In Adoption Planning:

• Cheryl Cassaday and Mark Short of Sammamish, Washington are in adoption planning with an expectant mother who is due May 2nd.
• Bill Eisele and Rob Fredericksen of Seattle, Washington are in adoption planning with an expectant mother due to deliver in May.
• Jennifer and Matt Diehl of Albany, Oregon are in adoption planning with an expectant mother who is due in March.
• Sharon Gelinas and Jeff Laub of Kirkland, Washington are in adoption planning with an expectant couple who are due in April.
• Paul and Rhonda Wells, of Auburn, Washington are in adoption planning with an expectant mother due to deliver in late March.
• Heather and Tom Stricklin of Salem, Oregon are in adoption planning with an expectant couple due to deliver mid-March.
• Amy Myer and Sarah Schultz are in adoption planning with an expectant mother due to deliver in April. 

Gatherings

Seattle

Topic: Talking to Your Child About Adoption 

Thursday, April 5, 7-9:00 pm

The 2100 Building, 2100 24th Ave S.

RSVP: lisa@openadopt.org  

Eugene

Topic: Mental Illness and Relationship Building with Guest Speaker Robert Noble, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)  

Wednesday, March 14, 7-8:30 pm  

First United Methodist Church

1376 Olive St., Room 19

Portland

Topic: Open Forum - Discuss Your Experiences

Thursday, March 8, 6:30-8:00 pm

OA&FS Portland Office, 5200 SW Macadam Ave., Ste. 250

We've been trying out something new here in Portland for our monthly gatherings! Due to feedback from our families, we have been alternating the format of our meetings on a monthly basis, with an educational gathering followed by a more support-focused gathering. So far, it has been a smashing success! Our families have been able to connect with one another in meaningful ways, sharing their experiences and creating a stronger, more empathic community of future adoptive families. We'll keep up the new format for as long as our families feel that it is helpful, whether that's six months or indefinitely. As always, we're open to your feedback, and we can't wait to see you at our next gathering!

Community Gatherings

Check out the following community events and resources organized by other OA&FS adoptive parents in your area:

Eugene

Karen Luks, adoptive mother, welcomes OA&FS families to join the Eugene-Springfield area Yahoo! Group, by sending an email to  EugeneOAFS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Seattle

Transracial Family Group  

Sunday, March 11, 4:30-6:30 pm at the home of adoptive parents Rob and Christopher (and Oscar). Potluck dinner--please bring something to share!

Hope to see you there! For more information, or to be added to the group's email list, contact adoptive parents Terri and Mary-Pat at terriandmarypat@comcast.net. 

Gay and Lesbian Family Group

The Gay and Lesbian Family Group meets every other month on the second Sunday. To join this group, please email adoptive father Bill Soderberg at bjsoderberg@comcast.net.

Christa Richardson, adoptive mother, hosts a Yahoo! Group to arrange potlucks in Olympia. Join by sending an email to: olyoafs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Kitsap Penninsula

Traia Wensel, adoptive mother, invites open adoption families in the Kitsap Penninsula area to join a Yahoo! Group for arranging get togethers and play groups. To join, email: kitsap_oafs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Adoption Related Events

Portland

Adoption Mosaic LBGTQ Monthly Support Group

Common questions that prospective adoptive parents ask at different points in the process of adopting, with a focus on LBGTQ interests and challenges. 

Thursday March 15, 6 - 8:00 pm 

http://www.adoptionmosaic.org/lbgtq-support-group/

Great Expectations for Waiting Families

A bi-monthly meeting/social time for waiting families with support, guidance and information for adoptive parents-to-be.

Friday March 9, 7 - 8:30 pm

http://www.nafaonline.org/calendar.html

NAFA's Play Group

Saturday, March 17 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

http://www.nafaonline.org/calendar.html

Seattle

AFFGS Education Meeting:

Open Adoption -- Joys & Challenges

Saturday March 24, 10:00 - 11:30 am

http://www.affgs.org/AFFGS-Events.php

Outreach News

To educate others about open adoption and services available at our agency, OA&FS staff conduct outreach presentations and free trainings throughout the region year-round, including the presentations listed below.

• On January 25, Seattle Counselor Maria Villegas spoke with approximately 30 students at a Planned Parenthood Teen Council meeting in Olympia, Wash. Through open discussion and activities, Maria presented information on the services that OA&FS provides and the philosophy of openness. These teens serve as peer educators in their community and will utilize this information in their interactions with other peers.
• On February 14, Portland Counselor, Katie Niemeyer, met with
  15 teenage women at Salvation Army White Shield in Portland to lead a discussion about options counseling and open adoption, as well as adoption as an alternative to state involvement. Many of the women are pregnant or already parenting infants, and they also have experience in the foster care system as children themselves. It is within this population that adoption has many negative stereotypes, and the women Katie met with were open and honest about their own experiences. Katie was grateful to hear their stories and share with them the philosophy of openness and honoring birthparents in their process.  Katie and the program supervisor at White Shield continue exploring ways to make options counseling a regular aspect of their program as well as educating the women about open adoption.
• On February 14, Seattle Counselors Heather Goldy and Maria Villegas presented information about open adoption to eight students in a "Stories of Adoption Class". This class was taught by OA&FS adoptive parent Scobie Puchtler at Puget Sound Community School in Seattle, Wash. Heather and Maria facilitated an engaging discussion about how an open adoption relationships works and the values behind the open adoption relationship. 
• On February 15, Seattle Counselor Maria Villegas presented to Evergreen College's Reproductive, Birth, and Power class of 50 students.  This class is taught by waiting adoptive parent, Carolyn Prouty.  Maria facilitated activities and led discussion about open adoption and stereotypes and biases regarding adoption in our culture.  Maria is proud to be able to speak of the progressive and empowering values of OA&FS. 
• On February 15-16, Eugene Counselor Irie Hoffman presented information about open adoption and OA&FS specifically, to four different health classes at Thurston High School as a part of their "3 Options" series in which all the options available to women facing an untimely pregnancy are discussed. Each class contained between 20 and 30 Junior and Senior students and all of the students participated in exercises around adoption beliefs, discussed the effects of specific circumstances on their beliefs and asked thoughtful questions based on their own experiences with adoption. Irie finished each class with two videos from the new DVD and many students expressed their appreciation for seeing what open adoptions "really look like".
• On February 17, Eugene Counselor Linda Kostur presented information about OA&FS to a group of Medical Social Workers at RiverBend Hospital in Springfield, Oregon. These are a group of social workers who work specifically on the Mother/Baby Unit and included part-time and weekend staff.
• On February 21, Seattle Counselors Courtney Gray and Heather Goldy spoke with 10 students and advisors with the Bremerton Planned Parenthood Teen Council in Bremerton, Wash. The students were lively and active participants in the various activities and discussions that occurred and asked thoughtful questions. As teen educators they are often called upon to educate and support fellow students about pregnancy options, and they expressed feeling more comfortable discussing adoption after the presentation.