National Council For Adoption

📢 Featured Speaker 📢

Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, a world-renowned clinician, researcher and author, is the featured speaker during our Fall Virtual Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to noon EST.

His session, titled "The Healing Power of the Moment: The Essential Role of Relational Interactions in Healing Following Developmental Adversity," explores the way everyday interactions help people move forward in the wake of extreme hardship.

Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 30 for what's sure to be an excellent session! Use the link in comments to register 🔗

We were delighted to be with friends and allies this week during the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Angels in Adoption gathering.

Congratulations to all the Angel honorees and thank you for the important work you’re doing in your communities, your state and our country ✨

📸 Left to right:

1) Ryan congratulates the Angel honorees.

2) Ryan poses with Kelsey and Celeste from AdoptChange, incredible friends and allies partnering with us on the ADOPT Act and Adoption Counts.

3) CCAI sign welcoming attendees!

4) The lovely Toria from CCAI facilitating the panel discussion.

5) Ryan shares legislative insights during the roundtable discussions.

6) Former Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) delivered a speech calling for continued unity around adoption policy.

Share in the comments your favorite quote or moment from the week!

📝 On the Blog 📝

As we mark , let’s to this piece on strategies that can help adoption professionals and social workers as they guide others through kinship adoption.

In issue No. 164 of the Adoption Advocate, titled “The Hidden Hurdles and Benefits of Kinship Adoption,” Christine Tangel, LCSW, director of pre- and post-adoption services at Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children, talks about the interventions that kinship-adoption professionals and social workers can apply throughout the home-study process.

For a full list of the intervention questions, see the link in comments 🔗

Happy Labor Day! We hope you’re spending time with the people you love.

📝 On the Blog 📝

Adoption is full of complex emotions.

The most exhilarating news for one person is often deeply bittersweet for the other — namely, for the birth mother as she entrusts her child to another family.

Meshan Lehmann, pregnancy social worker for Paths for Families, in a recent edition of the Adoption Advocate writes about the competing emotions that often come with adoption.

As we mark , let’s pause to acknowledge birth mothers’ grief and loss, and appreciate the incredible sacrifices they make to give their children a better life.

Link in comments 🔗

📌 ICYMI 📌

NCFA Adoption Communications Manager Leah Sutterlin in a recent op-ed for The Sacramento Bee highlights a new State Department ruling that’ll make it even more difficult for prospective parents to provide a safe, loving, permanent home for children in need. Congress needs to intervene.

“Congress needs to conduct more oversight of the State Department and encourage them to work more closely with the adoption community on policy making, including insights from the 2020 open comment period on the ruling.”

Like and share this post with a friend if you agree Congress needs to conduct more oversight of the State Department and it’s slow-rolling of inter-country adoption ✈️

Full op-ed at the link in comments 🔗

🗞️ In the News 🗞️

"A 2023 State Department report showed that there were only 1,275 intercountry adoptions, down from 1,517 the year prior. Although many factors contribute to this drop, it is clear that the government is not establishing partnerships and pathways to facilitate adoption," writes Adoption Communications Manager Leah Sutterlin for The Sacramento Bee.

Read the full article at the link in comments 🔗

Love and ♻️ this post to urge the State Department to improve its pathway to permanency for kids.

📚🍎🍏 BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCE 📚🍎🍏

As kids head back to school this fall, we want to share our resources page for teachers and other educational professionals interested in learning more about better supporting adoptees this academic year.

Visit our school-based-support page to learn more and download our “An Adoption Professional’s Guide to School-Based Support.”

The featured training is FREE until Sept. 30 using “BackToSchool24.” Link in comments 🔗

🎤 Call for Speakers🎤

Want to present at our annual conference? Submit your proposal today! Learn more at the link in comments 🔗

📣 ICYMI 📣

Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) is officially a co-sponsor of the In Good Standing Act (H.R. 5540).

This legislation, if enacted, would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish an annually updated list of adoption agencies in good standing in every state across the United States.

Visit our advocacy page to thank Rep. Fischbach and encourage your own lawmakers to follow Rep. Fischbach's lead and co-sponsor the In Good Standing Act (H.R. 5540).

Link to our advocacy page in the comments 🔗

React and ♻️ this post to thank Rep. Fischbach for standing up for adoptees and adoptive families.

National Council For Adoption

💻 FREE Webinar 💻

Register for "Understanding Adoption in the Healthcare Environment," featuring Drs. Judith Eckerle and Kimara Gustafson from the The Adoption Medicine Clinic, University of Minnesota.

📅 Date: August 20, 2024

⏰ Time: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET

For more information on social work CEs and to register, follow the link in comments 🔗

🤝 NEW MEMBER 🤝

Join us in welcoming to NCFA membership the folks at A Loving Option Adoption.

The primary focus of A Loving Option Adoption “is what is in the child’s best interest. We also understand and respect the needs of every birth parent and potential adoptive parent.”

Check out their website to learn more. Link in comments 🔗

🗞️ In the News 🗞️

Our fearless leader Ryan Hanlon, president and CEO of NCFA, was featured in Andrew Van Dam's "Department of Data" Washington Post column.

Andrew highlights the fact that the number of intercountry adoptions has plummeted in recent years. Ryan helps explain why:

"There’s still plenty of children who need and would greatly benefit from intercountry adoption, and there’s plenty of U.S. families that are open to adoption,” he says. But “we’ve put up a lot of red tape.”

Link in comments to read the full article 🔗

📸: Ryan holding up the hard copy of the Washington Post article titled "Who’s most likely to adopt — or get adopted"

Congratulations, Simone, on winning the Olympic all-around title! 🥇

Absolute GOAT 🐐

A kinship adoptee, Simone Biles talks openly about her story and is an inspiration to everyone reaching for their dreams despite hardship and adversity.

To all those who make brave decisions every day so kids can reach their full potential, we see you and we thank you.

Keep reaching for the stars ✨

♻️ to congratulate Simone on her🥇

Adoption Advocate No. 180 - Genetic testing has become increasingly common in the United States, raising important considerations for those who complete such testing and for their genetic relatives. For many adoptees, the decision to complete genetic testing often carries additional considerations, including implications for connections to one’s birth family, and for the possibility of accessing new health information. This article highlights key considerations— both pros and cons—for adoptees interested in understanding genetic testing, so they can decide what is best for them.

Read More: https://adoptioncouncil.pulse.ly/lwgculxatl

We were thrilled to have Sydney Vavonese (pictured with her mom Andrea) as an intern this summer.

She helped put together a congressional list that'll help us advance our legislative agenda and was a pleasure to work with.

Her last day was Thursday, but we just had to share more about her and give her a big THANK YOU!

Like and comment on this post to show your appreciation for her hard work!



🎓 Where do you go to college?

Syracuse University

📜 What are you majoring in?

Marketing

💼 Favorite NCFA projects or events you’ve worked on during your internship?

Helping run the conference was one of my highlights

🎵 Top Spotify lists this summer?

I love all kinds of music but the song "Cheap Thrills" by Sia and Sean Paul has had my heart recently.

🪄 Any wish-list items or trips before heading back to college this fall? (maybe surviving calculus?!)

Yes, it is to survive calc!!!!!

💫 What’s the best life advice you’ve heard recently — in six words or fewer?

Stay Where You Stand

📸: Sydney Vavonese

🗞️ Media Mention 🗞️

NCFA President Ryan Hanlon talks adoption in this morning's Washington Post "Department of Data" column by Andrew Van Dam. See link in comments and let us know what you think 💭

Thank you, Alec Ingold, for advocating for kids everywhere 🌠🏈🐬

💙 and share if you agree ♻️

🎉 Thank you, Representative Mike Kelly, for co-sponsoring the ADOPT Act and helping us advocate for adoption agencies that are licensed and support-focused. Want to learn more about the ADOPT Act? Check out the great resource our friends at AdoptChange penned. Link in comments 🔗

A big thank you to all our attendees and sponsors of this year‘s conference. We invite you to save the date for next year‘s event in Minneapolis! 🏙️

NCFA President and CEO Ryan Hanlon spoke about the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) with University of Washington’s Dr. Angelique Day at the ICAR International Conference on Adoption Research. It’s an informative presentation! Access the free training materials at link in comments 🔗

NCFA is proud to attend the ICAR-8 conference in Minneapolis. Thanks to the ICAR International Conference on Adoption Research team for hosting us! — Ryan and Nicole

🌟 Embarking on the journey of adoption after experiencing infertility can be both challenging and incredibly rewarding. 🌟

Join us for an insightful webinar where we bring together a diverse panel of individuals who have gone through this deeply personal process. Through candid discussions and shared experiences, our panelists will offer valuable insights, practical advice, and emotional support for anyone considering or currently navigating the path of adoption. 🤝❤️

Don't miss this opportunity to gain wisdom, connect with others, and feel supported on your adoption journey. Register now at the link below!
https://adoptioncouncil.pulse.ly/c2bka9slqf

For more information on social work CEs and to register, follow this link: https://zoom.pulse.ly/pyeyllqdkm

Heritage travel is a powerful, transformative journey of self-discovery for many adoptees and their families. Heritage travel includes a diverse range of experiences that help adoptees connect with their cultural roots and ancestral origins. These journeys provide unique opportunities for individuals to form meaningful connections and gain profound insights into their history. Learn more in our recent Adoption Advocate article: https://adoptioncouncil.pulse.ly/pmky98refe

For adoption and child welfare professionals, is a great opportunity to get some training around the use of language and definitions that can impede compassionate and quality interactions. Head to Adoption.TalentLMS.com to take our training, “LGBTQ Cultural Competency for Adoption Professionals,” led by an attorney from Guston & Guston, LLP.