New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House

Helping Children Heal from Sexual Abuse is a Free, virtual Parent Support Group for adoptive, foster, or kinship families raising children who have previously suffered sexual abuses.

WHEN: Scheduled to meet monthly on the third Tuesday at 7 PM

WHERE: Exclusively in the in the AFFCNY.Network

Just Adoptees: A Monthly Virtual Support Group JUST for Adopted Adults

Have you ever been told or made to feel like you’re Just an Adoptee? If so, then have we got the space for you! The fourth Wednesday of the month is, currently, set aside for Just Adoptees.

“Just Adoptees” is a peer led adoptee-centric support group just for adopted adults. We believe being adopted can come with complexities that only another adopted adult can understand. Our goal is to let every adopted person know they aren’t alone and the way they feel is normal for a not normal situation. This isn’t therapy – it’s better! It’s a group designed to be a “safe space” for adopted adults to gather and share experiences regarding their adoption experience without judgement or expectations.

February 25, 2026; March 25, 2026; April 22, 2026; May 27, 2026; June 24, 2026; July 22, 2026; August 26, 2026; September 23, 2026; October 28, 2026; November 24, 2026; December 22,2026

Please join Hudson Valley AGAPE team for an open parent support group via video chat. We will provide educational discussion-based concepts of self-care, advocacy support for your child through their sometimes-difficult behavior, and a safe space to connect with other parents who share similar experiences.

We encourage all foster, adoptive, and guardianship parents to build connections with others who “get it.” During our bi-weekly virtual Hudson Valley Connection Group, we will show a brief training; leaving plenty of time to discuss the topic and open the floor up to anyone looking for resources, advice, or a non-judgmental space to share what’s on their mind.

2026 Schedule: 1st and 3rd Thursday from 7:30-9:00 pm–

May 21; June 4, 18; July 2, 16; August 6, 20; September 3, 17; October 1, 15; November 5, 19; December 3, 17

Have you ever been told or made to feel like you’re Just an Adoptee? If so, then have we got the space for you! The fourth Wednesday of the month is, currently, set aside for Just Adoptees.

Facilitated by our HelpLine Coordinator, Chester Jackson , and our Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator, Annette O’Connell, “Just Adoptees” is a peer led adoptee-centric support group just for adopted adults. We believe being adopted can come with complexities that only another adopted adult can understand. Our goal is to let every adopted person know they aren’t alone and the way they feel is normal for a not normal situation. This isn’t therapy – it’s better! It’s a group designed to be a “safe space” for adopted adults to gather and share experiences regarding their adoption experience without judgement or expectations.

“Just Adoptees” empowers adopted adults by allowing their voices to be elevated. This brings encouragement, a sense of community, support and a launching pad in finding their voices as they navigate their experience…together.

Scheduled to meet monthly on the fourth Wednesday

May 27, 2026; June 24, 2026; July 22, 2026; August 26, 2026; September 23, 2026; October 28, 2026; November 24, 2026; December 22, 2026

A Free, Virtual, Parent Support Group for adoptive, foster, or kinship families.

All the single parents (all the single parents) Put your hands UP!

We have a support group just for YOU! The parent who is doing the most rewarding and challenging job in the world!

We know single parenting isn’t for the faint of heart and we face unique issues. We don’t have a partner to “tag out” with when our kid is overwhelming us with their needs or to share the sense of pride when our kid learns to walk, scores a goal or graduates from high school. Our hope is to have a safe place where you can connect with other single parents to share your triumphs and joy, your strategies for staying sane amidst the chaos and also find new ways to recharge and take care of the most important person in your child’s life…YOU!

Scheduled to meet monthly on the second Friday from 7 to 8:30 PM

June 12, 2026; July 10, 2026; August 14, 2026; September 11, 2026; October 9, 2026; November 13, 2026; December 11, 2026

Professional Adoptees Networking is ONLY for those adults who have been adopted AND who work or volunteer in the field of adoption/child welfare. 

Are you an adopted adult who works or volunteers within the field of adoption and/or child welfare?

It’s time we reinvest in our own mental health. Let’s get together to talk, laugh, vent, maybe even scream about the emotional labor that goes into being a professional in this arena. Let’s face it…it ain’t easy. We want to know what’s on your mind and if there are any emotional landmines you, too, find yourself stumbling over. It will be a relaxed, open forum, where we can sit with each other as we navigate the intersections of our personal and professional lived experiences.

Remember, this isn’t a panel, it’s not therapy..it’s an open conversation that will center our – adopted person – voices and experiences. No filters … just honesty. Sometimes, sitting with that honesty can be uncomfortable or unsettling. Sometimes it can be triggering. But we all need to unpack our baggage, and we’d like this to be a space where everyone will feel comfortable doing that without fear of judgement or criticism.

June 17, 2026; July 15, 2026; August 19, 2026; September 16, 2026; October 21, 2026; November 18, 2026; December 16, 2026

FREE for NAA Members

$25 Non-Members

Overview: Join this national webinar to hear from three graduates of the 2025 AdoptUSKids Professional Leadership Development (APLD) program as they share insights from their action research projects. Over 12 months, these fellows piloted evidence-based strategies to strengthen child welfare practice—ranging from improving supervision through coaching, supporting youth transitions from care, and addressing parental substance use in kinship placements. Learn how Kesha Harris and Kimberly Irvin (Indiana) and TaSean Lockett (Missouri) are using their findings to inform policy and drive sustainable change in their states.

This webinar is best for child welfare professionals. (1.5) CEUs are available for this webinar.

These free support groups provide safe space where LGBTQ+ adoptive and foster parents of children of color can find community and talk about their parenting joys and challenges, intersections with our own queer identities and helpful strategies.

Join us to learn about our Colombia Adoption Program. Our Colombia Adoption Program is open to singles, married couples, and welcomes LGBTQ+ parents. In this webinar, we will detail the pathways to adopt from Colombia, including pathways available to individuals without Colombian Heritage as well as pathways available to individuals who hold a Colombian Cedula. We will share information about the system of child protection in Colombia and will share photos of some of the children’s homes where children reside while in protective care. We will discuss common medical and special needs of children who are awaiting adoption in Colombia. We will speak about eligibility factors for prospective adoptive parents in Colombia. Bring your questions – we’ll save time for Q&A.

** We have chosen the Go to Webinar Platform to respect that during the exploration phase, some families are not yet ready to share their hopes to adopt with others and in Go to Webinar, your names and faces will not be visible to other participants. But we are always happy to support families in building an adoption community! If you do feel ready to connect with other pre-adoptive or adoptive parents, please let us know and we can facilitate introductions for those who wish to be connected to other families. **

KAAN’s mission is to build community for adult Korean adoptees, fellow adoptees, and allies through adoptee-centered conferences and events that explore the lifelong adoptee journey.

KAAN welcomes members of the broader adoptee community, including: • International adoptees • Transracial adoptees • Domestic adoptees • Adoptive parents • Partners and spouses • Siblings and children • Friends and members of the adoptee constellation

KAAN conferences are spaces that center adoptees and their lived experiences. Participants come together to share, listen, learn, and support one another in an environment built on trust and openness.

For First/Birth Parents of Adoption Loss

The CUB Zoom Peer Support Group is a volunteer-run peer-led experience that takes place on the third Saturday of the month. For more information about what to expect when you attend a CUB Zoom Peer Support Group please review our Guidelines for Attendees here: Attendee Guide.

Learn about Spence-Chapin’s innovative host-to-adopt program that prioritizes adoption for children from Colombia, ages 10-13 years old. For families who are open to older child adoption, this pathway provides both you and the child an opportunity to get to know each other and commence the bonding process during a multi-week hosting period in your home. Two different hosting periods are available – a five-week opportunity over the summer, or a three-week opportunity in December. Host families need to complete a home study with Spence-Chapin prior to being matched with a child for hosting, so now is the right time to learn more and get underway with your home study!

This program is open exclusively to families residing in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, and Florida, so that our local social work team can fully support you and the child during the hosting period.

• 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Eastern Time
•  5:00 pm – 6:00 pm AZ Time

Join us to learn about our new Costa Rica Adoption Program. Our Costa Rica Adoption Program is open to singles, married couples, and welcomes gay and lesbian parents. In this webinar, we will detail the pathways to adopt from Costa Rica. We will share information about the system of child protection in Costa Rica. We will discuss common medical and special needs of children who are awaiting adoption in Costa Rica. We will speak about eligibility factors for prospective adoptive parents in Costa Rica. Bring your questions – we’ll save time for Q&A.

Join us for an informative session learning about adoption & foster care options in Pennsylvania.

The information session can help you decide whether you are comfortable taking the next steps to become a licensed Diakon foster family. Sessions are offered without obligation; participants are not required to proceed following the presentation.

Pre-registration is required so that the ZOOM link can be shared.

Free monthly virtual support calls provide a safe space for adoptive parents of color to connect and share their experiences.

This is a group intended to meet the needs of people of color who have built their families through domestic adoption, kinship adoption, international adoption, foster care, same race and transracial/interracial adoption.

This programming is for adoptive parents of color.  Please be respectful of their space.

You don’t have to be a professional writer to tell your family’s stories. In this special webinar celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and the stories that connect us all, Crista Cowan shows you how to transform the records and research in your family tree into meaningful narratives that bring your ancestors to life. You’ll learn practical writing techniques for turning census records, military documents, DNA discoveries, and family memories into stories anyone can tell, along with how to use Ancestry’s features to preserve and share these stories within your tree. Through inspiring examples from real Ancestry customers, you’ll see how simple it can be to document your family history in ways that connect generations. Walk away feeling empowered to discover, preserve, and share the stories that make your family uniquely yours.

Fee: $20.00

Part 3: More Than Cake:

Understanding Birthdays

in Adoption

Holidays are often a time of joy and celebration for adoptive families. However, for adoptees, these same occasions can also bring a mix of emotions, including reminders of the losses they’ve experienced.

In this four-part series, Tony Hynes, Ph.D., who joined his family through adoption, will explore the unique emotional landscape holidays can create for adopted individuals.

NCFA’s annual conference offers continuing education and high-caliber training to professionals from the adoption, social work, and child welfare communities who all share a common commitment to helping children thrive in nurturing, permanent families.

The conference is an opportunity to learn from leading experts, explore emerging best practices, connect with fellow professionals, and be re-inspired for the important work you do in your community, region, and the world.

In this free support call first/birth parents will be able to connect, listen and share their experiences of adoption, both private and through the child welfare system. Space will also be provided for participants to explore and share experiences around open adoptions, closed adoptions, recent reunions, same-race adoption, transracial adoption, termination of parental rights, and other topics as decided by the group.
Please remember that this group is for birth/first parents who are related by birth to a child placed in adoption or foster care.