PNW Post Adoption Resources

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Post-Adoption Resources Seattle/Tacoma Metro Area

Post-Adoption Resources

Seattle/Tacoma Metro Area

*This list was created by our intern it is a great place to start.

Support Groups

Parent Support Groups Database (https://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/)

Parent support groups offer a community to encourage, share, network, and learn from other parents who have similar experiences. Use the Child Welfare Information Gateway’s National Foster Care and Adoptive Directory to search for groups in your area.

Adopt US Kids (http://www.adoptuskids.org/join-the-conversation/online-community)

Join Adopt US Kids’ community of online support groups and connect with other parents, families, and child welfare professionals.

Children’s Home Society of Washington (http://www.childrenshomesociety.org/Our_Services/Family_Support/Family_Resource_Centers.html)

Children’s Home Society of Washington’s family resource and support centers help families build on their strengths, find support networks and services, and promote the well-being of the entire family.

Adoptive Friends and Families of Greater Seattle (http://www.affgs.org/)

Adoptive Friends and Families of Greater Seattle’s goal is to build friendships and families through adoption. They are a non-profit support and educational group that includes both families touched by adoption and families waiting to adopt. They embrace all ethnic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds as well as all types of adoptions.

Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS) (http://www.peps.org/)

Since 1983, the Program for Early Parent Support has helped parents connect and grow as they begin their journey into parenthood. PEPS parent support programs educate, inform and create community. We've become a vital resource for new mothers and new fathers in the Puget Sound region, with parent groups serving thousands of families annually.

Respite Care

ARCH National Respite Network (http://archrespite.org/respite-locator-state-search/)

Respite care is short-term care of a child in order to give the regular caregiver an opportunity to rest and recharge. Using the ARCH National Respite Network, you can search for respite opportunities in your community.

Create Respite Care in Your Community

If there is not already established respite care in your community, here are some online resources for starting your own:

· Creating and Sustaining Effective Respite Services: Lessons from the Field (http://adoptuskids.org/_assets/files/AUSK/respite-program/creating-and-sustaining-effective-respite-services.pdf)

· Taking a Break: Creating Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Respite in Your Community (http://www.adoptuskids.org/_assets/files/NRCRRFAP/resources/taking-a-break-respite-guide.pdf)

Training/Information Seminars

Adoptive Families (http://adoptivefamilies.com/webinars)

Adoptive Families provide interactive webinars (and recordings on past webinars) on their website on all aspects of adoption and parenting and have been serving families for over 30 years.

Adoption Learning Partners (http://adoptionlearningpartners.org/)

Adoption Learning Partners, founded by The Cradle, seeks to improve adoption outcomes for all members of the adoption circle by providing a vibrant, innovative, educational resource on the Internet. Online courses about the adoption tax credit, attachment, life books, and talking about adoption with children are offered.

Counseling Services

Northwest Family Life Learning and Counseling Center (http://www.northwestfamilylife.org)

Northwest Family Life provides education programs, advocacy, counseling and treatment for people whose lives are impacted by domestic violence. Their hope is that their clients will find healing wherever they are on their journey through Northwest Family Life’s counseling, advocacy, domestic violence treatment, or education programs. atment, or education programs.

Attachment and Trauma Specialists (http://www.attachmentandtraumaspecialists.com/)

Attachment and Trauma Specialists is an organization dedicated to the development and promotion of healthy family relationships. Their professional staff are all licensed social workers and trained psychotherapists. They each have additional, extensive training in diagnosing and treating children, youth, and adults with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD); other difficulties on the continuum of bonding and attachment; and issues of trauma, adoption, and complicated grief.

Medical

Center for Adoption Medicine (http://adoptmed.org/)

The Center for Adoption Medicine at the University of Washington Pediatric Care Center provides specialty care for fostered and adopted children, as well as ongoing general pediatric care.

General

Child Welfare Information Gateway (https://www.childwelfare.gov/)

Search the resources on Child Welfare Information Gateway to find information and resources on topics such as helping your child work through trauma and loss, general and specific information on parenting after adoption, and lists of training opportunities for adoptive parents.

Adoption Referral & Information Service (http://www.adoptionreferralservice.com/)

Adoption Referral & Information Service works to connect families seeking adoption with the right resources, information, and professionals. They also help families created through adoption to be as successful as possible. Pre and post adoption resources available including book lists, event calendar, and counseling referrals.

Tapestry Books (http://www.tapestrybooks.com)

Tapestry specializes in adoption. They understand the adoption process, are knowledgeable about the literature, and they are committed to making it easier for families to find appropriate resources. Tapestry is about organizing information and making it more accessible because they believe that informed choices lead to successful family outcomes.

PNW Post Adoption Resources Blog (http://pnwbethanypostadoptionresource.blogspot.com/)

This blog offers information regarding adoption issues and special needs related topics.

Adoptive Families Magazine (http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/)

Adoptive Families, the award-winning national adoption magazine, is the leading adoption information source for families before, during, and after adoption.

Post-Adoption Resources Portland/Vancouver Metro Area

Post-Adoption Resources

Portland/Vancouver Metro Area

*This list was created by our intern it is a great place to start.

Support Groups

Parent Support Groups Database (https://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/)

Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (http://www.orparc.org/services/groups/ )

Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center has a search engine for support groups specific to your county.

Adoption Mosaic (http://adoptionmosaic.org)

Adoption Mosaic offers support groups and training for both adoptive parents, as well as their children (http://www.adoptionmosaic.org/calendar/). Adoption Mosaic also offers individual consultation in person (located in Portland, OR), over the phone, or via Skype (http://www.adoptionmosaic.org/services/individual-consultation/).

Adopt US Kids (http://www.adoptuskids.org/join-the-conversation/online-community)

Join Adopt US Kids’ community of online support groups and connect with other parents, families, and child welfare professionals.

Northwest Adoptive Families Association (http://www.nafaonline.org/)

The Northwest Adoptive Families Association is a non-profit, volunteer-run support group for adoptive families and those interested in adoption. They sponsor support groups, conferences, educational seminars, and other social events.

Adoption Connections of Oregon (http://www.adoptionconnectionsoforegon.org/)

Adoption Connections of Oregon is a group of adoptive families who desire to support, encourage, and enrich each other’s adoption experiences through events, conferences, and support groups.

Family and Community Together (http://factoregon.org/)

Family and Community Together’s mission is to be a family leadership organization for individuals and their families experiencing disability, working collaboratively to facilitate positive change in policies, systems, and attitudes through family support, advocacy, and partnerships.

Respite Care

ARCH National Respite Network (http://archrespite.org/respite-locator-state-search/)

Create Respite Care in Your Community

If there is not already established respite care in your community, here are some online resources for starting your own:

· Creating and Sustaining Effective Respite Services: Lessons from the Field (http://adoptuskids.org/_assets/files/AUSK/respite-program/creating-and-sustaining-effective-respite-services.pdf)

· Taking a Break: Creating Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Respite in Your Community (http://www.adoptuskids.org/_assets/files/NRCRRFAP/resources/taking-a-break-respite-guide.pdf)

Training/Information Seminars

ORPARC Training (http://www.orparc.org/training/calendar/)

The Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center’s mission is to provide support, education, information, assistance, and referral services to adoptive families. One resource they provide is a calendar with upcoming training and support groups for adoptive parents and families (some online, as well as many in different communities throughout Oregon).

Adoptive Families (http://adoptivefamilies.com/webinars)

Adoptive Families provide interactive webinars (and recordings on past webinars) on their website on all aspects of adoption and parenting and have been serving families for over 30 years.

Providence Health & Services (http://oregon.providence.org/our-services/s/swindells-resource-center)

Swindells Resource Center of Providence Child Center supports parents and caregivers of children who have special needs, developmental delays or disabilities. They provide resources, information, and education to communities throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.

Adoption Learning Partners (http://adoptionlearningpartners.org/)

Counseling Services

The Children’s Program (http://www.childrensprogram.com/index.html)

The Children’s Program is a team of experiences clinicians who provide diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services to children, adolescents, and families.

The Hope Connection (http://www.sbutlertherapy.com)

Susan Butler is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Among her areas of expertise are Weigh loss counseling, Body image, Pre-Marital counseling, Couples counseling, Infertility, pre and post Adoption counseling, Trauma, Self-esteem and Second half of life issues.