Adoptive Parent Education - 10 Hours Required

Adopted children as a group are at high risk for attachment problems, even those adopted at a very young age. By definition, adoption separates a child from the pre-natal caregiver and the family of birth. This and later trauma, even apparently unremarkable, can leave tracks that contribute to behavior that is confusing and confounding to the adoptive family.

Early preparation and understanding of possible problems can be extremely helpful to families planning to adopt.

In Florida and many other states, adoptive parent education with emphasis on adoption issues is a prerequisite to suitability to adopt. Florida Statutes Chapter 63.092 lists adoptive parent education issues as an item to be described in the prospective adoptive family’s pre-adoption home study.

For your convenience, ACF is holding a 6-hour adoptive parent education seminar at our North Miami Beach office on:

Saturday, May 15th, 2010
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

ACF Adoptive Parent Education
Presented by: Stacey Levine, LMHC - Advocates for Children and Families

• Introductions, personal experiences and stories
• Overcoming infertility, intercountry adoption, and adoption as a way of life
• Attachment and bonding: helping a child cope with separation and loss, maltreatment, and identity development; attachment video (Trauma, Brain and Relationship)
• Talking to children about adoption – Life Book, honoring birth parents
• Impacts of adoption on the family; changing roles and relationships in open adoption
• Guest lecturer (birth mother, adoptive parent, or adoptee)
• Child development and parenting techniques, needs of children awaiting adoption
• Raising a child of a different race, ethnicity, culture, or religion
• Overview of the lifelong process of adoption and its meaning
• Conditions in sending countries and the impact of institutionalization
• Caring for a child with special needs

Contact Information for this adoptive parent education seminar:

16831 NE 6th Ave, North Miami Beach, FL 33162
Telephone: 305-653-2474
Email: info@adoptionflorida.org

Please call to register

$100.00 per person

In addition to the ACF seminar, you will need 4 hours of training on adoption parenting issues to complete the required 10 hours.  You may complete the training online.  The following is information about available online courses:

• http://www.adoptionlearningpartners.org/search.cfm - You may select only the courses that you are interested in so long as the required hours are completed.     (Certificate may be received by e-mail)

FOR THOSE ADOPTING OUT OF THE COUNTRY: (10 hours required):

• http://www.Heartofthematterseminars.com/because_they_waited.htm - Because They Waited provides a 10 hour educational experience that is compatible with the new Hague regulations.

• http://www.hagueadoption.org/ - The Intercountry Adoption Journey, Hague-Compliant Training Program from National Council For Adoption - Prospective adoptive parents receive 8 of the 10 required hours of Hague-mandated training. In addition to this training, you will need 2 hours of training on adoption parenting issues to complete the required 10 hours.  (2 -4 weeks to receive certificate by mail)