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Post Adoption Support & Education Edition

September 2006

WELCOME

Welcome to Wide Horizon’s "On the Horizon" Post Adoption e-newsletter, part of WHFC's ongoing committment to children and families and the recognition of adoption as a life-long process. Our Post Adoption team hopes this new way of staying in touch with you will keep you up-to-date on the events at Wide Horizons, aware of opportunities, and provide support through articles and resources. Of particular interest in this edition is a timely Q&A on school issues by Deb Shrier, our post adoption counselor in the MA regional office.

Please give us your feedback, ideas for upcoming newsletters and sign up on our e-list so you will continue to receive information about events as well as future e-newsletters. We look forward to staying connected!

Heather Ames, MSW, LICSW
Director of Post Adoption Support and Education

In this issue...
• Welcome
• Upcoming Events
• Parent Education: Back to School Basics
• Homeland Tours
• Website Resources
• Book Review
• Meet Our Staff

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wide Horizons For Children has a variety of events scheduled throughout the fall. We are pleased to be able to offer culturally rich activities, educational seminars and family networking opportunities.

Cultural Events
Date	Event	Location
11/04/2006	Eastern European Culture Camp	Marlborough, MA
11/18/2006	Parade of Nations: A Multicultural Fair	Pittsfield, MA
Educational Seminars
Date	Event	Location
09/20/2006	Tools to Advocate for Your Child in School	Waltham, MA
09/28/2006	Workshop Series: Parenting With Love & Logic	Providence, RI
10/10/2006	Mommy, was I born on an airplane?	West Hartford, CT
11/04/2006	Infant & Child CPR	Providence, RI
11/11/2006	The Mirror, the Moods and the Mall, Keeping Your Sanity While Parenting Your Teen	Online
12/05/2006	The Mirror, the Moods and the Mall, Keeping Your Sanity While Parenting Your Teen	Online
Social Events
Date	Event	Location
09/09/2006	Come Fly With Us	Waterford, CT
09/16/2006	NH/VT Family Day 2006	Concord, NH
09/30/2006	Western MA Pumpkin Picking	Hancock, MA
10/11/2006	Parents of Adopted Children (PAC) Open House	Providence, RI
10/14/2006	NH Pumpkin Festival at Charmingfare Farm	Candia, NH
10/14/2006	VT Pumpkin Festival	Townshend, VT
10/15/2006	New Jersey Pumpkin Picking Outing	NJ
10/21/2006	RI Pumpkin Picking	Johnston, RI
10/27/2006	Movie & Discussion: "American Eyes"	Waltham, MA
11/19/2006	Festival of Giving	Providence, RI
12/02/2006	Annual Festival of Trees at the Annalee Doll Museum	Meredith, NH
12/09/2006	Vermont Teddy Bear Company Outing	Shelburne, VT

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PARENT EDUCATION: Back to School Basics

Tips to keep in your own personal backpack

With the start of a new school year, questions often arise about classroom activities, school projects and talking to your child's teacher. Sometimes, assignments touch upon your child's adoption and parents are curious how much to share, if anything at all. WHFC Social Worker, Deb Shrier, offers some helpful tips on how to make the academic year a little easier.

Q: My child is beginning kindergarten this year. He was adopted domestically as an infant. Do I need to share this information with his teacher or the school?

A: This type of question frequently comes up when a child starts a new school or begins his/her elementary education. School opens up the world for your child to experience life outside their adopted family. The reason most parents tend to inform teachers about their child’s journey to their family is to make sure the teacher is sensitive around issues that may come up in the classroom or playground. Some parents do not feel that teachers need to know private family issues (such as a child’s adoption) for concern that it might lead to unnecessary labeling of the student. One recommendation is to check in with your child’s teacher during a parent-teacher conference. Give the teacher a chance to get know your child first and listen to your son’s impression of his teacher as well. Ask about upcoming school assignments and reading material. Is there anything that seems to be concerning to you? If so, then discuss it with the teacher. Keep in mind that you are your child’s biggest advocate. Consider yourself as a partner to your child’s educational learning team.

HOMELAND TOURS

A Homeland Tour to Russia

By Heather Ames, MSW, LICSW
It has been 14 years since Russia opened its doors to international adoption. Many of the pioneer families who adopted in the first five years of the program are now thinking about a return trip with their children. In July 2006, I had the opportunity to travel as a group leader on the Russian TIES program. It was a memorable journey and one I would highly recommend. Each child returned home having a greater understanding of the rich history and culture of Russia and having experienced the warmth and caring of Russian people whom we met.

Read the full article.

Bridge of Love Adoption Services

Bridge of Love Adoption Service (BLAS) offers "roots seeking" tours in China for adoptive families. BLAS is licensed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China to provide adoption related services to foreign adoption organizations and individual adopters. Learn more about BLAS.

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WEBSITE RESOURCES

Wide Horizons For Children has a large variety of resources that may be helpful to both prospective and post-adoptive families. Please note that inclusion in this listing does not imply an endorsement of that organization or individual by Wide Horizons For Children, Inc.

Recent Additions

The following resources have been added to the WHFC website within the past month:

Center For Cognitive-Developmental Assessment & Remediation - specializing in psycho-educational issues of older (preschool and school age) internationally adopted children

Kidmia - provides first-generation American children in-depth knowledge of Ethiopian language and culture

Spotlight on Family Networking

Did you know that the Wide Horizons website has listings of playgroups and other social networking opportunities offered by adoptive parents? Some of the listings include:

Boston Area Families who have adopted from Ethiopia - a monthly resource share/support group
Mother's Support Group - a support group in the Needham, MA area for new adoptive mothers over the age of 45
CT Families Adopting from Ethiopia - a network for email and gathering

View the complete listing or email postadoption@whfc.org if you have a group you would like to have included.

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BOOK REVIEW

Browse the shelves of any bookstore and you will find a growing number of titles which are geared towards helping bewildered parents maneuver themselves through the maze of the most challenging developmental stage in life: their child’s adolescence. There are suggestions for ways to engage teens, set limits, keep them motivated and find ways to take time out while parenting. There may be a chapter or section on the adopted teenager, with limited resources and a page or two on loss. Although parents (of biological or adopted teens) recognize this developmental stage as a time filled with identity issues, greater need to understand self as well as healthy separation/individuation, the adopted teen faces other twists which center on their ultimate sense of self. What part does adoption play at this critical period?

Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens
Written by Debbie Riley, MS, and John Meeks, MD
Published in 2005 by C.A.S.E. Publications

Read social worker Deb Shrier's full review of this valuable book.

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