[adoptionblessings]

Do you attend a local adoption support group/forum/playgroup in your area? How often does it meet and where- open to newcomers? Is it for adoptive parents?adoptees? birth parents? The adoption triad? How are your meetings structured? Are you a support group leader and if so did you start your group? Are the meetings beneficial and a support to you? Or if you were to look for a group- what would be most helpful to you for support and education in your adoption journey? Members sharing experiences? Speakers on adoption topics? An adoption book study? Please share your experience with your local area groups and if your meetings are open to the public, share your information here so others might join you. Thanks!

[HappyMomAnna]

In addition to the support forum and web site I have made for families who adopt children from the foster care system... I am also the president of a local support group. We meet the last Tuesday of every month and plan to host several special activities this coming year. We started meeting independently of our local DHS in November 2005 and we expcet over 20 members at our January Meeting!
We are currently working to get our non-profit status and forming a support group that will out last our personal involvement. We want to offer other families a private group of other parents in the same situation.
Our group is called, Oregon Adoptive Parents Network. We meet in Washington County Oregon. Our web site is: http://www.oapn.happymomanna.com/

[adoptionblessings]

Chicagoland Illinois western suburbs Adoption triad support group, Adoptees, Birth Parents and Adoptive Parents Together meets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 7:00pm until 9:00pm at Faith Evangelical Covenant Church in Wheaton, IL. For directions go to www.faithecc.org and click on "Directions" on the homepage Index. The group has been meeting for over 7 years and it is wonderful to hear about adoption from all 3 sides of adoption. We also have persons from the closed adoption system and in recent years have had a number of birth mothers and birth fathers join us that are in open adoptions. I facilitate the adoption group and I am a reunited adoptee with 3 birth sisters. I had a wonderful adoptive home and am so grateful for that blessing in my life. Some who attend our meetings have had challenges in their families, as do others in family life. Our group provides a very caring and nuturing environment where members can share without judgement. We have a nice lending library of adoption books that can be checked out by those who attend our meetings. We serve light refreshments and welcome newcomers!
Jody

[cheri10]

I am co-founder of MOMS Connected, which stands for Mothers of Minority Siblings. In addition to offering a book, Black Children/White Families, Putting the Pieces Together, we offer training seminars for adoptive families of minority children. We also have a family support group called Families Connected. Our families are adoptive and foster families of African, African American and Bi-racial children. Our next meeting is March 18th. If anyone wants information about our group they can e-mail info@momsconnected.com. The purpose of our group is to share inforamation and materials that will help us, as Caucasian parents, raise happy, healthy, strong Black children.

[MJ7]

I am co-founder and vice president of Oregon Adoptive Parents Network. Anna pretty much summed up what it's about. I also find support at www.happymomanna.com and www.child.com which is Child Magazine's website. I moderate on both site's forums.

On the forums, I try to start topics that will get people talking, but am there to give and recieve support as well. In our real life OAPN group, we are having topics of discussion, but we've made open forum a priority to meet the needs of those coming in accordingly. It's great having online and real life groups. On line is 24/7 and you don't have to leave your home. But it is great to connect face to face with real people in the flesh monthly as well.

[lani991011]

I am a MSW student at SDSU. I have 3 years experience working for CPS services working in Permenancy and Adoptions. I found my absolute passion working in this field and I admire all of you adoptive and foster parents out there. You are truely special people! So for my internship I want to start a group for children who are preparing for Adoption or have already been adopted. Parents: Do you think this would be helpful for your children to attend and interact with other children in similar situations? And professionals: Where should I start with the curriculum...any good websites or activities to pass on!! Thank You!

Alana

[MJ7]

Originally Posted by lani991011

I am a MSW student at SDSU. I have 3 years experience working for CPS services working in Permenancy and Adoptions. I found my absolute passion working in this field and I admire all of you adoptive and foster parents out there. You are truely special people! So for my internship I want to start a group for children who are preparing for Adoption or have already been adopted. Parents: Do you think this would be helpful for your children to attend and interact with other children in similar situations? And professionals: Where should I start with the curriculum...any good websites or activities to pass on!! Thank You!

Alana

I found www.happymomanna.com to be the best site for foster/adoption support and information. I think having a group for children adoptees would be great for those who are older. I believe my son has some issues regarding adoption, but him being 5, I feel like the more we can do to promote nomality for him the better for him. I would talk esspecially with foster parents as they seem to deal generally with a broad range of needs and might have some really good suggestions as to what they feel foster kids esspecially need.

[adoptionblessings]

Are there any others here that have attended local adoption groups- would love for you to share your experience with them. Did you enjoy attending them? Were they informative? Did you find good leadership? Did you connect well with other persons touched by adoption?
Thanks for sharing! Jody