August 2015

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Visitusatwww.mnadopt.org
CreatingPermanency,EmpoweringFamilies
ZeroKidsWaitingNewsletter,August2015
IN THIS ISSUE...
Meet Jaheim
MN ADOPT Events
Research Opportunity
Local Adoption Play
Prizes Needed for Circus of the
Heart
MN ADOPT Trainings
FEATUREDWAITINGCHILD
Jaheim,13,AthleticandFun
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Jaheim describes himself as "fun, athletic, and nice." Jaheim enjoys playing
basketball, football, running track, playing with dogs, and playing video
games/playing on his iPhone. Jaheim is in junior high and his favorite
subjects are math and gym. Jaheim has dreams of being in the NBA when he
grows up.
Jaheim states that he would prefer to be parented by a mom and a dad. He
is open to having siblings and would love to have a dog.
Following adoption, Jaheim will need to maintain contact with birth siblings,
all of whom are located in the Twin Cities.
View Jaheim's Kid Connection feature on Twin Cities Live
FormoreinformationaboutJaheim,pleasecontact:
Amy Fogel
Adoption Worker and Child Specific Recruiter
The Adoption Programs of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
& Children's Home Society of Minnesota
Phone: 651.255.2425
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afogel@chsfs.org
Mike Vogel
Adoption Resource Worker
Hennepin County
Phone: 612.596.6542
michael.r.vogel@hennepin.us.
MNADOPTNEWS
AdopteeNightwithTheTwins
MNADOPTandtheMinnesotaLynx
OnFriday,July31over200people
attendedtheMinnesotaTwinsgamefor
"AdopteeNightwiththeTwins".Itwasa
funnightforfamily,celebrationand
connection.Theweatherwasperfectand
manyattendeeshadanopportunityto
meetrapperapl.de.apoftheBlackEyed
Peas.ThankstotheMixedRoots
foundationformakingthisevening
possible!
MNADOPThasanotherlocalsporting
opportunityavailableforfosterand
adoptedyouth,withanupcomingMN
ADOPTeveningwiththeMinnesotaLynxon
Sunday,August30.Inadditiontohaving
ticketsavailableforthegame,wewillbe
honoringafamilyathalftimeanddebuting
ourmostrecentMNADOPTPublicService
Announcementfeaturingtwofosteryouth
andMayaMooreoftheMinnesotaLynx.
MNADOPTCelebratesNew
LocationwithOpenHouse
A special thanks for everyone who took
time out of their busy schedules to attend
our open house on July 20th. It was fun to
show off our new office and all the
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exciting things we have planned. We
enjoyed connecting with community
members, colleagues, professionals,
families and people interested in learning
more about our work. And the tacos were
great!!
Our new address is listed below. All
phone numbers remain the same.
MN ADOPT
777 Raymond Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55114
NEWSANDINFORMATION
IncreasedFundingforChildProtective
Services
CASEAnnouncesNewWebinarSeries
AstheStatebeginsanewfiscalyear,more
than$23millioninadditionalfundingis
beingdirectedtowardimprovingchild
protectiveservicesthroughoutthestate.
Thegoalofthisfundingistoimprove
outcomesforchildrenbyincreasethe
numberofworkers,reducingcaseloadsand
improvingconsistencyinchildprotection
servicesthroughoutthestate.
TheCenterforAdoptionSupportand
Education(CASE)hasannouncedtheir
scheduleforSTRENGTHENINGYOUR
FAMILY:anempoweringandinspiring
webinarseries.Thisseriesbeginsin
Augustwithonewebinarmostmonths
throughJuneof2016.CASEdoesagreat
jobofferingrelevantandhighquality
webinarsataffordablerates.
ReadMore
Learn More
Opportunitytoparticipateinastudyonadoptionandeducational
outcomes*
If you would like to participate in an adoption-related study, the survey linked below may be of
interest to you. The study is being conducted by a social work professor at the University of St.
Thomas, and the goal of is to examine the impact of being adopted and finding a permanent
home on young people's health and emotional well-being, academic adjustment and
performance, and community connections.
The survey is geared toward parents of older youth who were in the public child welfare system.
Specifically, parents are eligible to participate if they meet the following criteria:
• They are an adoptive parent or permanent guardian of an older youth
• Their child came to live with you when they were ten years old or older
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• Their child was in public child welfare ("foster care") before they were adopted
If interested, The survey should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. If you have any
questions about the survey they can be directed to Katharine Hill at Katharine.hill@stthomas.edu
Take Survey
*Note-this study is not specifically endorsed by MN ADOPT and we are not participating in the study in any way. We are
sharing this link in order to give people the opportunity to decide if they would like to participate.
STORIESANDEXPERIENCES
LocalArtistPerformsAdoptionPlayatFringeFest
Minneostan Leif Walling is performing his one-man
play, "Baby Lost; Family Found" during this year's
Fringe Festival. This lays explores the journey of
Wallin connecting with his birth family. Remaining
show times are Aug. 3 at 7pm; Aug. 7 at 10pm and
Aug. 8 at 8:30pm.
Tickets and Show Times
Interview with Wallin
TheJourneyofOpenAdoption
The brief article linked below from Huffington
Post shares an adoptive mother's perspective
on her journey in connecting with her
children's birth mother and the evolving
openness in their relationship. It does a good
job highlighting their journey toward openness
and the level of respect shown to each other
throughout their process.
Bound By Children, Two Mothers Navigate
Open Adoption Across Racial Lines
GETINVOLVED
PrizesNeedforCircusoftheHeart
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Anyone who has attended Circus of the Heart knows that the family and teen prizes are a huge hit
at the event every year! Contributing to the prizes for the event is a great way to make a
difference for families and kids and help make this event truly special. Prizes are often
contributed by organizations, business, individuals, and groups of people who want to pool their
resources. Below are some ideas of prizes you can contribute.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Gift baskets
Gift cards (restaurants, iTunes, entertainment venues, etc.)
Sports memorabilia
Games
Electronics
Hotel packages
Family outings (movie, golf, waterpark, etc.)
To donate a prize, contact Rachel Walstad at rwalstad@mnadopt.org/612.746.5127 or mail to
Rachel's attention to MN ADOPT, 777 Raymond Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55114.
EDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIES
BelowarecurrenteducationalopportunitiesbeingofferedbyMNADOPT
throughOctober.TolearnmoreaboutMNADOPTtrainingsortoregisterfora
training,pleasevisitthetrainingpageofourwebsite.
WEBINAR:HandlingTouchwithTouchyAdoptedTeens
PresentedbyTinaFeigal,M.S.,Ed.
Wednesday August 19, 2015 (12:00pm - 1:30pm) - Online
Some teens are not open to touch, even if you do everything right. With adopted teens, how do
you know when to touch and how do you respond when the touch is re-buffed? Join Tina Feigal,
Director of Family Engagement and Parent Coach at Anu Family Services, Inc. as she offers
suggestions that help teens accept appropriate touch and discover ways to build positive physical
relationships.
WEBINAR:90-minuteOnlineConsultationonSelf-Injurious
BehaviorsAmongAdoptedAdolescents
PresentedbyBrendaBenning,MSW,LICSW
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Monday, September 14, 2015 (7:30pm-9:00pm) - Online
This 90-minute webinar is available to families who are parenting children with trauma or
attachment histories. Brenda Benning, licensed therapist and adoptive parent, will be providing
ninety-minutes of live online consultation. Participants are encouraged to bring questions that
target the self-injurious behaviors among adopted and foster adolescents.
WORKSHOP:Attachment-EmotionalandBehavioralRegulationfor
Adopted&FosterAdolescents
PresentedbyDr.NancyFoster
Thursday, September 17, 2015 (7:30pm-8:30pm) - The Institute for Brain-Behavior Integration
at Partners in Healing, Minnetonka
Children's sense of self, their "I"dentity, develops in the context of social relationships. Early
childhood interactions with primary caregivers have a significant impact on how a child's brain
develops. Join Dr. Nancy Foster of the Institute for Brain-Behavior Integration as she discusses
how neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse leave a lasting impression on children and can
impact their ability to self-regulate and empathize. This training will address the neurobiology of
the social engagement system and the impact trauma has on a child's ability to learn to relate to
others in an empathic manner.
WORKSHOPSERIES:ReactiveAttachmentDisorder:HowtoThrive&
SurviveBeyondtheDiagnosis(RADLABS)
PresentedbyDeenaMcMahon,MSW,LICSW&KristaNelson,LICSW,LMFT
5 Session Series - Wilder Foundation, St. Paul
Monday, September 21, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday, September 28, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday,
October 12, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday, October 19, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday, October 26,
6:30pm-8:30pm.
Join Deena McMahon and Krista Nelson during this 5 session LABS Series (Learning Alternative
Behavioral Strategies). This training is specifically designed to address the support and education
needs of those parenting children with significant impairments and/or trauma issues with an
emphasis on good self-care and humor! This training explores the unique experiences going on in
your home and implements role play scenarios and class participation.
WEBINAR:"What'stheMeaningofThis?"GettingaNewPerspective
onYourChild'sBehavior
PresentedbyBonnieHarris,M.S.,Ed.
Thursday, October 8, 2015 (12:00pm - 1:30pm) - OnlineEver wonder where your child came up with
their behavior or those words? Does it seem like nothing you do stops the behavior you hate? Does
the behavior exhaust you? If so, then your child is trying to tell you something but does not know
how to express themselves outside of their behavior. When children think that you "just don't get
it," their behavior often becomes louder and more dramatic for you to pay attention. This workshop
will teach you the meaning of Childology and how to shift your perspective and find the words so
that you can connect instead of react. You will learn the steps of Connective Communication so your
child learns how to use their words instead of reacting dramatically and so peace can be restored in
your family.
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WORKSHOPSERIES:BeyondConsequencesTraining&Support
PresentedbyBrendaBenning,MSW,LICSW
4 Session Series - Sawmill Inn, Grand Rapids, MN:
Friday October 9, 6:30pm-9:30pm; Saturday October 10, 8:30am-3:30pm; Friday October 23,
6:30pm-9:30pm; Saturday October 24, 8:30am-3:30pm
Please join adoptive mother and skilled trainer, Brenda Benning, as she offers new perspectives
into your child's behaviors, while offering real life techniques that can help regulate these same
behaviors. This is a specialized training for families who are or may be parenting children with
traumatic histories and/or attachment issues. This 20 hour series follows the model and book by
Heather T. Forbes, "Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control." Parents and caregivers will have
the opportunity to safely share their own experiences and build a support system with other
families who are living with the same unique experiences often found in adoptive, foster, and
kinship families.
WORKSHOP:HealingTrauma:AGuideforParents
PresentedbyChristinaCorwin,LMFT
Thursday, October 22, 2015 (7:30pm-8:30pm) - Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN
Join Christina Corwin, co-owner of Cedar Valley Center for Child & Family Therapy as she provides
participants with information about how trauma impacts a child's development. This training will
focus on how parents can understand a child's behaviors as a form of communication and why
traditional parenting strategies may not work. This workshop will also provide tools and
techniques in handling behaviors through a trauma-informed lens and give participants specific
activities to reinforce healthy attachment relationships.
Formoreinformationonanyofthesetrainingsortoregister,go
here
Visitusatwww.mnadopt.org
MN ADOPT (formerly know as Minnesota Adoption
Resource Network or MARN) was founded in 1980 by
a group of adoptive and foster parents. Their mission
was focused on advocating for the rights of every
child to ensure they find permanent and nurturing
families. Today, MN ADOPT continues to fulfil this
mission, while also providing ongoing support and
education to all Minnesota adoptive families.
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MN ADOPT welcomes inquiries about how to begin
and prepare for the adoption process, adoption
assistance, expenses and how agencies and counties
facilitate adoption of Minnesota Waiting Children.
Contact us at 1.866.303.6276 or email us.
© 2014 MN ADOPT. All Rights Reserved.
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9/30/2015