APAC Jan Newsletter

7/29/2019 APAC Jan Newsletter

1/12

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Directors

Note 2

HGA NAMCelebration

APAC NAMCelebrations 3

Kids TalkAdoption 4

WebinarsAFGs 5

AFAPA

ConsideringAdoption 6

Dr. KeckCamp APAC 7

WaitingChildren 8-9

Library 10

CounselorsCorner 11

APAC is acollaborative effort

betweenChildren's Aid

Societyand the

AlabamaDepartment of

Human Resources

to provide educationand supportive services

to strengthenand empowerAlabama's

adoptive families.

I S S U E 3 1W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

Alabama Pre/PostAlabama Pre/PostAlabama Pre/PostAdoption ConnectionsAdoption ConnectionsAdoption Connections

Celebrating The Adopted ChildItisawonderfuloccasiontocelebratethe

introduconofanewfamilymember.The

actofchoosingsomeonetobeapartofa

familyisanextraordinaryeventforall

involved.However,theadoptedchildand

siblingsmaynotlookatthingsthesame

way.

Adopondaycouldbebiersweetforthe

adoptedchild. The childisleavingpeople,

things,andplaces

thatarefamiliarto

them. Theymaynot

allbehappy

experiences,but

nonetheless,

familiar.Thenthere

arethoseemoonal

pullsandtugsthatmaybeoccurring.

Thechildleavesan

enrefamilysystem

whenheorshejoins

theirforever

family.Thechild

mayneverhave

knownhisorher

birthfamily,but

mayhavehadstrongconneconstofoster

parents.Ormaybethechildisoldenoughtoknowhisorherbirthparentsarenot

availabletothem,oreveninsomecasesdo

notcaretoknowthechild.

Certainlyadopveparentsadoptbecause

theywantthischildandareprepared

emoonallyandphysicallytocareforthe

child.Itisalwaysimportanttoconsider

thattheadoptedchildmaybegoing

throughavarietyofemoonsthatinclude

happiness,butatthesame mesadness,

orevenanger.

Siblingsintheadopvefamilycouldalsobe

inacuriousplaceaboutthecelebraon.

Thesechildrenmayhaveindicatedadesire

tohaveanewfamilymember,butthe

thoughtandtherealitycanbetwo

differentexperiences. Adjustmentscanbe

slowandsomemespainfulforthe

adoptedchildand

anysiblingsalready

inthehome.This

happens,forno

otherreason,than

thenewfamily

dynamicsaresimply

newanddifferent.

Thereisgoodreason

tocelebrate.Those

parentswhodo

celebratesetatone

ofacceptanceand

joyforthenew

addiontotheir

family. Parentsare

theleadersandestablishtherulesand

createtheemoonalatmosphereinthe

family.Celebraonisaneventforeveryone

toenjoyeachandeverypersoninthe

family.Itisabouttheuniquenessof

childrenandwhatallmembersbringtothe

enrefamily.Wiseparentsunderstand

therearemanyperspecves.Thiswisdom

enhancestheirparenng,their

preparedness,andtheirplanning.

KathyHummel,LCSWPIP


2/12

P A G E 2

Note from the DirectorNote from the DirectorAsIwritethisnote,wearecelebrangNaonalAdoponMonth(November).Bythe meyoureadthis,wew

allhavecelebratedmanyholidaysandmemoriesthroughoutDecemberandthenewyear.Oursocietylovest

celebrateandweindeedhavesomuchtobethankfulforandtocelebrate!Thisnewsleerfocusistorecognthejoysofcreangafamilythroughadoponandtocelebratewiththesefamilies!Celebraoncantakeman

forms,soIlookedaroundandexploredsomeofthemanywaysadoponiscelebrated.Onefamilyretoldthe

adoponstorytothegleefulchildwaingtohearthedayIcamehomeforthehundredth me!Another

showedavideoofthefinalizaondayorthehomecomingorthefamilygatheringwhenheartswerejoine

asafamily.Anothergotoutthefamilyphotosoftheseeventsorsharedearlymomentsormemoriestogethe

asafamily. Onetookatriptothelibrarytogethertogetabookthatinvolvedanadoponstory.Othersjoine

anadoponsupportgroup.Ofcourse,foodwasmenonedmorethanonceasawaytocelebrateatradio

weknowverywellhereintheSouth!Somesentcardsofthanks.Somesharedaspecialsongtogether.Others

hadamovienight,showingadoponmovies.SomeoftheexamplesofmovieswereAnnie,StuartLile,Babe

SnowDogs,Pinocchio.Thelistwentonandon

Everychilddeservesasafeandlovinghome.Wecelebratewithallfamiliescreatedthroughadopon!Ifyou

haventalready,considercelebrangyouradoponthroughulizaonofoneofthemanypostadopon

servicesavailablethroughAPAC.Checkoutthelibraryresourcesthatareloanedoutfreeandareabout

adoponrelatedtopics(www.childrensaid.org/apac/library). Visitoneofouradoponsupportgroupsor

adoponspecialeventsinyourarea.AllowingyouradoptedchildtogotoCampAPACisawonderfulwayfor

yourchildtocelebrateadoponbutdontdelayregisteringyourchild,asthecampfillsupFAST.And

remember,adopvefamilycounselingisavailableifyouneedsomehelpfiguringoutwhatorhowtocelebrat

Debra Hawk Finley,M.Ed.,MSW,LCSW,

CelebrangAdopon

Heart Gallery Alabama CelebrateAdoption with Governor Bentley

AdopveParentoffour,JeromyOwings,

meetsGovernorBentleyattherecepon.

Mrs.Alabamaandadopveparent Lynn

Maggiosharesherpassionforadopon.

GovernorandMrs.Bentleyhavetwobiologicalchildren

andtwochildrentheyadoptedfromChildrensAid

Society.

DHRCommissionerNancyBuckne

andHeartGalleryAlabama

ExecuveDirectorandadopve

parentMichelleBearmanWolnek


3/12

P A G E 3

APAC Celebrates National Adoption Month


4/12

P A G E 4

What Kids Have to SayAbout Celebrating Their Adoption

Adoponcan

some

mes

feel

alilelike

walking

down

the

yellow

brick

road,

uncertainaboutwhatisaheadforthechildandhisorhernewparents.Everything

isnewandperhapsa lilestrange,abit likeOZ.Youmaybeuncertainhowyour

child feels about celebrangadopon; soAPAC staffasked a few kidswhohave

adoponexperience.Ouradoptedchildrensresponsesconfirm the resiliencyand

enormousspiritofAlabamaschildren.

What does adoption mean to you?

Nikki: Beingadoptedformeisstarngoverandgengasecondchanceatlife. Ialsogetachancetohaveanewfamilythatlovesmesomuch. Igettotakesomethingbadthathappenedtomeandturnitinto

somethinggood. Ialsogettohelponeofmyfriendsthatwasadopted. Igetonethingthatmostpeopledont

have;IgottobeadoptedwithmyolderbrotherthatIlovesomuch.MostofallIgetagoodlifeandIam

happy.

Jackie: Ashelterovermyhead,foodonthetableandafamilythatlovesme.

Ethan: ItisveryspecialtobeadoptedbecauseIhaveafamilythatlovesme.

Jevon: Acceptanceandlovefromafamilythatyoudontevenknow,eventhoughyouweregivenawaysomeonesllwantsyou.

Cole: Ihaveafamilythatlovesme.

Nyla: Havinganewhome. FindingaForeverFamily. Childrenthatneedtohaveahomefindtherightplacewhereyoubelong.

Terrell: Starngoveragain. Lifechangingfromonesituaontoanother.

Betsy: Whatdoescelebrangyouradopondaymeantoyou?Itmeansbeingacceptedintothefamilyfinally,havingafamilytocallmyown.Iwouldtellotheradopvefamiliesthatcelebrangtheirkids

adopondayhelpsthechildfeelmoreapartofthefamilybybeingacceptedandloved.

Noonecansayitbeerthanthechildren.Theirdesiretobeapartoffamilyandberecognizedfortheir

uniquebeginnings is the lionand the nmanand the scarecrowcoming to lifeasagenuine family

member.Thecelebraonissharedamongthosecourageouschildrenandparentswhowalkdownthe

yellowbrickroadofadopon.


5/12

P A G E 5

Northern Region

Calhoun County2ndThursday

6:308pm@GreenbrierChurchofChrist,Anniston

DeKalb County4thTuesday

67:30pm@FellowshipChrisanCenter,Rainsville

Etowah County3rdMonday

67:30pm@ChristCentralUnitedMethodist,RainbowCity

Jefferson County East1stThursday

67:30pm@HuffmanUnitedMethodist,Birmingham

Jefferson County MulCultural2ndTuesday

6:308pm@BluffParkUnitedMethodistChurch,Birmingham

Jefferson County West4thThursday

6:308pm@FirstUnitedMethodist,Hueytown

Lauderdale County1stTuesday

67:30pm@CrossPointeCOC(EDBldg),Florence

Madison County2ndMonday

67:30pm@FirstUnitedMethodist,Huntsville

Marion County2ndMonday

67:30pm@FirstUnitedMethodist,Winfield

Morgan County2ndTuesday

67:30pm@CalvaryAssemblyChurch,Decatur

Shelby County1stTuesday

6:308pm@FirstUnitedMethodist,Alabaster

Southern Region

Autauga/Elmore County4thTuesday

67:30pm@GlynwoodBapstChurch,Praville

Barbour County3rdMonday

5:307pm@FirstUnitedMethodistChurch,Eufaula

Dallas County4thMonday

5:307pm@DallasCountySalvaonArmy,Selma

Henry County1stTuesday

67:30pm@HeadlandFirstBapst,Headland

Houston County3rdFriday

6:308:00atDothanChrisanFellowship,Dothan

Geneva County2ndTuesday

6:308pm@FirstUnitedMethodist,Geneva

Lee County1stThursday

67:30pm@TheBigHouseFoundaon,Opelika,AL

Montgomery County3rdThursday

67:30pm@FrazerUnitedMethodistChurch,Montgomery

Baldwin County3rdThursday

67:30pm@EasternShoreChurchofChrist,Daphne

Mobile County4thFriday

67:30pm@RegencyChurchofChrist,Mobile

Viewour

webinars

onyour

smartphone

ortablet!

February:ExploringSleepDifficulesinAdoptedChildren

March:AdoponandtheSchools

April:LyingCheangandStealing

*Forfurtherdetailsandregistraoninformaon,gotowww.childrensaid.org.*

Adoptive Family Support Groups

We Meet Where You Are!We Meet Where You Are!Noneedtoleaveyourhomeoroffice!

Ifyouhaveacomputerandinternetaccess,youcanjoinourlive

webinarsandreceiveSocialWork,Counseling,and

FosterParentconnuingeducaoncredits!

AllGroupshaveparentssessions,childgroups,andchildcareunlessotherwiseindicated.


6/12

P A G E 6

AFAPA Celebrates National Adoption Mont

Considering Adoption?Alabamaishometoapproximately270children

whoarefreeforadoponandwaingforaforeverfamily.

APACwillhostGroupPreparaonandSelecon(GPS)Classesstarngonthe

followingdates:

Montgomery: February 26

Huntsville: March 11

Birmingham: April 1

Mobile: April 2

Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowwouldliketolearnmoreaboutadoponand

aendclassestobeapprovedasanadopvefamilyforAlabamasWaing

children,

please

call

866

4

AL

KIDS.


7/12

P A G E 7

Camp APAC 2013Because our days here are filledwith so much love & laughter

This will always be a magical place.

For adopted children and siblings living inthe same home, ages 9 to 18. Applications

available online atwww.childrensaid.org/campapacon January 14. June18-21CampASCCA


8/12

Alabamas Waiting ChildrenP A G E 8

Evan, born2001,isapoliteandhelpfulchild.Hehasgoodmannersandlikestopleaseothers.Evanisfuntobearound.Helovestoplay

videogames,draw,andread.Hecanbeshyat mesandsomemesenjoysjustplayingalone.Hereceivesspecialservicesinschoolto

helphiminMathandReading.Hemakesgoodgradesandloves

spellingandvocabulary.

Evanwantsaforeverfamilywhohasotherchildrensotheycanplay

together.Heplaysbeerwitholderchildren.

Donterius, bornNovember1996,isinthe9thgrade.Heisahandsomeyoungmanwhohasashy,quietdemeanor

whenhefirstmeetsyou.Donteriuslikestolistentomusic,

fish,swimandplaycomputergames.Hisfosterfatherhas

taughthimtoplaychesswhichheenjoys.Donteriuslikes

footballandhisfavoriteteamistheUniversityofAlabama.

Hesayshewouldreallyliketoplayfootballinhighschool.

Donteriusenjoysaendingchurchwithhisfosterfamily.

HelikestoreadandJapaneseAnime'.Hisfostermother

reportsheisgreatwithsmallerchildrenandalsodoeswell

witholderkidsashehasaplayfulside.Hereceivesspecial

educaonservicesandtypicallyperformswell

academically.Donteriusoenneedsredireconinthe

classroom,ashecanbeeasilydistracted.Donteriushasa

halfsisterandhalfbrotherwithwhomhesll

communicates.ItisimportantDonteriusmaintainthese

relaonshipswithhissiblings.

Duetopastexperiences,Donteriustendstobereluctanttoopenuptoadults.Heneedsaforeverfamilywhowillbe

paent,loving,consistentandcommiedtohelpinghim

learntotrustothers.

Photos courtesy of

VisitVisit www.heartgalleryalabama.comwww.heartgalleryalabama.com

to meet more kids waiting to be a dopteto meet more kids waiting to be adopte


9/12

P A G E 9

Nazarius,bornMarch2000,isdescribedbyothersasahelperwhoisalwayswillingtolendahand.Heisdoingwellinschool,wherehemaintainsanAB

average.Nazariusistheyoungestoffoursiblings,butistheonlyonecurrently

beingplacedforadopon.Heenjoysplayingvideogames,watchingWWE

wrestling,drawing,swimming,playingthedrums,andreading.Nazariuswantsto

jointheAirForceandbecomeapilotwhenhegrowsup.Heisveryknowledgeable

aboutairplanesandtheirfunconsinthemilitary.

Nazariuswouldbenefitfromalovinghomewherehehasstabilityandknowswhat

isexpectedofhim.Hewillneedafamilytoprovidehimwithstructureand

consistency,butalsoshowerhimwithaffecon.Nazariushasbeenplacedin

fosterhomeswhereheistheonlychild,butwouldbenefitfromanenvironment

wherethereareotherchildrenclosetohisage.

Chris, bornJune1998,isinthe8thgradeandisaverysweet,mannerlychild.Heisarealgentlemenandwillhelpaladywiththedoororhelphercarryherthings.Chrisisaverylikablechildandenjoystalking.He

isveryarculateandimaginave.Chrisenjoysbuildingthings,imaginaryplay,andinteracvegames.Chris

lovesplayingvideogamesandhelikesSpiderman.Heenjoysmusicandis

interestedinlearningtoplayguitar.Healsoenjoysplayinggamesonhis

computer.

Chrishasmovedagooddealwhileinfostercareandisnervousabout

movingagain,butwantsaforeverfamilytocareforandlovehim.Chris

foreverfamilyneedstobeverypaentandalsoabletohelphimconnue

hisjourneyofdealingwiththepast.Heisanemoonalandsensivechild.

Chrishasaveryhighenergylevelandhisforeverfamilyneedstobeflexible

andbeabletoteachChrisboundaries.Hesomemesneedsagreatdealofassistanceinstayingfocused.Chrisisapleasuretobearoundandenjoys

oneononeaenonbutrequirespaenceaswell.

Chrisconnuestoneedastructuredenvironmentandwoulddobestasthe

onlychildinthehomeorastheyoungestchild.Chriswantsafamilywho

willinvolvehimandmakehimfeelpartofsomething.Hestruggleswiththinkinghewillneverfindthe

foreverfamily.

Devontae, bornAugust2000,isahandsomeyoungman.Helovessports,especiallybasketball.Devontaehasplayedbaseballinthepastandexcelled.

Duringschoolhereceivesspecialservicestohelphimanddespitealearning

disability,heexcelseveryyear.Devontae'sADHDiscontrolledbymedicaon.

Healsotakesmedicaontocontrolhighbloodpressure.Heenjoysgoingon

oungsandplayingatthepark.Helikestolaugh,havefun,playwithcarsand

color.Devontaestrugglessomesocially,butismaturingwithage.

Devontaeisabrightyoungboywhoneedssomeonetoprovidehimaforever

family.Hewouldbenefitfromafamilywhohas metogivehimtheoneon

oneaenonheneeds.


10/12

P A G E 1 0

Our Library is Now Online!Our Library is Now Online!Our Library is Now Online!Youcanviewacompletelistofyourlocalresources,searchbytopicorkeyword,

andeasilyreserveyourfavoriteitemsthroughournewconvenientwebsite!

Formoredetails,visitwww.childrensaid.org/apaclibrary

APAC Library.

Child of My Heart: A Celebraon

of Adopon byBarbaraAlpert.

Theonlybookofitskinda

beaufulcelebraonofalife

affirmingchoice.With

contribuonsfromMichelle

Pfeiffer,DaveThomas,PearlS.

Buck,andmanyothersbothwell

knownandlileknown,thislovelybookreveals

theexcitements,thefrustraons,andtheulmate

fulfillmentsoftheadoponexperience.Thisisa

booktoread,togive...andtotreasure.

Loved by Choice bySusanHornerand

KellyFordyceMarndale.Offeringa

clearandupliinglookatadopon

fromvirtuallyeveryperspecve.Itis

comprisedoftruestoriesthatreflect

thejoysandthedifficulesofthose

touchedbyadopon.Familiesworking

outanoverseasadopon,those

creanginterracialfamilies,

grandparents,birthmothers,andeven

birthfathersareamongthemanywhotelltheirstories.

Acvies That Teach by

TomJackson.Sixty

creave,innovave,

teacherprovenanduser

friendlyacvieswhich

willinfluencestudentbehaviorandatudesfor

alifeme.Theseacvies

covertopicssuchas

alcoholanddrugprevenon,

communicaon,problemsolving,working

together,decisionmaking,selfesteem,

character,goalseng,angermanagement,

stressmanagement,peerpressure,etc.The

acviesaredesignedforgradesthree

throughtwelve.Theacviesrequirevery

lileinthewayofpreparaonand

materials.Mostoftheacviesarefrom5

minutesto30minutesinlength.

Learning How To Learn byJosephNovak

andDr.BobGowin.Foralmostacentury,

educaonaltheoryandpraccehavebeen

influencedbytheviewofbehavioral

psychologiststhatlearningissynonymous

withbehaviorchange.Inthisbook,theauthorsargueforthepraccalimportance

ofanalternateview,thatlearningis

synonymouswithachangeinthemeaning

ofexperience.Theydeveloptheirtheory

oftheconceptualnatureofknowledge

anddescribeclassroomtestedstrategiesforhelpingstudents

toconstructnewandmorepowerfulmeaningsandto

integratethinking,feeling,andacng.Intheirresearch,they

havefoundconsistentlythatstandardeducaonalpracces

thatdonotleadlearnerstograspthemeaningoftasksusually

failtogivethemconfidenceintheirabilies.Itisnecessaryto

understandwhyandhownewinformaonisrelatedtowhat

onealreadyknows.

Horace byHollyKeller.Horace,aleopard,istheadoptedsonofgerparents.Every

night,atbedme,Mamatellshimhowhecametobetheirchild.ButHoracealways

fallsasleepbeforethestoryends.AsHoracegrowsolder,hebeginstowonderwhetherhebelongs reallybelongs withhisadoptedfamily.Herunsaway.

WhenMamaandPapafindhim,Horaceisglad.Andthatnight,ashegoestosleep,

heprovideshisveryownendingtothestoryhehasheardsooen.


11/12

P A G E 1 1

Theholidaysareover.Now,what?Theholidayletdownisacommonphenomenonthatcanbe

replacedbyanewresolvetoworkbeerasa

family.Then,intheprocess,buildstrongerbonds

withinthefamily.

Rouneshavereturnedand

celebraonsarejustamemory.

Childrenwillbereturningto

schoolwithanewemphasison

gradesandlearning.However,

thisisagreat

me

for

ustolook

foropportuniestoenhanceour

childrenslearningexperiences

whilestrengtheningthefamily

bond.Formanyofourchildren,

thereintroduconofstructure

androuneisawelcomedevent.

Thesignificanceofarouneand

structuretoourchildrenisthatit

suggestsstabilityandgrounding.

Onecannotoveresmatethe

valueofposiverepeveacts

onchildrenwhomayhavecome

fromfamilieswhereeducaon

andselfworthwerenotvalued.

Thisthinkingisnot onlyreserved

forthechildwhoisdoingwellin

school,butalsoforthechildren

whoareexperiencinglearning

challenges.Theselearning

challengesforourchildrencan

emergefrommanydifferentsources.However,

parentledmovaoncreatesopportuniesforchildrentobecomemoresuccessfulinovercoming

thoseeducaonalchallenges.Researchhasshown

learningchallengesaremoremanageablein

familieswithstrongeraachmentbonds.

Many mes,familyleadersbuildtheirstructureon

rules,chores,andobedience.Thesearecertainly

importantconsideraonsinfamilyfunconing.Spending melearningasafamilyshouldplayan

equalpartinprovidingthatstructure.

Therearemanywinwin

opportuniesthatgroup

learningacviescan

enhance,especiallythe

posivecohesionofthefamily

unit. Afamilybookclub

encouragesconversaonand

includesallmembers

ofthe

family.

Cookingmealsasafamilyis

anotheropportunityforgroup

acvity. Somuchistaughtin

termsofselfimportance,

personalvalueand

importancetothefamilyasa

wholewhenamemberis

responsibleforacertain

poronofameal.

Theforeverfamilyisso

cricaltoteachingthechild

theirvalue,providingcomfort,

andsafetyinfamily.Each

personbringsaunique

presencetothefamilythat

makesthefamilyunitspecial.

Somemesweasfamily

leadersneedtorevisitthesevaluestoremindourselvesthatthejoyincelebraonisnot

ulmatelyinthegisorfood,butinthepleasureof

oneanother.Thepleasurefoundinoneanothercan

leadthechildtosuccessinschool,socialskillsand

ulmatelyahealthierfutureasawhole.

KaiMumpfield,LCSW

One cannotoverestimate thevalue of positiverepetitive acts onchildren who mayhave come from

families whereeducation andself-worth

were not valued.

Life After The Holidays


12/12

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Mobile Contact

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