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TN Adoption Support and Preservation's monthly e-newsletter |
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Adoption Support and Preservation (ASAP) provides support for Tennessee's adoptive families. To make a referral, call toll-free 1-888-848-2727, or visit www.tnasap.org.
ASAP Regional Coordinator Contact Information
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Circle of ASAP Security
In August, ASAP staff from all three of Tennessee's Grand Regions attended our annual 3-day Learning Collaborative and Conference Retreat, held this year in Nashville. This year's featured trainer / presenter was Dr. Bob Marvin, Ph. D., Director of the Mary D. Ainsworth Child-Parent Attachment Clinic in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Marvin spoke about the Circle of Security Project (video clip), an evidence-based intervention for high-risk parents and children based on attachment theory and other research on the development of healthy parent-child relationships. Circle of Security training helps strengthen parents' ability to observe and improve their caregiving capacity.
Sarah Collins, ASAP East Regional Coordinator, shares her thoughts returning to work after the training and retreat:
On the heels of a wonderful training, I am reminded of the importance of the concepts we learned on our retreat. Dr. Marvin referred to the "Circle", which is obviously very important for our families in terms of attachment, but it occurred to me during the last three days how much this concept applies to our program as a whole. Our work as ASAP clinicians can at times be difficult and trying. We often find ourselves in need of our own "battery recharge." When we find ourselves depleted, at the bottom of the circle, it is vital that we identify ways to help ourselves find safe haven and move back to the top of the circle, re-energized and at our best in our important work helping families. The ways we reach the top of the circle may look different for each of us. Events like the one we attended last week are a good way to recharge socially, physically, and emotionally. Other ways to get our "full wiggle indicators" blinking in a professional sense include training, supervision, consultation with colleagues, and identifying successes within the families we serve. Taking care of ourselves personally can involve exercise, time with family and friends, reading, shopping, and the many other activities that help us move back up to the top of the circle. So here is a heartfelt "thank you" to the ASAP program for an excellent training and retreat, and to each and every one of you who work so hard every day to help our clients find their own safe haven at the top of the "Circle of Security."
Sarah Collins, LPC, NCC
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Finding Our Children Unconditional Support (FOCUS)
Each month, ASAP's e-newsletter features children in full guardianship of the state of Tennessee, waiting for their forever families. There are hundreds of unclaimed children in Tennessee who currently have no family to call their own. Our calling is to find families willing to open their hearts and homes to these children. This month, we'd like to introduce you to Nathan, Leanna, and Teresa.
What makes adopting in Tennessee unique? Our Adoption Support & Preservation program - ASAP - is a gift of comprehensive counseling and support services. We will walk with you through the challenges and joys adoption can bring. Will you be the promise of family for one of these children? Please visit www.parentachild.org to learn more about other waiting children in Tennessee.
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The Myth of the Forever Family: When Adoption Falls Apart
"But in other ways, adoption myths betray our children by giving lie to their origins. They are not born to us. We do not create them. They arrive to our families with histories that precede their lives with us. Embracing our children means embracing their stories even when they are difficult to hear.
The hard truth is that adoption is not just like giving birth. It is rarely as straightforward. And as much as we would like to think otherwise, not all forever families are forever."
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ASAP Family Support Groups
Meeting in August, 2010
Knoxville: September 9, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Messiah Lutheran Church - 6900 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN
Parents' group, Adolescents' group. Light meal provided.
Gray: September 23, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Crossroads Christian Church - 1300 Suncrest Drive, Gray, TN
Parents' group only. Light meal provided.
Cleveland: September 14, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church - 3405 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN
Activities provided for all family members. Light meal provided.
Hendersonville: September 9, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church - 1729 Stop 30 Road, Hendersonville, TNActivities provided for all family members. Light meal provided.
Brentwood: September 16, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Fellowship Bible Church - 1210 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN
Activities provided for all family members. Light meal provided.
Lawrenceburg: September 21, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Lighthouse Baptist Church - 2350 Highway 43 South, Lawrenceburg, TN
Activities provided for all family members. Light meal provided.
Memphis: September 14, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
White Station Church of Christ; 1106 Colonial Road, Memphis, TN
Activities provided for all family members. Light meal provided.
Jackson: September 13, 2010, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Campbell Street Church of Christ; 1490 Campbell Street, Jackson, TN
Activities provided for all family members. Light meal provided.
For more information about ASAP Adoptive Family Support Groups in your area, contact:
East Region: Center for Adoption Research and Education: (888) 848-2727
Mid Region: Brenda McElyea, ASAP Family Advocate: (615) 352-3087
West Region: Anna Dempsey, ASAP Family Advocate: (901) 634-8199
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Allison Cole, MS, NCC is an ASAP Family Therapist in the East region. She received her Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling, as well as her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Before joining the ASAP team in 2007, Allison worked in an outpatient treatment facility serving individuals struggling with substance abuse. Allison is committed to helping children and adults overcome mental illness and other challenges. She lives with her beautiful dog, Marti, who was rescued from a local shelter. Allison loves to laugh, travel, and be creative.
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What is ASAP?
ASAP is designed to create and maintain a seamless state-wide system of pre- and post-adoption services in Tennessee. ASAP is an innovative program that supports children and families as they create and maintain connections and access services that support permanency. ASAP is working to develop the capacity of communities across Tennessee to better nurture their adoptive families.
ASAP seeks to increase the availability and accessibility of adoption support services in Tennessee, and to decrease the incidence of disrupted or dissolved adoptions. Motivated by the needs of families and children in all stages of the adoptive process, ASAP offers a comprehensive and coordinated continuum of services.
ASAP is a collaborative project of Harmony Adoptions of East Tennessee, Catholic Charities of Middle Tennessee, and AGAPE Child and Family Services of West Tennessee. ASAP is partnered with DCS for the cooperative implementation and further development of our program.
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