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President's Letter
September 2010
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We’re are finally getting into our Back To School routine at our house. Between
Curriculum nights, Meet the Teacher, Fall Festivals and other Back to School
celebrations, the month of September just speeds right by. Here on the CAFFA board,
we are busy finalizing this year’s final events (an October W.I.S.E. Up! workshop
and our December Holiday Party). Under the guiding leadership of our Educational
Chair, Shila Khan, we are also preparing for next year’s Parenting Through Adoption
Conference which marks CAFFA’s 20th conference. Please mark your calendars now
to attend the March 5, 2011 conference. Pulitzer nominee and author of Adoption
Nation, Mr. Adam Pertman will be the conference keynote speaker. Mr Pertman,
Executive Director of the Evan B Donaldson Institute, is one of the country’s leading
experts on adoption and family issues. His presentation is sure to be insightful.
Keep checking the 2011 Conference link on the CAFFA website as we complete our
presenter and exhibitor list. We will have a nice selection of workshops to attend
whether you are at the start of the adoption process, fostering a child or have a family
already established through adoption, foster care or biologically.
If you are a fan of the articles in CAFFA newsletters, many of the authors are presenters
at the conference. I have to admit that before knowing much about CAFFA or the
conference, I always assumed that the conference was for couples or singles at the
beginning stages of their adoption process. After attending one conference, I realized
how wrong that assumption was. There is great information, exhibits and merchandise
for those who parent adopted or foster children of all ages. Let’s face it, there’s not a
better investment of time for a parent to make than spending a day learning how to be a
better parent!
At the 2009 conference, I attended a workshop regarding special education law. The
objective was to learn how to advocate effectively for your special needs child by
gaining understanding of special education law. We have a 6 year old son with special
needs and this workshop was invaluable. The next few CAFFA newsletters contain
articles on several special education and special needs topics. Adoption/Fostering of
special needs or waiting children is the fastest growing adoption segment. It’s important
to understand and know your child’s rights then advocate. As a mother and advocate
for my son, I can attest that the laws are confusing, frustrating and cumbersome. I want
to start at the beginning of our story in hopes that it may help another parent. At the
very least you will know that you are not alone and that there are resources that can
help you.
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