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Adoptive Parent Bulletin
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April 2012
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A simple way to enhance
your open adoption experience.
 Open adoptions are a dynamic journey - some days are smooth sailing, others choppy seas. There's one person who's tremendously qualified to help families navigate this experience: Jim Gritter. We're extremely grateful to sponsor Jim in his first-ever Portland speaking engagement, and you're all invited!
Though child care is not provided, we will have a children's play area where adults can still hear the discussion.
Jim has devoted his career to open adoption advocacy, and has many stories to share in this interactive Q&A. Plus he'd like to hear yours. Come to Legacy Meridian Park Hospital on Sunday, April 15 from 1-4:00 pm and get inspired! RSVP by April 11, information@openadopt.org. Whether you're living an open adoption or preparing to, don't miss out on this community event.
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An Open Adoption & Family Services Monthly Publication
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The Adoptive Parent Bulletin is sent to all adoptive parents from the time of their intake interview until two years after their most recent placement.
If you would like to extend your subscription, please contact Marketing and Development Director Sally Shuey at 503-226-4870 or sally@openadopt.org.
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Join our Social Media Communities
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Your visits support our campaign to build awareness about the benefits of open adoption! By liking us on Facebook, and viewing and liking videos on YouTube, you make it easier for people who need pregnancy options and adoption planning services to learn more and find OA&FS.
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 Announcements
Welcome to the Pool: |
In Adoption Planning:
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 Congratulations:
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Amy Myer and Sarah Schultz of Portland, Oregon were two of many delighted people to welcome sweet Jane Virginia Rae into the world on March 21, 2012. Jane's phenomenal birthmother, Linzy, as well as her loving birth grandparents and many important friends and family members, spent the next couple days watching Jane's every magical move. Amy and Sarah said Linzy made the whole process amazing. They admit they were a bit cold shuffling in for late night feedings from their snow-covered Vanagon in the hospital parking, but it was worth the adventure. The entrustment ceremony was tear-filled with moments of beautiful joy and gratitude from everyone. When asked if anyone had anything else to say, Jane made a perfect little squeak that launched them into their exceptional lifelong relationship.
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Jennifer and Matt Diehl, of Albany, Oregon, received an exciting late night call mid-March to let them know that someone very special was on the way. Their daughter, Charley Aunna LaRue Diehl, was born March 13 and Jennifer and Matt, along with Charley's birthmother Aunnalisa and birthgrandmother, Melissa, welcomed her with open arms. Love wrapped around Charley from all sides during her hospital stay. At her tearful entrustment ceremony prayers and readings were shared along with thoughts of appreciation to and from all parties, giving Charley the opportunity to hear about the commitments that her families have made to each other, and to her, now and in the future.
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OA&FS News & Resources
New! Accommodations for
Children at the Gritter EventThe interactive Q&A with Jim Gritter is just around the corner. OA&FS hosts this renowned author and open adoption advocate at Legacy Meridian Park Hospital on Sunday, April 15 from 1-4:00 pm. Though child care is not provided, we will have a children's play area where adults can still hear the discussion. Admission to this event is only $10. RSVP by April 11, information@openadopt.org. Read ahead -- buy Jim's book online. Take our Seminar Notebook Survey Do you remember receiving a notebook at your OA&FS seminar? Are you still using it? In order to conserve resources we're considering putting this important information online. Please take our brief survey and let us know if this would be helpful to you. Show off Your PhotosThere's a great use for all those amazing family pictures you're taking. We're looking for photos to spice up our social media pages and sparkle in event slideshows and printed materials. If you've got pictures to share, we'd love to include them. Please email high-resolution digital photos and a signed copy of the OA&FS photo release to sally@openadopt.org. (Electronic signatures are fine.) Thanks! Give to the Birthmothers' Retreat This year OA&FS will be hosting a Birthmothers' Retreat in both Portland and Eugene on Birthmothers' Day, Saturday May 12, 2012. Every year we are honored to have the opportunity to support women as they connect with one another, share about their own adoption experience, relax and have fun together. Your donation to this event goes toward a special gift for each Birthmother. We appreciate contributions of any amount! (Please type "Birthmothers' Retreat" in comments box.) Adoption Tax Credit Forms The Affordable Care Act raised the maximum amount of the adoption tax credit to $13,360 per child for tax year 2011. Here's how to claim this credit and a list of documents needed. |
Gatherings
Portland
Topic: Open Forum - Discuss Your Experiences
Thursday, April 12, 6:30-8:00 pm
OA&FS Portland Office, 5200 SW Macadam Ave., Suite 250
Whether you've been in the pool for two days or two years, this is a time for making connections and gathering support. This month we will have an open forum for our Portland-area families to share their experiences and to continue building a supportive, empathic community of future adoptive families.
Eugene
No local meeting is scheduled for April. However, we do encourage Eugene-area waiting families to attend the Jim Gritter event on April 15. (See OA&FS News for details.)
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 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 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. Olympia 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 April 19, 6 - 8:00 pm
NAFA Swim Party
Come enjoy our annual swim party at a new location this year -- Mt. Scott Pool in SE Portland. Swimmer preregistration required.
Saturday April 28, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Adoption Mosaic Transracial Parenting Workshop
Workshop appropriate for adoptive parents, waiting parents and professionals to be held at SE Uplift Building. Preregistration required.
Saturday May 5, 9 am - 4 pm
NAFA Great Expectations for Waiting Families
A souce of support, guidance and information for adoptive parents-to-be. Topic: Adoption triad panel. Location Legacy Emanual Hospital.
Friday May 11, 7 - 8:30 pm.
Adoption Mosaic Run Mama Run
10K run/5K walk and kids fun run at Mt. Tabor Park. Let's celebrate all of the Mamas in our lives together!
Sunday May 13, 8:30 am check in
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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 February 28, Seattle Counselor Courtney Gray provided a training for eight professionals at Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest (PPGNW), in Seattle. Participants gained updated information regarding open adoption and the services of OA&FS and learned new skills for providing options counseling. Attendees were very appreciative and were active participants in role plays to practice their new skills.
- On March 2, Portland counselor Katie Niemeyer provided brochures, DVD's and other written information to the Women's Clinic in Vancouver, Wash. She spoke with three doctors and a couple of the clinic staff to ensure they were aware of the free, unbiased, options counseling support we offer to pregnant women and couples. Some of the physicians had misconceptions about the open adoption process, and they were grateful to hear that OA&FS offers support to both birth and adoptive parents, while also communicating with hospital staff, especially in last minute placements.
- On March 7, Eastern Oregon/Washington Counselor Angie Lunde presented information to fifteen Child Protective Services workers in Walla Walla, Wash. The focus of the presentation was the collaborative relationship OA&FS has with the Department of Health Services. She spoke of the success that families facing termination of their parental rights experienced when they were able to choose an open adoption as an alternative to foster care. The audience was engaged and interactive; their interest stretched the 30 minutes given for presentation to an hour so they could have their wide-ranging questions answered. Angie left feeling that these workers experienced a paradigm shift as they thought about offering families another option besides reunification or termination. The workers were grateful for the materials developed by OA&FS that specifically gave them tools to talk with their clients.
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On March 15 Eugene Counselor Irie Hoffman presented information about Open Adoption & Family Services to a group of 30 employees of Planned Parenthood of South Western Oregon at their monthly staff meeting. She gave a general overview of open adoption and our process specifically, highlighting our Options Counseling Services and OA&FS as an Alternative to State Adoption. She also spoke in detail about what the process would look like for a client from beginning to end regardless of their decision. A number of staff members commented on how comfortable they would be referring to us and appreciated our services being available to them. They also expressed interest in having a presentation about how to discuss options with their clients using positive adoption language. Irie ended the presentation by showing them the "Open Adoption Over the Years" video as well as the "Open Adoption as an Alternative to State Adoption 1" video.
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With 175 nurses expected to attend the School Nurse Organization of Washington Spring Conference in Bremerton, WA, Seattle Counselor, Heather Goldy hopped a ferry on March 16 to spread the word about OA&FS. Heather managed the Open Adoption & Family Services exhibit while sharing and dispersing information to nurses from around the state. Heather had the opportunity to discuss options counseling and open adoption, as well as adoption as an alternative to state involvement. Middle school and high school nurses were especially drawn to the OA&FS exhibit to share stories of pregnant teens they are working with, ask questions and gather information. One nurse came by and candidly informed the four nurses reading OA&FS information that she had worked with three teens who chose adoption and worked with OA&FS. She said, "Open adoption is amazing and OA&FS really knows what they are doing."
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On March 21, Eastern Oregon/Washington Counselor, Angie Lunde, met with a new Healthy Start worker in LaGrande, Oregon who will be working with pregnant high school women throughout Union County. Her supervisor contacted our agency to request this training because she felt it was very important for this new staff person to learn directly from us about options counseling and open adoption. This new staff person is very pleased to know options counseling is available locally.
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On March 21, Seattle Counselor, Heather Goldy, spoke with approximately 20 students at Planned Parenthood in Bellevue, WA. Through open discussion and activities, Heather 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 their peers. Heather was very impressed by the active participants and thoughtful questions. Several teens approached Heather after the presentation to ask additional questions and request business cards and brochures. One student contacted Heather after the event stating that she was inspired by the discussion around open adoption and has decided to do her senior project on open adoption and OA&FS.
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1-800-772-1115 Para Espaņol 1-800-985-6763 www.openadopt.org Portland 503-226-4870, FAX 503-226-4891 Eugene 541-343-4825, FAX 541-431-1241 Seattle 206-782-0442, FAX 206-782-0578 |
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