The 5th Biennial Adoption Conference: Identity and the Adopted Teen: Surviving the Crucible of Adolescence
Location: St. John’s University Manhattan Campus

For the latest information about the conference, contact the Adoption Initiative via e-mail (initiatives@stjohns.edu) or by telephone at 718-990-5460.

THE ADOPTION INITIATIVE

An interdisciplinary and inter-institutional structure

* to address fundamental issues affecting the adoption community;

* to provide information and training opportunities for professionals about adoption issues;

* to encourage more research effort by the academic community in answering fundamental questions affecting
members of the adoption triad; and finally,

* to provide a forum where members of the adoption triad can find valuable resources.

The 5th Biennial Adoption Conference: Identity and the Adopted Teen: Surviving the Crucible of Adolescence
Location: St. John’s University Manhattan Campus

For the latest information about the conference, contact the Adoption Initiative via e-mail (initiatives@stjohns.edu) or by telephone at 718-990-5460.

THE ADOPTION INITIATIVE

An interdisciplinary and inter-institutional structure

* to address fundamental issues affecting the adoption community;

* to provide information and training opportunities for professionals about adoption issues;

* to encourage more research effort by the academic community in answering fundamental questions affecting
members of the adoption triad; and finally,

* to provide a forum where members of the adoption triad can find valuable resources.

Trinity International University - Deerfield, IL

Keynote address: John Raible, "Transracial Adoption Yesterday and
Today:  Where We've Been and Where We're Headed"

For more infomation, visit midwestadoption.org.

Announcing the 1st annual gathering of adoptees
(transracial/international and same race) and foster care alums of
African descent in Oakland, California, November 7-9, 2008.

AFAAD (Adopted and Fostered Adults of the African Diaspora) was formed specifically to support adopted and fostered people, to share our common and divergent experiences around race,
adoption, joy, loss, family, search and reunion, and self identity and
to celebrate our unique creativity, stories and community. AFAAD’s
First Annual Gathering, Healing Ourselves, Making Connections is
designed with you in mind.

The purpose of this historic gathering will be to make connections, network, provide healing space, and to celebrate the diversity of our amazing diaspora of transracial, international, domestic adoptees and foster care alums. AFAAD uses “Black” in the widest diasporic sense, which includes African, African American,
bi-racial and multi heritage, Afroasian and Afrolatino peoples. Healing
Ourselves, Making Connections is the first of its kind for Black
adoptees and foster adults and we know it will make a huge contribution to the conversations about adoption, race, social welfare and African diasporic identity - not to mention just bringing all of us together in
one space is going to be amazing! It is time to share our stories with
one another, rather than always teaching other people. We will also
take some time for the strategic planning for the long-term goals of
AFAAD as a social justice and community support organization.

For details: http://afaad.wordpress.com/1st-annual-gathering/

Jane Brown, MSW, will give a parents' workshop on how children's understanding of adoption, race and ethnicity unfolds developmentally at different ages and stages.  Part of the Adoption Connections of Oregon's Annual Conference.

For more information, visit the ACO website.

Announcing the 1st annual gathering of adoptees
(transracial/international and same race) and foster care alums of
African descent in Oakland, California, November 7-9, 2008.

AFAAD (Adopted and Fostered Adults of the African Diaspora) was formed specifically to support adopted and fostered people, to share our common and divergent experiences around race,
adoption, joy, loss, family, search and reunion, and self identity and
to celebrate our unique creativity, stories and community. AFAAD’s
First Annual Gathering, Healing Ourselves, Making Connections is
designed with you in mind.

The purpose of this historic gathering will be to make connections, network, provide healing space, and to celebrate the diversity of our amazing diaspora of transracial, international, domestic adoptees and foster care alums. AFAAD uses “Black” in the widest diasporic sense, which includes African, African American,
bi-racial and multi heritage, Afroasian and Afrolatino peoples. Healing
Ourselves, Making Connections is the first of its kind for Black
adoptees and foster adults and we know it will make a huge contribution to the conversations about adoption, race, social welfare and African diasporic identity - not to mention just bringing all of us together in
one space is going to be amazing! It is time to share our stories with
one another, rather than always teaching other people. We will also
take some time for the strategic planning for the long-term goals of
AFAAD as a social justice and community support organization.

For details: http://afaad.wordpress.com/1st-annual-gathering/

Part of Adoption Connections of Oregon's Annual Conference.

For more information, visit the ACO website.

Announcing the 1st annual gathering of adoptees
(transracial/international and same race) and foster care alums of
African descent in Oakland, California, November 7-9, 2008.

AFAAD (Adopted and Fostered Adults of the African Diaspora) was formed specifically to support adopted and fostered people, to share our common and divergent experiences around race,
adoption, joy, loss, family, search and reunion, and self identity and
to celebrate our unique creativity, stories and community. AFAAD’s
First Annual Gathering, Healing Ourselves, Making Connections is
designed with you in mind.

The purpose of this historic gathering will be to make connections, network, provide healing space, and to celebrate the diversity of our amazing diaspora of transracial, international, domestic adoptees and foster care alums. AFAAD uses “Black” in the widest diasporic sense, which includes African, African American,
bi-racial and multi heritage, Afroasian and Afrolatino peoples. Healing
Ourselves, Making Connections is the first of its kind for Black
adoptees and foster adults and we know it will make a huge contribution to the conversations about adoption, race, social welfare and African diasporic identity - not to mention just bringing all of us together in
one space is going to be amazing! It is time to share our stories with
one another, rather than always teaching other people. We will also
take some time for the strategic planning for the long-term goals of
AFAAD as a social justice and community support organization.

For details: http://afaad.wordpress.com/1st-annual-gathering/

Part of Adoption Connections of Oregon's Annual Conference.

For more information, visit the ACO website.

Mark your calendar for The 16th Annual Adoption Knowledge Affiliates Conference--November 14-15, 2008.

 Two days of adoption education and support for anyone who has been touched by adoption and the professionals in the field of adoption. Whether you are an adopted person, a birth parent, adoptive parent or prospective adoptive parent, you will find something at this conference that is of interest to you! Our keynote speaker, Dr. Marcy Axness, is one of the world's few experts on the primal issues in adoption. Please, join us!

Mark your calendar for The 16th Annual Adoption Knowledge Affiliates Conference--November 14-15, 2008.

 Two days of adoption education and support for anyone who has been touched by adoption and the professionals in the field of adoption. Whether you are an adopted person, a birth parent, adoptive parent or prospective adoptive parent, you will find something at this conference that is of interest to you! Our keynote speaker, Dr. Marcy Axness, is one of the world's few experts on the primal issues in adoption. Please, join us!

Lifetime Journey focuses on relationships between children, their birth
parents and their adoptive parents, whether they are in an open adoption or
a closed one. This workshop will address children's questions about their
birth parents -- both the questions they ask and those they hold inside.
Recognizing that there are no cookie cutter approaches to building a
positive triad relationship and that each family situation is unique, we
will address common questions such as: How can birth families remain
connected to an adopted child without confusing the child? How can complex
relationships between adoptive and birth parents be managed for the support
of a child? How do birth parents play a role when it is a closed adoption? Should you
consider opening your child's adoption? This will be a safe place to discuss
fears and hopes regarding our children's birth parents and their
relationship (or lack thereof) to them and us. This workshop is appropriate for both domestic and international adoptions.