In Nashville, Tennessee

Jane Brown presented an informative and educational workshop on the issues that face adoptive families and their children.  Her advice was easy to follow and sprinkled with personal stories from her own family's experiences.  Many questions were answered from audience members.  Many participants asked that we continue to present workshops such as these.

The afternoon session with teen and adult adoptees was also informative and eye opening.  The adoptees were open to questions and comments and were very open about their adoption experiences. 

Lunchtime entertainment was presented by children from the Korean Focus preschool and the Chinese preschool.

Tapes will be available in a few weeks.

REVIEW

 Post Placement Issues in Transracial Adoption with Jane Brown, was the first in a series of workshops planned by International Adoption Alliance.

Tonya McRady, an adoptive parent shares her thoughts on the workshop. 

As a parent, do you ever wish there was somewhere to go to get all the answers_  Or at least someone who could tell you all the questions_  For those who attended the workshop, Post Placement Issues in Transracial Adoption, there was.

The morning session featured Jane Brown, MSW, an adoptive mom and social worker.  She began by describing for parents the many parts and pieces that make up our children and how we must help our children incorporate these into their identities.  She also provided eight strategies for dealing with adoption and the issues involved over our children's lifetimes.  Ideas such as starting at an early age, balancing  our message, and keeping our perspective will all be needed to help our children face adoption issues.  As she talked, she incorporated stories, examples and anecdotes from her own vast experience which helped to make the strategies come alive.  Jane spoke of several things that parents could do such as providing cultural role models that help ease our children's differences and gie them a positive, strong self-image.

The afternoon session featured a panel of adult and teen adoptees from a wide range of experiences.  After briefly describing their stories, the panel answered numerous questions from the audience, providing with each answer their own unique viewpoint, as well as a glimpse into an adoptees life and feelings.

for info or comments write 

HOME