New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House

Adoption is often times a difficult journey for all of those involved. As adoptees ourselves, we understand the hardships that come while navigating life as an adoptee. Although our journeys may look different, many of our feelings and ideas are similar. Here is an open group to hear the stories of others and share your own in a safe environment that promotes adoptees finding their own voice.

Monthly Meeting Dates:

 July 16, 2024, Aug 20, 2024, Sep 17, 2024, Oct 15, 2024, Nov 19, 2024, Dec 17, 2024.

FREE!

Having the opportunity to be surrounded by those who understand your family’s journey is a vital experience. There is sometimes a lack of understanding for the intersecting experiences LGBTQ+ families face. Such families require environments that honor those experiences, as well as spaces that provide opportunities to connect with individuals from similar family types.

C.A.S.E. looks forward to providing that space for your family.

Each group will meet virtually via ZOOM on the third Thursday of each month.

Meeting dates: 10/24/24, 11/21/24, 12/19/24, 1/16/25, 2/20/25, 3/20/25, 4/17/25, 5/15/25, 6/19/25, 7/17/25, 8/21/25

FREE!

This support group is designed to support adoptive parents who face the complexities of supporting children with both attachment and developmental issues. The support group will provide education, intervention ideas, space for members to share creative successes, and opportunities to work through challenges involved in engaging systems (medical, school, community) that are not always understanding of the special needs of adopted children or those with developmental challenges. Members will be asked to share their concerns and needs when signing up for the group so that the facilitator can incorporate information specifically relevant to those attending.

Each group will meet virtually via ZOOM on the second Thursday of each month.

Meeting dates: 11/14/24, 12/12/24, 1/9/24, 2/13/24, 3/13/25, 4/10/25

Cost: $350.00CAD*

We know how hard it is to parent children with Reactive Attachment Disorder and we want to give you the tools you need to bring HOPE and HEALING to your family.

Fall Course: November 19th – December 17th; Tuesday & Thursday evenings, 6:30PM CST. (Nov. 19th, 21st, 26th, 28th, Dec. 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12th, & 17th)

$210.00

NYC Teen Mentorship welcomes adoptees ages 13-18 years old in a group mentoring program that meets once monthly from September to June.

Spaulding Adoption Training is a twelve-hour course that provides families with the tools and information they need to understand the Missouri adoption process. It is required in Missouri for families to become an adoptive resource for a child. The curriculum covers topics such as cultural competence, attachment, expectations, and working as a member of a professional team. The discussion will include how creating a family through adoption differs from a biological family or foster parenting. The training is facilitated by an experienced adoptive parent and a child welfare professional.

FREE!

New Jersey Family Engagement Hub Webinar

The holiday season brings a mix of emotions and challenges. Parents juggle work, holiday preparations, and keeping kids entertained, while educators focus on building family relationships and students look forward to traditions. Community partners are eager to support family engagement. Join us for an informative session with practical planning advice, shopping tips, fun activities, and strategies for family safety and well-being this holiday season. Let’s create a memorable and enjoyable time for your family and the community.

FREE!

This event is at 8:00AM Arizona time.

Do you live in Arizona and are considering adopting an infant? Learn about Spence-Chapin’s Domestic Adoption Program for Arizona families during this free webinar! This webinar is the first step for families interested in applying to Spence-Chapin as all webinar attendees will receive a Domestic Adoption Program application. Our team will share details about the adoption program, including the application process, open adoption, demographics of the children in need of adoption, the matching process, options counseling for birth parents, and more!

Bring your questions! The meeting will include ample opportunity to have your questions answered.

Spence-Chapin’s Domestic Adoption Program is open to residents of Arizona, New York, and New Jersey. If you reside in New York or New Jersey, please register for a webinar dedicated to Spence-Chapin’s Domestic Adoption Program for New York and New Jersey families. These events can be found on the Events Calendar page of Spence-Chapin’s website.

If you are unable to register for this webinar, please contact us to schedule a call to discuss additional pathways to grow your family through domestic infant adoption.

FREE!

Do you live in New York or New Jersey and are considering adopting an infant? Learn about Spence-Chapin’s Domestic Adoption Program for New York and New Jersey families during this free webinar! This webinar is the first step for families interested in applying to Spence-Chapin as all webinar attendees will receive a Domestic Adoption Program application. Our team will share details about the adoption program, including the application process, open adoption, demographics of the children in need of adoption, the matching process, options counseling for birth parents, and more!

Bring your questions! The meeting will include ample opportunity to have your questions answered.

Spence-Chapin’s Domestic Adoption Program is open to residents of New York, New Jersey, and Arizona. If you reside in Arizona, please register for a webinar dedicated to Spence-Chapin’s Domestic Adoption Program for Arizona families. These events can be found here.

If you are unable to register for this webinar, please contact us to schedule a call to discuss additional pathways to grow your family through domestic infant adoption.

$210.00

Join us for an informative session learning about Diakon Adoption & Foster Care programs.

The information session can help you to make a decision 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.

There is no obligation to become certified with Diakon by attending.

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

Fee: $60.00

The primary focus of work with traumatized children is to teach and support them to learn new ways of effectively managing their emotions and behaviors. In this interactive/skill based webinar, clinicians will explore strategies to: Increase a child’s sense of safety assist adoptive parents to anticipate, prepare and trouble-shoot transitions and change to avoid or minimize acting out behaviors, support children to identify and regulate their feelings, teach adoptive parents to respond rather than react to children’s behaviors using predictable and safe responses to minimize power struggles. This webinar will build the clinician’s toolkit to assist adoptive parents to tackle behaviors before they intensify while calming themselves before calming the child. [Required for Adoption Certificate Program]

Junior Mentorship welcomes adoptees ages 10-12 years old in this group mentoring program that meets once monthly from September to June.

Our Kwanzaa Community Event is back!

We invite you to visit our office to join us in celebrating Kwanzaa and its recognition of African Culture, History, and Community. The event will include activities, snacks, and a short performance centered around Kwanzaa and its Seven Principles.

This event is free, but registration is required.

Join us for an informative session learning about Diakon Adoption & Foster Care programs.

The information session can help you to make a decision 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.

There is no obligation to become certified with Diakon by attending.

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

FREE!

Teen Voices of Adoption (V.O.A.) is a virtual space for adopted teens 13-17 world-wide to join in conversation, meet peers and talk about the topics that are important to them. Hosted by Rebecca Fiore, transracial adoptee born in Paraguay, and Adoptee Advocate. V.O.A. welcomes adopted people of all backgrounds to experience community amongst other adoptees.

Our International Team is excited to host this webinar and to share information about adopting from South Africa. Spence-Chapin is proud to have the longest history of any US-based agency of facilitating adoption from South Africa and we work with adoptive families living across the entire United States. The South Africa program welcomes adoptive applicants regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. In this webinar we will discuss common medical and developmental needs of children who are currently living in South Africa and waiting for their forever families. We will provide an overview the adoption process. We look forward to answering any questions you may have about adoption in general and specific questions about adoption from South Africa.

** 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. **

Join us for an informative session learning about Diakon Adoption & Foster Care programs.

The information session can help you to make a decision 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.

There is no obligation to become certified with Diakon by attending.

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

Spence-Chapin’s Birth Parent Support Group is a virtual meet-up for individuals who made an adoption plan (with Spence-Chapin or elsewhere) and are in any stage in their placement journey. This group is a safe place to get support and know that you are not alone. Topics will include coping with feelings of grief and loss, sharing challenges and successes with open and closed adoption, and improving communication with friends and family around your adoption plan.

Spence-Chapin’s Birth Parent Support Group meets on the last Tuesday of every month at 7pm EST.

There is no cost to attend. All attendees will receive a Zoom link to their confirmation email after registration.