Suggested Conference Tracks

These workshop choices are provided as suggestions only and are intended to aid you in your selection. You are welcome to choose any workshop that is appropriate for you and your situation.

Click on the workshop title to view a description.

Is Adoption Right for Me/Us?

*A2 Introduction to Adoption (PA)
*A16 Adopting Through the Public Welfare System (PA)
*A24 Intercountry Adoption 101 (PA)
*B4 Adopting After Infertility (PA)
*B23 You've Decided to Adopt! Who Should You Tell and When? (PA, EX)
*B24 Hague and Entry into Force: What Adoptive Parents Need to Know (PA)
*B16 Who Are the Waiting Children in the United States? (PA)
*B25 The Basic How-To's of a Well Planned Domestic Infant Adoption (PA)
C26 DSS Adoption: Positive Perspectives From Families Who Know! (PA)
*C8 Birth Family and Adoptive Family Connections in Domestic Adoption (PA, RF, AD, AF, TR, BF)
C24 What My Child Has Taught Me About Adoption - and About Life (PA, RF, EX, AF)
*D2 Is This Ethical? How Can You Tell? (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D30 Independent Adoption - Shattering the Myths (PA)
*D7 Adopted Children and Future Losses (PA, RF, EX, AF)

Pre-adoptive Singles

A6 Single Parent Adoption: Is It Right for Me? (PA)
*A2 Introduction to Adoption (PA)
A4 Domestic vs. Intercountry: How Do We Decide? (PA)
*A22 Estate Planning for the Adoptive Family (GN, PA, RF, EX, AF)
B6 Real Life After Single Parent Adoption (PA, RF, AF)
*B23 You've Decided to Adopt! Who Should You Tell and When? (PA, EX)
*B16 Who Are the Waiting Children in the United States? (PA)
*C11 Legal Issues for Lesbians, Gay Men, and Single Parents (RF, AF)
C26 DSS Adoption: Positive Perspectives From Families Who Know! (PA)
*C6 Adjustment in Intercountry Adoption (PA, RF, HC)
*D11 Single Parent Discussion (PA, RF, AF)
*D28 The Waiting Experience, Not the Same for Everyone (PA)
*D2 Is This Ethical? How Can You Tell? (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)

Adopted Persons

*A11 That First Time Contact, Is It Important? Oh My Yes! (GN, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*A15 Somebody's Daughter: A Story of an Adopted Person and Her Birth Mother (GN, EX, AD, AF, BF)
A27 Writing to Heal Your Inner Self (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*A25 Adoptive Parents in Search and Reunion (RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*B1 Sibling Reunion: Understanding the Unique Dynamics (GN, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*B11 Domestic Adopted Persons Panel (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
B12 I Love You Too Much to Tell You (Besides, You Wouldn't Understand) (EX, AD, AF)
*B7 Conversations with Birthparents (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
B15 Joy and Loss: Coming Full Circle Through the Journey of Adoption (PA, RF, AD, AF, TR)
*C2 Let's Talk About Reunions (AD, AF, TR, BF)
C15 Do Birth Mothers' Stages Matter? (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
C19 Birth Fathers' Panel (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
C13 Birth Parents Living in Reunion and/or Open Adoption (GN, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D1 Access to Birth Certificates: What Does it Mean for Me? (AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D13 Wearing Two Hats: Adoptive Parents Who Are Also Adopted (PA, RF, AD, AF)
*D8 The Birth Parent and Adoptive Parent Connection: Examining the Benefits of a Relationship (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D2 Is This Ethical? How Can You Tell? (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)

Parents of Preschoolers

A28 Picture Books in Adoption: An Enjoyable Reading Experience (RF, EX, AF)
*A9 Talking to Children About Adoption Across the Stages of Development, Part 1 (RF, EX, AF)
*A22 Estate Planning for the Adoptive Family (GN, PA, RF, EX, AF)
A18 After the Leap: Parents at Last (RF, AF)
B28 What is a "Real" Mother? (Women Only) (RF, AF)
*B9 Talking to Children About Adoption Across the Stages of Development, Part II (RF, EX, AF)
B27 Lifebooks: Fostering Strength and Resiliency in Our Children (PA, RF, AF)
B2 Stopping At One - When You Dreamed of More (RF, AF)
*C18 Adopting Preschool Age Children: Organizational Strategies and Thoughtful Approaches (PA, RF, AF, HC)
*C1 Telling the Truth to Your Adopted Child: Making Sense of the Past (PA, RF, EX, AF)
*C6 Adjustment in Intercountry Adoption (PA, RF, HC)
D19 Sibling Rivalry and Adoption (RF, AF)
*D17 The Good Parent List (RF, AF)
*D7 Adopted Children and Future Losses (PA, RF, EX, AF)
D21 After the Diagnosis (RF, AF)

Parents of School-Age Kids

*A1 Embracing a Love like No Other: Gaining Understanding of the Impact on Adoptive Parents When Parenting Traumatized Children (PA, RF, EX, AF, TR, HC)
*A9 Talking to Children About Adoption Across the Stages of Development, Part 1 (RF, EX, AF)
*A20 Preparing Children for the Adoption of a Sibling (PA, RF, EX, AF)
*A10 One For All and All For One: When Doctor, Therapist, Educator and Parent Unite (PA, RF, EX, AF, HC)
*B22 Loss, Language, Listening and Learning: The Impact of Previous Losses in the Classroom (RF, EX, AF)
*B9 Talking to Children About Adoption Across the Stages of Development, Part II (RF, EX, AF)
B28 What is a "Real" Mother? (Women Only) (RF, AF)
B27 Lifebooks: Fostering Strength and Resiliency in Our Children (PA, RF, AF)
B12 I Love You Too Much to Tell You (Besides, You Wouldn't Understand) (EX, AD, AF)
B29 Adoptive Fathers - Open Forum (Men Only) (RF, AF)
*C1 Telling the Truth to Your Adopted Child: Making Sense of the Past (PA, RF, EX, AF)
C27 The Life Book as a Tool for Helping Adopted Children Understand Their History (PA, RF, AF)
C5 The Adoptive Family Grows Up (RF, EX, AF)
C15 Do Birth Mothers' Stages Matter? (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
D22 Adoption in the Classroom (RF, AF)
D19 Sibling Rivalry and Adoption (RF, AF)
*D18 Challenging Behaviors: What Makes Our Kids Tick? (AF)
*D7 Adopted Children and Future Losses (PA, RF, EX, AF)
D21 After the Diagnosis (RF, AF)

Parents of Teens

*A5 Trauma Drama: Why it's Never Too Early to Prepare for the Teen Years (AF)
*A1 Embracing a Love like No Other: Gaining Understanding of the Impact on Adoptive Parents When Parenting Traumatized Children (PA, RF, EX, AF, TR, HC)
A29 Living at the Edge (RF, AF)
*A26 Partners in Parenting: When, Why and How Adoptive Parents Use Therapy (RF, AF)
*B5 Trauma Drama Part II (AF)
*B1 Sibling Reunion: Understanding the Unique Dynamics (GN, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
B12 I Love You Too Much to Tell You (Besides, You Wouldn't Understand) (EX, AD, AF)
*B26 Understand Why and When Therapy is Helpful to Adopted Children and Teenagers (RF, AF)
*C3 Adoption and Adolescence - Part 1 (AF)
C5 The Adoptive Family Grows Up (RF, EX, AF)
*C1 Telling the Truth to Your Adopted Child: Making Sense of the Past (PA, RF, EX, AF)
*D3 Adoption and Adolescence - Part 2 (AF)
*D5 A Teenage Perspective on Growing up Adopted (PA, RF, EX, AD, AF)
*D7 Adopted Children and Future Losses (PA, RF, EX, AF)

LGBT Families

A13 Same-Sex Marriage/Same-Sex Adoption: New Developments (PA)
*A2 Introduction to Adoption (PA)
*A1 Embracing a Love like No Other: Gaining Understanding of the Impact on Adoptive Parents When Parenting Traumatized Children (PA, RF, EX, AF, TR, HC)
*A21 Talking with Expectant Parents Considering an Adoption Plan: What Should We Talk About? (PA)
A27 Writing to Heal Your Inner Self (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*B13 Our Adoption Community: Lesbian and Gay Adoptive Families Today (EX, AF)
*B16 Who Are the Waiting Children in the United States? (PA)
B3 The Changing Face of Adoption (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*B18 What is Open Adoption? (PA, RF, EX, AF, TR, BF)
*C11 Legal Issues for Lesbians, Gay Men, and Single Parents (RF, AF)
*C1 Telling the Truth to Your Adopted Child: Making Sense of the Past (PA, RF, EX, AF)
*C8 Birth Family and Adoptive Family Connections in Domestic Adoption (PA, RF, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*C22 Social Class in Adoption: Toward Understanding Our Extended Families and Ourselves (RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D28 The Waiting Experience, Not the Same for Everyone (PA)
*D2 Is This Ethical? How Can You Tell? (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D7 Adopted Children and Future Losses (PA, RF, EX, AF)
*D15 Facing the Inevitable: Public Curiosity and Experiences of International, Transracial Adoptive Families (PA, RF, EX, AF, HC)

Birth Families

*A7 An Adoption Journey: Birth Mothers Reflect on Their Experiences (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*A11 That First Time Contact, Is It Important? Oh My Yes! (GN, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*A15 Somebody's Daughter: A Story of an Adopted Person and Her Birth Mother (GN, EX, AD, AF, BF)
*A25 Adoptive Parents in Search and Reunion (RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*B1 Sibling Reunion: Understanding the Unique Dynamics (GN, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*B11 Domestic Adopted Persons Panel (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*B7 Conversations with Birthparents (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
B15 Joy and Loss: Coming Full Circle Through the Journey of Adoption (PA, RF, AD, AF, TR)
*C2 Let's Talk About Reunions (AD, AF, TR, BF)
C19 Birth Fathers' Panel (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
C13 Birth Parents Living in Reunion and/or Open Adoption (GN, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*C4 Orphan Trains to Outsiders Within - International Adoption in the United States (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D1 Access to Birth Certificates: What Does it Mean for Me? (AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D7 Adopted Children and Future Losses (PA, RF, EX, AF)
*D8 The Birth Parent and Adoptive Parent Connection: Examining the Benefits of a Relationship (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D2 Is This Ethical? How Can You Tell? (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)

Extended Family Members

A23 For the Extended Adoptive Family (Extended Family ONLY) (EX)
*A2 Introduction to Adoption (PA)
*A1 Embracing a Love like No Other: Gaining Understanding of the Impact on Adoptive Parents When Parenting Traumatized Children (PA, RF, EX, AF, TR, HC)
*B4 Adopting After Infertility (PA)
B3 The Changing Face of Adoption (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*B18 What is Open Adoption? (PA, RF, EX, AF, TR, BF)
*B7 Conversations with Birthparents (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*C1 Telling the Truth to Your Adopted Child: Making Sense of the Past (PA, RF, EX, AF)
*C4 Orphan Trains to Outsiders Within - International Adoption in the United States (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
C10 Understanding Children's Development: Considerations for a Global Perspective (PA, RF, AF, HC)
*C6 Adjustment in Intercountry Adoption (PA, RF, HC)
*D14 The First Year of Development for the Internationally Adopted Child (PA, RF, HC)
*D8 The Birth Parent and Adoptive Parent Connection: Examining the Benefits of a Relationship (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
*D18 Challenging Behaviors: What Makes Our Kids Tick? (AF)
*D2 Is This Ethical? How Can You Tell? (GN, PA, RF, EX, AD, AF, TR, BF)
D6 Adopting Across Race: The Identity Development of White Parents (PA, RF, AF, HC)

Hague Compliant

*A1 Embracing a Love like No Other: Gaining Understanding of the Impact on Adoptive Parents When Parenting Traumatized Children (PA, RF, EX, AF, TR, HC)
*A8 Does my Child have a Language Disorder? Monitoring English Language Development After International Adoption (RF, AF, HC)
*A3 Birth Families in Intercountry Adoption Do Matter (PA, RF, HC)
A12 Those First Weeks at Home with a New Family Member (PA, RF, HC)
*A10 One For All and All For One: When Doctor, Therapist, Educator and Parent Unite (PA, RF, EX, AF, HC)
B8 Medical Issues in Intercountry Adoption (PA, RF, HC)
*B10 Complex Neurodevelopmental Profiles: What about Attachment, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder etc.? (PA, RF, AF, HC)
*B14 Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder: Horses or Zebras? Part II (PA, RF, AF, HC)
*B20 Grief and Loss Behaviors in Adopted Children (PA, RF, AF, HC)
*C6 Adjustment in Intercountry Adoption (PA, RF, HC)
C10 Understanding Children's Development: Considerations for a Global Perspective (PA, RF, AF, HC)
D6 Adopting Across Race: The Identity Development of White Parents (PA, RF, AF, HC)
*D10 International Adoption Speech and Language Mythbusters (PA, RF, EX, AF, HC)
*D14 The First Year of Development for the Internationally Adopted Child (PA, RF, HC)
*D15 Facing the Inevitable: Public Curiosity and Experiences of International, Transracial Adoptive Families (PA, RF, EX, AF, HC)
D26 Adopting an Older Child through Intercountry Adoption (PA, RF, HC)