New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House

The webinar is a great way to learn more about Adoptions From The Heart’s Open Adoption Program, which primarily places infants directly from the hospital.

IMPORTANT NOTE: AFTH is currently only accepting applicants who are open to adopting children of all racial backgrounds and heritages. Because we are an open adoption agency and have seen an increase in requested visits, all prospective adoptive parents must also be open to a minimum of 2 in-person visits per year with birth parents. Direct communication such as text, phone, or email is also commonly requested.

As a private, non-funded agency, there are fees associated with our services. AFTH can connect families to grant and finance coaching resources. If you would like fee information prior to the webinar, please email adoption@afth.org with your city and state, and we will connect you with your local office.

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

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.

FREE!

Educational Advocacy is a key component of a post permanency program yet is not always offered or is fragmented from program design. Without the right support, school can quickly become a major source of stress for both the child and the family. Come listen to states providing high-quality programming in this area to consider how to expand your programming with this powerful service.

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.

In this adoptee-led program, we will navigate adulthood alongside a supportive community of peers and adult adoptee Mentors. Hosted September through June via monthly Zoom meetings, this group welcomes adoptees ages 18-24 worldwide.

Price: $0.00

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.

2026 is CUB’s 50th year providing support and community for anyone impacted by adoption. Our retreat planning team is hard at work creating another wonderful annual retreat for our community!

• We’ll be gathering at a beautiful Pacific Northwest setting on Lake Washington at The Hyatt Southport Lake Washington next to the 50 acre Coulon Beach Park to enjoy walks along the lake.
• We have a terrific mix of educational, advocacy, and support sessions planned, as well as a night of story telling and a night of film in the works!
• Early retreat registration is open now.  Prices: Members (Earlybird) $355.00, NonMembers $399.00, Single Day $215.00.

• Your registration includes all sessions & events, and 4 hosted meals: breakfast and dinner on Friday and Saturday.

Your registration includes all sessions & events, and 4 hosted meals: breakfast and dinner on Friday and Saturday.

Individual Ticket – October: $25.00

Please join Spence-Chapin and Certified Doula and Newborn Care Educator, Robin Douthit, LCCE, CD (DONA), CLC, MA to learn all about the basics of caring for a newborn. This Baby Care Basics Workshop is designed for families who are preparing to welcome a newborn through adoption. Spence-Chapin’s adoption competent professionals will guide you through essential newborn care, including what to expect in the early days and ways to build confidence in daily care. Participants will leave the workshop feeling better prepared for the first weeks of parenting and supported in their journey.

FREE for NAA Members

$25 Non-Members

Overview: Explore a proven model designed to support youth with complex needs as they transition from foster care to permanent families. This webinar highlights effective strategies for recruiting, developing, and sustaining families by partnering with youth who face medical, behavioral, developmental, or other challenges. Developed by seasoned adoption professionals, the model offers a structured approach to relationship-building and adjustment, helping both youth and families navigate the path to permanency with greater confidence and connection.

This webinar is best for child welfare professionals. (1) CEU is available for this webinar.

Fee: Family $100.00

AFTH wants families to make informed decisions when completing their profile keys. Dr. Erin Meyer is an internal medicine and pediatric hospitalist who works in the neonatal intensive care unit. She is also an adoptive mom and can speak from both professional and personal angles. She will be discussing the effects of drug and alcohol use on the newborn during pregnancy, as well as withdrawal symptoms and short- and long-term effects of exposure.

Join us for this FREE webinar, facilitated by our home study supervisor, to learn more about the home study process, including the purpose of the home study, when to start a home study process, what a home study entails, and how to make the most of your home study experience. A home study is required for all domestic and international adoptions, including kinship adoption of relatives from overseas. Bring your questions – we’ll save time for Q&A.

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.

For adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers AND child welfare professionals.

Join our international community helping children and families everywhere THRIVE.

This year’s conference is VIRTUAL to ensure accessibility for all our US and Canadian communities.