New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House

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.

There is no cost to attend.

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.

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.

While financial concerns are often times the reason why birthparents choose adoption for their child, it is not the
only reason. It can sometimes be harder to battle your mind vs. heart when the reasons go beyond financial. This class is designed to explore reasons why birthparents consider adoption vs. parenting, and how additional pressure/people can influence their decision.

Designed for adoptees and their siblings in elementary school, our Mini Camps are a place for kids to have fun and make friends on days where the NYC public school system is out on break throughout the year. Each day is full of activities, crafts, games, plus lunch and snacks to fuel the fun. Sign up for one day or bundle and save!

Camp days are drop off events and run from 9am – 3pm. The 2026 schedule is as follows:

Thursday June 4th (Chancellor’s Day)

Friday, June 5th (Clerical Day)

FREE!

The Meet the Model series from the Post-Adoption Center introduces the core components of the Post-Permanency Model, designed to guide states, tribal nations and territories in delivering coordinated services to adoptive and guardianship families. The model is outlined in detail in the Post-Adoption Center’s Program Manual, which services as the blueprint for building comprehensive, community centered and accessible post-permanency services. We break down the 253-page manual into smaller pieces. This session focuses on the Crisis Intervention Component.

Voices of Adoption (V.O.A.) is a virtual space for adopted people 18+ world-wide to join in conversation, meet peers and talk about the topics that are important to them. Hosted by Jessica M. Luciere, transracial adoptee born in Bogota, Colombia, and Manager of Community Engagement at Spence-Chapin, V.O.A. welcomes adopted people of all backgrounds to experience community amongst other adoptees.

?Celebrate PRIDE with Teen Voices of Adoption! ?

Get ready for a fun and empowering event just open to adopted people 13-17 years old who identify as LGBTQ+. This special edition of Teen Voices of Adoption (V.O.A.) is all about celebrating PRIDE and creating space for real conversations, connections, and community.

Join adoptees from around the world in this virtual hangout to meet new friends, share your experiences, and talk about the topics that matter most to you. The event is hosted by Rebecca Fiore—a transracial adoptee from Paraguay and passionate Adoptee Advocate—who’s all about creating a welcoming and inclusive space.

T.V.O.A. welcomes adopted people of all backgrounds to experience community amongst other adoptees.

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.

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

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.

At Pact Family Camp, families with adopted children of color—from infants to teens—gather for five days to build community, learn together, and have fun, based on Pact’s child-centered, race-conscious, honesty-based approach to adoption, race and family. Families enjoy the comforts of an all-inclusive resort vacation, including hotel-style accommodations and amenities, and fully catered meals. Pact’s core staff are on-site to make sure camp goes smoothly, and over 75% of the counselors have been with us for three years or more. You can count on this highly experienced team to deliver a well-organized and thoughtful program for both children and adults!

A typical day at camp consists of concurrent programming for adults and children, all centered around race, adoption and family.  After your camp day is over, there are optional family activities in the afternoon and evening to promote community. No one should travel the lifelong journey of adoption in isolation. The relationships built at Pact Family Camp can last long after the week is over.

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.

There is no cost to attend.

FREE!

The Meet the Model series from the Post-Adoption Center introduces the core components of the Post-Permanency Model, designed to guide states, tribal nations and territories in delivering coordinated services to adoptive and guardianship families. The model is outlined in detail in the Post-Adoption Center’s Program Manual, which services as the blueprint for building comprehensive, community centered and accessible post-permanency services. We break down the 253-page manual into smaller pieces. This session focuses on the Educational Advocacy Component.

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.

There is no cost to attend.

FREE!

The Meet the Model series from the Post-Adoption Center introduces the core components of the Post-Permanency Model, designed to guide states, tribal nations and territories in delivering coordinated services to adoptive and guardianship families. The model is outlined in detail in the Post-Adoption Center’s Program Manual, which services as the blueprint for building comprehensive, community centered and accessible post-permanency services. We break down the 253-page manual into smaller pieces. This session focuses on the Support Groups Component.

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.

There is no cost to attend.