MAY

This 3 hour workshop is designed to help parents understand the process of building an inter-cultural family through adoption. This workshop will assist families in learning about the unique dynamics of a multi-racial family and offers tips and tools for families that seek to adopt across cultural and racial lines. Through activities and group discussions, families will develop skills to ensure they are prepared for this family building journey.  *Additional fee required for written addendums.
Audience: Pre and Post Adoptive Families, Extended Adoptive family members.
Fee: $50.00 per person
For registration form please click here.

This 2 ½ hour workshop was created to assist you in navigating adoption conversations with friends and families. In this session we will explore faulty perceptions about adoption and how to help family and friends understand new concepts in adoption such as openness. You will learn ways to answer questions while also guarding your own and your child’s privacy in the adoption story.
Fee: $50.00 per person; Bring up to three family members/friends for an additional $50.00

This is a great month to learn more about adoption through the foster system!
Read more below, and please join us for our meeting.
Foster adoptions are a viable choice in forming loving families. This topic will be explored in depth with Keturah Hicks, the Resource Family Recruiter for the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P was formerly known as DYFS), Western Essex North Local Office in Bloomfield, NJ. Also joining us for this panel discussion are Sharyn and John O’Keefe, APC members and parents of 2 grown daughters adopted through the foster care system.

DCP&P is New Jersey's child protection and child welfare agency. Ms. Hicks has dedicated six years of service spreading awareness of the need for resource/foster parents and the foster care program.

Her motto coincides with DCP&P's mission statement, "To ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children and to support families”. Together, this panel will share information and answer your questions about foster adoption.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Dwight Morrow High School (the auditorium)
274 Knickerbocker Rd.
Englewood, New Jersey 07631

For registration, call 201-796-6209 ext 102

This 3 hour workshop will provide you with information surrounding factors that impact the developing fetus. The material will include the effects of pre- natal alcohol and substance use, timing of use and its impact on fetal development, as well as other genetic factors that may have an influence in the child’s future development. This workshop is designed to help families better understand and prepare for the risks associated with pre-natal alcohol and substance use.  It will provide the information necessary to make an accurate assessment when determining if this type of placement is right for you.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Family Options is pleased to have Dr. Charles Hux of Shore Perinatal  Associates offer this presentation. Dr.  Hux attended Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. He received a master’s degree in genetics from Rutgers University. He maintains a private practice in Sea Girt, New Jersey and is affiliated with Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey.
Audience: Pre and Post Adoptive Families, Extended Adoptive Family Members.

Fee:  $60.00

For registration form please click here.

Adopted people and adoptive parents don’t always look at adoption the same way. Many of the issues adoptees struggle with may be difficult for parents to understand and come to terms with. And it’s ever changing. A parent’s and a child’s adoption experiences change over time, based on life events, ability to understand the circumstances, and new facts as they become available or are discovered.
Understanding your child’s feelings about adoption is essential, so how do you gain some insight?
We’ve gathered a panel of adopted people, to discuss:
What they wish their parents had known
What feelings they shared with their parents and what they kept to themselves
What kept them from talking to their parents when they were younger and why
What you as a parent can do to help your child express himself

Deborah Steincolor's office at:
80 Park Street, Montclair, NJ 07042'

This workshop is for you if you are contracted with a Gestational Carrier and would like to learn about Labor & delivery and newborn baby care.
Workshop Facilitator is Danielle Ciccaglione RN, BSN, CCE, an IAC Center Educator, a certified childbirth educator with extensive experience teaching classes on both childbirth and newborn baby care; a specialty in educating the Intended Parents of gestational carrier arrangements and now pre-adoptive parents on the birth process, the hospital experience, and newborn infant care.
Becoming a parent through gestational surrogacy is a joyous experience. Many Intended Parents begin to feel excited yet nervous about labor & delivery expectations and care of their long awaited newborn. This class will help Intended Parents begin to feel more confident and comfortable prior to their new arrival. It will allow Intended Parents to learn in a setting that allows them to feel open to asking questions and meeting others with similar stories.
You will learn about:
GC/IP relationships
Necessary items travel, hotels, first days with infant Labor & delivery
Medical: newborn testing, vaccinations, procedures, care of infant while in hospital Gestational surrogacy issues Baby Care including: feeding, burping, diapers, swaddling/soothing, bathing, cord care What do you need once baby is home, the must haves and items that “would be nice” to have too.
Understanding your infants needs and handling a “cranky baby”
Choosing a pediatrician
You will have plenty of  time to ask questions as well.
Some adoption agencies will accept this workshop as credit toward the home study requirements. Certificates will be issued upon request.
Seating is limited. Pre-registration is required and should be completed at least one week prior to the event. Payment must be received in order to confirm your registration. Cancellations must be received at least three days prior to the event.

This 2 ½ hour workshop is designed to help parents develop tools to talk about adoption and birth families with their children. The workshop will offer information about children’s understanding of adoption based on their age and offer insight to parents about facilitating adoption dialogue throughout their child’s development.
Audience: Pre and Post Adoptive Families, Extended Adoptive Family Members.
Fee: $50.00 per person
For registration form please click here.

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