Hello all! As I am sure you all know, November is National Adoption Month. This has meant a lot of events occurring in the community, from conferences to information booths to a lot of media coverage. I hope many of you have had the opportunity to participate in some of the happenings in your own community.
Open Arms has been involved in many of the events going on in the local area. Just this past weekend Michele LeMasney (it’s impossible to just say Michele at Open Arms) was at the Adoption Expo at Cherry Hill and Voorhees Malls. Kelly was at the Adolescent Health Institute Conference on Friday. The weekend before was the Concerned Persons for Adoption Conference in NJ. We have been featured in the Courier Post, a South Jersey newspaper, twice in the last two weeks: http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911080315
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20091115/NEWS01/911150340/1006/news01.
As always, we are extremely busy, not just with National Adoption Month, but with all our regular activities. Meredith has been leading many trainings for professionals throughout NJ and PA; at least one a week since the start of October. We have received many calls from women exploring adoption, professionals referring them and have even made a few last-minute trips to hospitals.
In the last few months the following couples have become parents-Congratulations!!
Mark and Sarah to Sophie
Chris and Lynn to Tori
Rick and Heather to MacKenzie
Patrick and Michele to Addison
Rich and Dina to Miriam
Harley and Bonnie to Bella
Mark and Martha to Louisa
Margie to Mia
Looking at that list it certainly seems that girls have been quite popular recently! I haven’t seen all the babies, but I have seen many, and I hope each of you gets the opportunity to do so too at one of our family events. They are all so adorable!
We have had many enlightening workshops in the last few months. Most recently, we had Baby Care Basics and The Effects of Substance Abuse During Pregnancy. The Baby Care Basics workshop presented tons of information. I think I can speak for all attendees in saying we learned a lot. I’ve been to this particular workshop twice already and each time I learn something new, which never ceases to amaze me, since I grew up around children and babies and have spent my entire life since around them.
The Effects of Substance Abuse During Pregnancy workshop was jam packed with information. Dr. Rachel Hachen and Dr. Susan Friedman from CHOP’s adoption program presented us with the medical facts about short and long term effects of cocaine, heroin, methadone, marijuana, alcohol and prescription drugs used during pregnancy. Then Sacha and Craig Wade spoke of their personal experience and those of their friends in adopting children exposed in-utero. Finally, Michele LeMasney spoke shortly about her experience with early intervention services. Thank you to Sacha and Craig and Michele for sharing your experiences!
If you are interested in researching more about early intervention services in your neighborhood (regardless of what state you are in) www.nichcy.org/states.htm has contact information for your area. Additionally, if y6u are interested in activities to do with your child to enhance their development (regardless of whether they were exposed to drugs or alcohol) www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/ has some good, age-appropriate ideas.
Don’t forget about this week’s workshop; you still have an opportunity to register if you haven’t yet. On Thursday, November 19th from 6-8:30pm Abby Ruder, MFT will be speaking on Exploring Children’s Developmental Understanding of Adoption. This will help you in knowing how to speak to your children about adoption at different ages and stages. If you are interested in attending please register through me by phone or email (or if you prefer on our website).
Our winter calendar of workshops should be coming out any day now. Keep an eye out for it.
Have a happy Thanksgiving,
Shlomit
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Fall Is Here
The summer season has just ended and fall is beckoning. This has always been my favorite time of the year, those last few days of summer right before everything starts again in high gear for the fall. I remember as a child being so excited at the prospect of a new school year and all the changes it might bring. It still evokes in me the promise of new things and exciting ventures on the verge of occuring. It's a time of possibility and potential just waiting to be filled.
Open Arms had a great end to our summer and we are excited at all the things this fall will bring us. Our picnic is coming soon (September 13th from 11am to 2pm at Neshaminy State Park) and with it the opportunity to see many families all gathered together. It's always a day that means a lot to us and I know for many families who attend as well. We hope to see all of you there!! (I'm particularly looking forward to seeing all the new babies and the not so new little toddlers.)
Fall workshops are scheduled. Hopefully, you received a calendar in the mail of the latest offerings. If you haven't please let me know and I'll send you one. They should all be great!
We have lots of trainings scheduled for professionals and are excited at the opportunies these always bring. Who knows what other great things the fall will bring us!! Shlomit
Open Arms had a great end to our summer and we are excited at all the things this fall will bring us. Our picnic is coming soon (September 13th from 11am to 2pm at Neshaminy State Park) and with it the opportunity to see many families all gathered together. It's always a day that means a lot to us and I know for many families who attend as well. We hope to see all of you there!! (I'm particularly looking forward to seeing all the new babies and the not so new little toddlers.)
Fall workshops are scheduled. Hopefully, you received a calendar in the mail of the latest offerings. If you haven't please let me know and I'll send you one. They should all be great!
We have lots of trainings scheduled for professionals and are excited at the opportunies these always bring. Who knows what other great things the fall will bring us!! Shlomit
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Summer Note from Meredith
Hello all!Hope you are enjoying the summer! I am! We've been quite busy around the office with lots of new clients -- with both incoming adoptive families and with women considering adoption for their babies.... Shlomit is just putting the "finishing touches" on our fall calendar of workshops -- so stay tuned for that -- and please remember to rsvp to the sept 13th picnic. We'd love to see you there! Ask anyone who has come... it's a wonderful day! We've been getting lots of good feedback on our new website -- www.openarmsadoption.net. It quickly became a new way for those exploring adoption to find us. We intend to continue to add on to the website -- highlighting some important links, articles,new books and events in the area. Hope you are well ! Meredith
Monday, July 20, 2009
Exciting News!!!!
Hello again all! I must note that I didn’t see much commenting after my last post; in fact there was none at all. We would love to get a discussion started and are particularly interested in hearing your opinions and getting your feedback. I know you all must have lots to say!
As many of you may know or have heard through the grapevine, we have officially launched our new website. Please check it out at www.OpenArmsAdoption.net. It has a new look and a lot more information about our program. Some highlights are: Family Profiles, Adoption Stories, and a great calendar of events (not yet filled, but that part is coming within the next few weeks). We know it will be a great resource for pregnant women and their families and for you! Personally, I always get excited by the little things and I’m enjoying some of the new smaller features, such as the ability to have people RSVP for events directly off the website.
Of course, the website is by no means finished! We will be continuously updating it with current information and adding new pages. We love it and hope you do to! Please let us know your feelings about it and if you have any suggestions for added improvement.
Let us know what you think, Shlomit
As many of you may know or have heard through the grapevine, we have officially launched our new website. Please check it out at www.OpenArmsAdoption.net. It has a new look and a lot more information about our program. Some highlights are: Family Profiles, Adoption Stories, and a great calendar of events (not yet filled, but that part is coming within the next few weeks). We know it will be a great resource for pregnant women and their families and for you! Personally, I always get excited by the little things and I’m enjoying some of the new smaller features, such as the ability to have people RSVP for events directly off the website.
Of course, the website is by no means finished! We will be continuously updating it with current information and adding new pages. We love it and hope you do to! Please let us know your feelings about it and if you have any suggestions for added improvement.
Let us know what you think, Shlomit
Monday, June 22, 2009
We're Live- Finally an Open Arms Blog
Hello! Welcome to the first posting of our brand new Open Arms blog. We have heard that many of you have been anxiously awaiting this debut! This blog is exclusively for our domestic families and we plan on using it as another means of communicating with you and an additional way of informing you of everything going on within Open Arms and within the adoption community as a whole. If we see great articles we will post them. Please feel free to share anything you find that you feel might be particularly appropriate for our forum. This will give us an opportunity to hear from you in a different way.
Since I’m the resident blog lover among the Open Arms staff (along with Michele LeMasney) I get the pleasure of the inaugural post. (They will come from various staff members at different times and Meredith monthly.)
This past Tuesday night was our workshop on Exploring Children’s Developmental Understanding of Adoption. It was a well attended event-almost thirty people were there. Abby Ruder gave out lots of information on talking with your children about their adoption stories at different ages and stages. She also provided us with much information on the losses associated with adoption, which are important to remember when talking to your children because it affects both them and you at various times in your lives. For those of you who were unable to attend, we will definitely be having similar workshops yearly and I highly recommend attending at least one. It is such an important topic for all adoptive families! I have included a link to a section on Adoptive Family Magazine's website that has wonderful articles on this issue: http://adoptivefamilies.com/talking
Our next workshop on The Effects of Substance Abuse during Pregnancy is coming soon. It will be on June 30th from 6-8:30pm at 2100 Arch Street. Consider registering if you have not yet adopted. It's a great idea to learn about how different drugs and alcohol may affect a developing fetus and what you are comfortable with before you are faced with a decision about whether to move forward with an opportunity or not. And please join us if you are parenting a child who was born exposed to any substance. Resources and tips will be provided. I know all of us staff are particularly looking forward to this workshop. A lot of us are planning on being there.
While I’m on the subject of trainings, I would really love your comments and feedback. You can leave a comment right here or email or phone me. You all know how to reach me (I hope!) We want our Life-Long Learning Institute to best meet your needs. Tell me what you would like to see happening. Are there topics you feel we don’t have yet that you would like? I’m in the process of fall and winter planning now so this is the time to mention your ideas!!!
I look forward to all you have to say- Shlomit
Since I’m the resident blog lover among the Open Arms staff (along with Michele LeMasney) I get the pleasure of the inaugural post. (They will come from various staff members at different times and Meredith monthly.)
This past Tuesday night was our workshop on Exploring Children’s Developmental Understanding of Adoption. It was a well attended event-almost thirty people were there. Abby Ruder gave out lots of information on talking with your children about their adoption stories at different ages and stages. She also provided us with much information on the losses associated with adoption, which are important to remember when talking to your children because it affects both them and you at various times in your lives. For those of you who were unable to attend, we will definitely be having similar workshops yearly and I highly recommend attending at least one. It is such an important topic for all adoptive families! I have included a link to a section on Adoptive Family Magazine's website that has wonderful articles on this issue: http://adoptivefamilies.com/talking
Our next workshop on The Effects of Substance Abuse during Pregnancy is coming soon. It will be on June 30th from 6-8:30pm at 2100 Arch Street. Consider registering if you have not yet adopted. It's a great idea to learn about how different drugs and alcohol may affect a developing fetus and what you are comfortable with before you are faced with a decision about whether to move forward with an opportunity or not. And please join us if you are parenting a child who was born exposed to any substance. Resources and tips will be provided. I know all of us staff are particularly looking forward to this workshop. A lot of us are planning on being there.
While I’m on the subject of trainings, I would really love your comments and feedback. You can leave a comment right here or email or phone me. You all know how to reach me (I hope!) We want our Life-Long Learning Institute to best meet your needs. Tell me what you would like to see happening. Are there topics you feel we don’t have yet that you would like? I’m in the process of fall and winter planning now so this is the time to mention your ideas!!!
I look forward to all you have to say- Shlomit
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
