.  This will be a multifaceted presentation, which will include some demonstration and dialogue.

4F. Lesbian and Gay Adoption                                                Rosemary S. Mulryan & Davida Williams

      Audience: Pre, Pro                  Emphasis: D, I, F

Lesbian and gay families are choosing adoption as an option in ever-increasing numbers. Learn which agencies are lesbian and gay friendly, and what the legal process is all about. Panel will feature adoptive parents, an agency adoption specialist and an adoption attorney.

4G. Teaching Respect, Understanding and Love in Adoption     Patricia Dischler

      Audience:  Pro                        Emphasis:  D

Patricia's personal story of adoption gives counselors insight to the thoughts, emotions and actions of a birthmother so counselors may better support them through this process. Also, they may use this new insight to counsel adoptive parents and help them to trust in the process. By raising adoptive parents' level of respect of birthmothers, counselors will help all parties in building successful, lasting relationships. Finally, this training will give counselors the information they need to help adoptive parents with closed adoptions, providing them the "story" of love behind a birthmother's decision that can be shared with the adoptive child.