In this issue...
KEEPING THE CONNECTION: Homeland Tours
HOST A CHILD FROM COLOMBIA THIS SUMMER
Stay Connected!
Join our list and opt-in to continue receiving periodic updates such as this one.
Did you know...
The Adoption Community of New England's (ACONE) annual conference will be held April 5 in Westborough, MA?
In Celebration of Birth Culture
March 2008
Hola! Ni Hao! Privet! Selam! Namaskar! AnYungHaSeYo! .....Hello!
As many of you know, spring and fall are culture camp seasons at Wide Horizons. We now offer four camps; Eastern European, Latin American, China, and Korean. Culture camps are one of several ways to help your foreign-born child gain a sense of connection to the country he/she was born into. As an American, your child will become "as American as apple pie," but will also forever carry an identity associated with being born in Korea, China, Russia, etc.. Think about how many times in your life you have been asked in person or writing, "where were you born?"
This edition of "On the Horizon" is dedicated to celebrating the importance of birth culture. Read on to get some ideas about intorducing your child to his/her birth culture and learn how some families have made the connection with their children.
Happy Spring!
The WHFC PASE (Post Adopt Support and Education) Team
KEEPING THE CONNECTION: Homeland Tours
Traveling to Your Child's Land of Birth: What Age is the Best Age?
By Becca Piper, Founder/Director Boston Area Families:
Join us on April 13 for a presentation by The Ties Program entitled "Traveling to Your Child's Land of Birth — A Journey Back, A Journey Forward." Get more details on this exciting presentation and register online today at www.whfc.org.
Even as parents are making plans to adopt an internationally born child, most are already thinking about the day when they will return to their child's country of birth as a family. More and more, parents are realizing that a heritage journey is one of the most significant factors in the identity building process of internationally adoptive children.
With increasingly more preparation being done by adoption agencies who understand the importance of post adoption services, families are realizing that in time, their children will benefit from embracing their birth culture first hand. In putting together the pieces of their identity, it is important for kids to make a connection with their place of birth of founding, the orphanages where they lived, their caretakers, and perhaps birth family.
Read Becca's complete article at www.whfc.org.
Things to Consider When Deciding on a Homeland Tour
By Pat Hoopes, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Director, Wide Horizons For Children, Inc.
Homeland tours are becoming increasingly popular in the adoption community. Parents are opting for these trips as a way to help connect their family, and their adopted children in particular, with their children's country of birth.
Homeland tours differ. Some focus solely on cultural experience while others are adoption focused as well. The former is essentially a tour like any that a non-adopted person might choose to take and may include the following:
- Visiting historical sites such as temples, churches, and seats of government.
- Dining in restaurants that offer authentic dining experiences and regional cooking.
- Visiting museums of art, crafts, and historical artifacts.
- Travel to small towns and large cities of historical significance and notable beauty.
Read Pat's complete article at www.whfc.org.
Learn more about staying connected with your child's birth culture
Read articles and stories from our staff and families.
SPEAKING UP! An Interview With Madalina and Alex Zimmerman
Madalina, age 14, and Alex, age 12, from Wauwatosa, WI, traveled with their family as part of the Romanian TIES program in 2007.
The Importance of Connection and Roots in Identity Development
At some point in their life, international adoptees who join families of a different race often describe experiencing a feeling of confusion about who they are and how they fit in the world.
A Homeland Tour to Russia
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.
China Ties Program: A Homeland Tour
Do younger children benefit from a homeland tour? Can they tolerate two weeks of travel? How will they feel about visiting their orphanages?
Keeping the Connection
Family reunions are a summer tradition -- time to catch up on the past year's events, see how the children have grown, share memories, laugh, eat, and play.
MOVIE REVIEW: Juno
Reviewed by Deb Shrier, MSW, LICSW
There has been quite a bit of talking about the movie, Juno, a story that portrays a 16-year-old high school student who is pregnant and unable to parent. The main character - Juno - is a spunky, bright, and interesting adolescent. She is connected to her family and has several close friends who support her during her pregnancy. The absence of a social worker in the film does leave this movie feeling a little "lighter" than one would have expected. What was missing was Juno's exploration about the relinquishment of her child and the impact this decision would have on her life.
Read Deb's full review at www.whfc.org.
REGIONAL EVENTS
Register today for upcoming workshops and family events:
| Date | Event | Location |
| 04/12/2008 | 24th Annual Korean Culture Camp | Marlboro, MA |
| 04/13/2008 | Traveling to Your Child's Land of Birth - A Journey Back, A Journey Forward | Waltham, MA |
| 04/26/2008 | Family Day at Roger Williams Park Zoo | Providence, RI |
| 05/08/2008 | Baby Care 101 - MA | Waltham, MA |
| 05/13/2008 | Your Child's Medical History - CT | West Hartford, CT |
| 05/20/2008 | Sign With Your Child | Loudonville, NY |
| 06/07/2008 | NJ Family Picnic at the Turtle Back Zoo | West Orange, NJ |
| 06/09/2008 | Your Child's Medical History - MA | Waltham, MA |
| 06/08/2008 | RI Family Picnic | Bristol, RI |
| 07/26/2008 | Western MA & Greater Albany Area Summer Picnic | Grafton, NY |
Recent Family Get-Togethers
View pictures and read details of some recent cultural and family events. Select an individual event below or view the complete archive on our website.
 China Culture Camp Spring 2008 |
 Eastern European Culture Camp Fall 2007 |
 Latin American Culture Camp Fall 2007 |
 Parade of Nations Fall 2007 |
 Ethiopia Family Reception Summer 2007 |
 Philippines Family Reception Fall 2007 |
HOST A CHILD FROM COLOMBIA THIS SUMMER
Wide Horizons For Children partners with Kidsave, a summer host program for families in NH & MA. The five-week program, Summer Miracles, offers older children living in Colombian orphanages the opportunity to experience life in an American family, and have a memorable and fun summer vacation. While families are not obligated to subsequently adopt the child they host, Kidsave reports that 75-90% of families who host through the Summer Miracles program do move on to adoption.
Kidsave needs families in NH and MA who are willing to host a child. Read our frequently asked questions for more information about this program.
HUMANITARIAN AID
This year, Wide Horizons has brought hope and assistance to thousands of orphaned, abandoned and at-risk children around the world. Add your support to our programs and learn more about our work:
Contribute to our projects
WHFC has funded a number of projects around the world that provide children with the basic necessities to which they are entitled — food, clothing, housing, education, and medical care.
Sponsor a child
Our child sponsorship programs in Ethiopia, Guatemala, India and the Philippines provide children with their basic needs and the tools they need in hope of breaking the cycle of poverty.
Support subsidies
A permanent, loving family is the thing every child needs most. Subsidies can help ease the cost of adoption for a family who would otherwise be able to provide a loving home to a child.
© 2008 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.