The 14th Annual Professional Training Day
presented by
Adoption Community of New England, Inc.
Workshops
Morning Session 8:30 - 11:45 a.m.
A1. Embracing a Love Like No Other: Gaining Understanding of the Impact on Adoptive Parents When Parenting Traumatized Children
Jayne Schooler will examine the following: What is the definition of a traumatized child? What is vicarious trauma? What does life look like when living with traumatized children and loving them? What happens to families, the parents and other children in the home when chaos is the new norm? How do we help families know what they need to know?
A2. Finding Help for Struggling Teens: An Adoption Perspective
While most youths who have been adopted manage the challenges of adolescence well, some experience more intense difficulties. Deborah and Rick will explore how adoption issues may affect teens and how professionals can "think outside the box" to identify helpful interventions.
A3. Disrupted/Dissolved Adoptions, a Preventative Approach
Disrupted and dissolved adoptions, once rare, are now becoming more commonplace. Preventative practices for attorneys, agencies, social workers and other professionals are now a must. Karen and Arlene will review adoption history, law and theory, and actual cases. The presenters will focus on preventative steps and planning and conclude with an open discussion of sharing concerns, strategies and suggested resolutions.
Afternoon Session 12:45 - 4:00 p.m.
B1. Telling the Truth to Your Adopted Child: Making Sense of the Past
Jayne Schooler will discuss how to prepare prospective adoptive families for the challenge of talking about adoption, highlight the developmental stages parents experience when talking about adoption along the life span, examine ten principles of telling the truth and finally, will discuss how to share a difficult history with a child or teen.
Trauma Drama: Why it's Never Too Early to Prepare for the Teen Years
Pamela will provide a lens into the world of today's adopted teens, the specific ways that teens process trauma differently because of brain development, and promising treatment options and parenting techniques that focus on the importance of early intervention and the resiliency of adolescents. Case examples will be incorporated throughout the presentation.
B3. Building an Ethical Framework for Whole Life Adoption Practices
Etta will discuss the need to consider the lifelong implications of services for each member of the triad. Participants will build an ethical framework for service delivery when there are potential conflicting needs and interests among those touched by adoption. Issues such as: adoptive family selection criteria, grandparents' rights, search and reunion, recruitment of birth parents, access to birth certificates and birth fathers' rights will be discussed.
Adoption Community of New England, Inc. is a non-profit membership organization incorporated in 1967. Its purpose is to provide information, advocacy and support for all who are touched by adoption.
