Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Hearts of Armenia

 “Hearts of Armenia” makes the perfect New Year or Valentine gift!  Meghedi Melody Nazarian has spent months in Armenia photographing all the different hearts she’s seen around this beautiful country. She has designed and created a book that is FOR SALE and has generously decided to give 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the books to the Women’s Support Center. Your purchase supports the combat of gender-based violence in Armenia.

You can order Hearts of Armenia here.

Free E-Newsletters from Adoptive Families!

To sign up for the Adoptive Families free e-newsletters, click here.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Blogs We Like: Melody of Yerevan

 So much to say, so much to see / So much joy in every smile, so much pain in every frown.
One man is planning his escape, while another is working hard to feed his kids / To one it’s his sacred homeland, he’ll never leave / To another it’s the bane of his being, he can’t wait to flee.
Tourists left and right, rushing from sight to sight / Cross ways with locals, sharing curious glances up and down / Taxis whiz by, skidding side to side / While buses fill up and give locals their ride.

Read more.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Support for Women & Children at Shelter in Armenia (Domestic Violence Survivors)

'Tis the Season to Support a Safe House in Armenia



Women's Support Center is a non-profit organization that is considered one of the most professional centers dealing with victims of domestic violence in Armenia. Established in 2010, the center is led by a small group of feminist activists and community leaders dedicated to the mission of creating a safe space for survivors of domestic violence and ending violence against women in Armenia.

Internationally, holidays tend to be the time when domestic violence support centers receive higher numbers of survivors seeking refuge and support. We run one of two shelters in all of Armenia for women and children survivors of domestic violence. Because the Armenian Government does not offer a shelter or any support to NGOs carrying out this work, we are the lifeline to these women. For that reason, we NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

When women come to our shelter, they are fleeing extremely dangerous situations and often bring nothing with them. For this reason, we provide them with basic necessities, such as clothing and hygiene products, in an effort to help them back on their feet and regain their dignity.

We need to raise $6,000 to make 200 welcoming kits for all women and children who need shelter services in 2016. 

These $30 kits will include a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, shampoo and conditioner, a comb, feminine hygiene, undergarments, towels, and more.

With your support, we can continue providing survivors of domestic violence with shelter services and adequate resources.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE
 




Every day women and children receive healthy snacks and meals at the shelter.

How Else Can I Support this Campaign?
 
Here are 4 ways you can show your support and engage others in our project! 
 
1. Utilize your SOCIAL MEDIA networks! Share the link to our campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram using #WSCshelter with each post! You can also SHARE OUR WEBSITE or FACEBOOK with friends and family. Engage them in our mission to end domestic violence!

2. Send an email to your network about our mission. Tell friends, family and colleagues about our plans for growth through this campaign!

3. Think of BUSINESSES THAT ALIGN with our vision to provide refuge to women and children survivors - your local Armenian center, church, university, etc. and reach out to them with a personalized letter, a call or visit their business inviting them to contribute to this campaign!

4. If you can't support the campaign, consider donating women and children's clothing to us. You can be in touch with us via email or Facebook to drop off clothes at our center.

Monday, December 14, 2015

New Webinar! The Essentials of Adoption Medicine


Register now for our newest webinar!

"The Essentials of Adoption Medicine"

 Join us on Thursday, January 28th, 2016 at 2pm EST  with NCFA's two-time National Adoption Conference presenter and founder of the Comprehensive Adoption Medicine Consultants,  Dr. Emily Todd.  With the help of Dr. Emily Todd, we will explore several adoption related medical concerns including medical problems facing adopted children, what to expect when the child is brought home, and how to deal with long term medical issues of an adopted children. We’ll explore some new techniques, research, and strategies when combining adoption and medicine. This 90 minute webinar will include some time for Q & A with the expert. 

BONUS: Attendees will also receive an early edition of NCFA's February Adoption Advocate authored by Dr. Emily Todd, Adoption Medicine: Improving the Health and Well Being of Adopted Children.

In order to attend the webinar session, you must register by Wednesday, January 27th at Noon EST!

About the Presenter

Emily Todd, MD, is a pediatrician and medical geneticist.  She founded Comprehensive Adoption Medicine Consultants to help families navigate the medical side of the adoption process.  While attending Rush Medical College, Dr. Todd received awards for her work in genetics as well as recognition from her peers for excellence in humanism.  After receiving her Medical Doctorate, she moved to Denver, CO where she completed her pediatric residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.  Following pediatric residency, Dr. Todd completed advanced training in medical genetics at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  In addition to her busy adoption medicine practice, Dr. Todd is currently serving as the Contributing Section Editor for the Council on Foster Care, Adoption and Kinship Care for AAP Grand Rounds, a professional journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  She also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Colorado chapter of the Gift of Adoption Fund.

Don’t miss out!

Registration cost is $35 for NCFA Members and $40 for the public. $15 for continuing education units.
REGISTER HERE.

Adoption 101 Class for Prospective Adoptive Families: January 9th, 2016. Reserve your place now.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

NEW WEBINAR: Attending to Needs, Connecting for Life: Dr. Purvis on Attachment

Thursday, February 4, 2016, 7:00 PM CT  

REGISTER NOW

Join us as Dr. Karyn Purvis discusses her latest research surrounding attachment and connecting with children who have experienced a tough beginning in life.

With her naturally warm style, Dr. Purvis will share insights to help us better understand and connect with each other.

She will provide practical tips to building a foundation of love, support and security to help your family thrive.
Specific topics include:
  • Connecting principles for attachment needs
  • Techniques to connect with your child at different developmental stages
  • Correcting principles to disarm fear-based behaviors
Click here to register now.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Help Reduce Holiday Melt Downs by Adoption Learning Partners

Just in Time for the Holidays and only $10: Sensory Integration and Self-Regulation

Sensory Integration and Self-Regulation
Presented by Dr. Dan Griffith

REGISTER NOW

Holidays can add joy and connection for families. Lots of sights, sounds, smells and food created specifically for this time of year.
With all this specialness, however, comes a strong potential for sensory overload. This can mean that special moments of celebration are intermingled with melt downs and tantrums, while parents struggle to stay jolly.

But once you realize what is happening and why, you can intercede to help your child balance things out. Join Clinical Pediatric Psychologist Dan Griffith, Ph.D, as he provides real-life examples so you can:

  • Identify different types of common sensory/regulatory difficulties
  • Work through stresses these difficulties may have on your parent/child relationship
  • Learn intervention strategies to help your family thrive

Click here to learn more and register for only $10 during the month of December. Webinar is regularly priced at $15.

ONLY $10 IN DECEMBER

Questions? Email Mandi or Shane

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Important Grant Updates, Deadlines, Coaching and more

.

Resources4adoption.com

Sponsor Spotlight

Please take a moment to check out our Sponsors. They are here to help you!
WACAPWorld Association for Children and Parents
WACAP (World Association for Children and Parents) is one of the largest and most experienced international nonprofit adoption and child assistance agencies in the United States.

 

 

 


Hopscotch AdoptionsHopscotch Adoptions
Hopscotch's belief is that each child has the right to a lifelong, loving family. Hopscotch is dedicated to helping children in need of families, through both humanitarian efforts and adoption into permanent, loving homes.

 

 

 


Madison Adoption Associates
There are no unwanted children ...just unfound families.

 

 

 


The Pure Charity Builds World Class Technology Solutions for Individual Fundraising, Community Advocacy and Nonprofit Organizations.  We know Adoption Fundraising is not easy, so we created some simple tools that have helped hundreds of families raise money for their adoption costs. There is no paperwork to fill out, no application to complete, and no waiting period.  Get started right today!

 

 


Bills Tax Service
Adoption Tax Credit Specialis
t - No matter what adoption tax questions you have, Bills is always right there to guide you. They offer personalized service to each client family. Contact them today!
Phone: 618-532-7223      www.billstaxservice.com

Important Grant Updates:

Hope Grafted In - Hurry and turn in your application for Hope Grafted In! They are only taking applications until December 1, 2015. After that, this program will be suspended until they can raise more funds.

One Less Ministry is only taking applications through December 31, 2015. After that, this program will be redirecting funds to human trafficking prevention and no longer offering adoption grants.

A Child Waits Foundation just published its brand new website! Families are now able to get both the grant and loan applications from their website and there is no longer a pre-qualification step in their process.  Anyone who believes that they meet their general criteria as stated on their website can send in an application. A Child Waits Foundation grant and loans are for international adoptions only.  They do NOT have any marital or religious criteria to apply. Check out their new website today and see if you qualify to apply!


Upcoming Grant Deadlines

December Grant Deadlines:

Find more updates on our Facebook Page

 

Which Grants Are The Best Fit For Your Family?

Get Complete Application Criteria for Each Grant Here:

Please check our website for more information about The Adoption Finance Toolkit.  Quickly find what you need to help fund your adoption with our comprehensive database of Adoption Grants and Loans.

 

Need Help Clearing Up The Confusion of Adoption Grants?

Individualized Consulting and Personalized Coaching:

These services will offer personalized support for YOUR family to help you sort through the complicated and sometimes confusing world of adoption funding. There are limited appointments available for these services.

Contact Cherri Walrod today to schedule your appointment. 
cherri@resources4adoption.com or cherri.walrod@gmail.com

Partner with Us!

Welcome to our New Sponsors: 

 

Madison Adoption Associates

Madison Adoption Associates is a Hague accredited, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to bring hope, love, and a permanent family to children in need.
Our agency began in 1981 with a mother's love and desire to raise an adoptive family. Today, although we still operate as a smaller agency, we are one of the largest independent non-profit international placement agencies.

 

Wasatch International Adoptions

Domestic and International Adoptions

They specialize in both domestic and international adoption programs and child assistance programs.  They have placed thousands of children with families across the United States.  Wasatch is a full service COA/Hague accredited, non-profit, 501 (c)3 agency, licensed in 1997.
Are you an adoption agency or adoption related business? Want to position your services and brand in front of adoptive hopefuls nationwide? Help us reach more adoptive families with the hope and help they need to fund their adoptions. Contact Cherri Walrod for more information on becoming a sponsor today. Email: cherri@resources4adoption.com or cherri.walrod@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Monday, November 23, 2015

Monday, November 9, 2015

Older Child Adoption: A Different Perspective Imagine for a moment…

Girl%20teen A Different Perspective Imagine for a moment… You have met the person you’ve dreamed about all your life. He has every quality that you desire in a spouse. You plan for the wedding, enjoying every free moment with your fiancée. You love his touch, his smell, the way he looks into your eyes. For the first time in your life, you understand what is meant by “soul mate,” for this person understands you in a way that no one else does. Your heart beats in rhythm with his. Your emotions are intimately tied to his every joy, his every sorrow. The wedding comes. It is a happy celebration, but the best part is that you are finally the wife of this wonderful man. You fall asleep that night, exhausted from the day’s events, but relaxed and joyful in the knowledge that you are next to the person who loves you more than anyone in the world…the person who will be with you for the rest of your life.

The next morning you wake up, nestled in your partner’s arms. You open your eyes and immediately look for his face. But it’s not him! You are in the arms of another man. You recoil in horror. Who is this man? Where is your beloved? You ask questions of the new man, but it quickly becomes apparent that he doesn’t understand you. You search every room in the house, calling and calling for your husband. The new guy follows you around, trying to hug you, pat you on the back. . .even trying to stroke your arm, acting like everything is okay. But you know that nothing is okay. Your beloved is gone. Where is he? Will he return? When? What has happened to him? Weeks pass. You cry and cry over the loss of your beloved. Sometimes you ache silently, in shock over what has happened. The new guy tries to comfort you. You appreciate his attempts, but he doesn’t speak your language-either verbally or emotionally. He doesn’t seem to realize the terrible thing that has happened...that your sweetheart is gone.

You find it difficult to sleep. The new guy tries to comfort you at bedtime with soft words and gentle touches, but you avoid him, preferring to sleep alone, away from him and any intimate words or contact. Months later, you still ache for your beloved, but gradually you are learning to trust this new guy. He’s finally learned that you like your coffee black, not doctored up with cream and sugar. Although you still don’t understand his bedtime songs, you like the lilt of his voice and take some comfort in it. More time passes. One morning, you wake up to find a full suitcase sitting next to the front door. You try to ask him about it, but he just takes you by the hand and leads you to the car. You drive and drive and drive. Nothing is familiar. Where are you? Where is he taking You pull up to a large building. He leads you to an elevator and up to a room filled with people. Many are crying. Some are ecstatic with joy. You are confused. And worried. The man leads you over to the corner. Another man opens his arms and sweeps you up in an embrace. He rubs your back and kisses your cheeks, obviously thrilled to see you. You are anything but thrilled to see him. Who in the world is he? Where is your beloved? You reach for the man who brought you, but he just smiles (although he seems to be tearing up, which concerns you), pats you on the back, and puts your hand in the hands of the new guy.

The new guy picks up your suitcase and leads you to the door. The familiar face starts openly crying, waving and waving as the elevator doors close on you and the new guy. The new guy drives you to an airport and you follow him, not knowing what else to do. Sometimes you cry, but then the new guy tries to make you smile, so you grin back, wanting to “get along.” You board a plane. The flight is long. You sleep a lot, wanting to mentally escape from the situation. Hours later, the plane touches down. The new guy is very excited and leads you into the airport where dozens of people are there to greet you. Light bulbs flash as your photo is taken again and again. The new guy takes you to another guy who hugs you. Who is this one? You smile at him. Then you are taken to another man who pats your back and kisses your cheek. Then yet another fellow gives you a big hug and messes your hair. Finally, someone (which guy is this?) pulls you into his arms with the biggest hug you’ve ever had. He kisses you all over your cheeks and croons to you in some language you’ve never heard before. He leads you to a car and drives you to another location. Everything here looks different. The climate is not what you’re used to. The smells are strange. Nothing tastes familiar, except for the black coffee.

You wonder if someone told him that you like your coffee black. You find it nearly impossible to sleep. Sometimes you lie in bed for hours, staring into the blackness, furious with your husband for leaving you, yet aching from the loss. The new guy checks on you. He seems concerned and tries to comfort you with soft words and a mug of warm milk. You turn away, pretending to go to asleep. People come to the house. You can feel the anxiety start to bubble over as you look into the faces of all the new people. You tightly grasp the new guy’s hand. He pulls you closer. People smile and nudge one other, marveling at how quickly you’ve fallen in love. Strangers reach for you, wanting to be a part of the happiness. Each time a man hugs you, you wonder if he will be the one to take you away. Just in case, you keep your suitcase packed and ready.

Although the man at this house is nice and you’re hanging on for dear life, you’ve learned from experience that men come and go, so you just wait in expectation for the next one to come along. Each morning, the new guy hands you a cup of coffee and looks at you expectantly. A couple of times the pain and anger for your husband is so great that you lash out, sending hot coffee across the room, causing the new guy to yelp in pain. He just looks at you, bewildered. But most of the time you calmly take the cup. You give him a smile. And wait. And wait. And wait.

How would each of us handle all these changes? How would this impact us for the rest of our lives?

Written by Cynthia Hockman-Chupp, Cynthia is an adoptive parent like many of us. She was a longtime school teacher for a variety of grades who has a website on dealing with attachment issues: www.a4everfamily.org  Analogy courtesy of Dr. Kali Miller.

Congratulations and welcome to this thing called family. If you have just adopted your first, or even your 5th, there is a period of time that everyone needs to get to know one another and adjust to the new dynamics of a changed family. Each adopted child will come with their own set of experiences and coping strategies and we as parents come with the same. The mix of the two is what makes it unique to each family and oh so interesting! We hope this guide will give you a starting point on realizing what your particular families’ normal is and ways to get help and reach out if things just don’t quite seem right. There are many other adoptive families with whom you can connect, who share similar experiences, and who have learned what worked and what did not for their families. If you are struggling with your placement, a first call might be to your social worker. Call a friend who has adopted, join a local support group or head online to a number of e-lists that can be specific to the place your child is from or the circumstances of your placement. The most important thing is to reach out. Connect. Share. If things are tough, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There is no shame in asking for help. Every person who contributed to this guide has reached out at some point in their parenting journey. They discovered that this parenting job can be challenging and daunting as well as rewarding and enriching. And it is a journey that is best not taken alone. Carrie Kitze Adoptive Mom, Publisher EMK Press you?

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Did you adopt in 2014 or 2015? Help prospective parents by taking Adoptive Families' survey

 Did you adopt a child in 2014 or 2015? If so, please share the cost and timing of your adoption by taking our survey. Start off this National Adoption Awareness Month by providing prospective adoptive families with up-to-date information.

Each year, Adoptive Families polls readers to get the real story on the average cost and length of time it takes to complete an adoption. We frequently hear from families just starting out in adoption that the final survey results are immensely helpful to them. See results from previous years >

We’re pleased to once again offer a special giveaway to encourage more families to share their adoption experiences. If more than 1,000 parents who adopted in 2014 or 2015 complete this year’s survey, we will randomly select one participant and donate $250 to the adoption organization of his or her choice!

Take our Adoption Cost & Timing Survey ►

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

National Adoption Month: We never outgrow the need for a family

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/43f055418a5bd4c8ef8348dbc/images/92ff96cf-4da3-424b-a8d5-1540fb8c1ee5.png

Don't forget November is National Adoption Awareness Month. This year, the focus is on older youth adoption. Clearly, we never outgrow the need for family. In this spirit, special discounts are offered to help families either explore adopting an older child or better meet the needs of the child they are already parenting.

Click here to explore our discounted courses and webinars.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Grant Waiting: "We have seen her smile, heard her voice and felt her touch"

Eden-2-214x300 Our family knows Eden.  We have seen her smile, heard her voice, and felt her touch.  One of us used to sleep right next to her for years, bonded to her like a sister.  This is why, as a family, we have been raising funds toward an agency grant for Eden to help alleviate the costs of adoption for a yet-to-be-found family who will eventually bring her home and provide her with the love, stability, support and medical treatments she needs.

Over the summer, we had a yard sale and also sold things at local consignment stores.  Friends and family donated items they no longer needed for us to use for this purpose.  Thank you to all who gave and made this fundraiser possible and to my cousin Maria for all of her help.  Along with a few additional cash donations, we raised $550.  The money has been paid into an agency grant fund designated for Eden at Hopscotch Adoptions and will be provided to the family committed to adopting Eden after a successful registration trip.

Read more.

Time To Register For This Week's Webinar On Sensory Integration

New Webinar This Week: Thursday, November 5: Sensory Integration and Self-Regulation: Tips for Parenting Sensational Kids

Thursday, November 5, 2015: 7:00 PM Central

REGISTER NOW

Does your child struggle with sensory and/or self-regulation issues?

When you don't know how kids process incoming sensory data, or how it can overload or underwhelm them, it makes for challenging moments as a parent. When overwhelmed, kids can be prone to emotional outbursts. When under-stimulated, they may withdraw get distracted.

But once you realize what is happening and why, you can intercede to help your child balance things out.

Join Clinical Pediatric Psychologist Dan Griffith, Ph.D, as he provides real-life examples so you can:

  • Identify different types of common sensory/regulatory difficulties
  • Work through stresses these difficulties may have on your parent/child relationship
  • Learn intervention strategies to help your family thrive

Click here to learn more and register.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Preparing Jollof rice, the Ghanaian method

Published on May 7, 2013 by AdomHomeCooking

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Click here to see video.

Ingredients in this recipe for 4 Adults:

  • 4 cups of rice
  • 8 pieces of Chicken thighs and drumsticks
  • 3 large onions
  • Pepper, garlic, ginger (amount optional)
  • Chicken seasoning/ seasoning of choice
  • 2 cups mixed veggies
  • 1 can Tomato Plumps &Tomato puree
  • Salt to taste
  • Maggie cube( optional)

Procedure

1.

  • Prepare chicken, wash and pat dry.
  • Sprinkle chicken with salt to season
  • Blend onion, ginger, garlic and pepper.
  • Add to the chicken, add chicken season if you want.
  • Steam the chicken for about 8-10 min.

2.

  • Blend plump tomatoes, with some onion and pepper depending on how spicy you want your Jollof.
  • Slice the remaining onions into medium sizes.

3.

  • Start making the stew or gravy by frying the sliced onions in about 3 table spoons of veggie oil and allow to cook for about 2 mins
  • Add 4 tablespoons of tomato puree and keep stirring for about 8 min till it is reduced.
  • Add the blended tomato mixture and allow to cook and reduce for about 10 more minutes, stirring intermittently.

4.

  • When the steamed chicken is ready, strain and reserve the stock, allow stock to cool.
  • Deep fry chicken for the golden brown crusty finish.
  • Put the fried chicken aside.

5.

  • Add the stock to the stew and allow to cook for about 5 minutes
  • Add your chicken to the stew( optional as chicken can be served separately when the entire meal is done).
  • Add the mixed veggies and cook for a couple of mins.( scoop some stew out if preferred to be served with Jollof later).
  • Add the rice and reduce the heat to very low. Cover the rice with kitchen foil and allow the food the steam through.
  • Check and keep stirring intermittently till rice is cooked through, about 20 min.

6.

  • Scoop some of the rice in a small bowl and press to form a nice mound, turn into your serving plate. Add your chicken.
  • Can be served with salad ,gravy, coleslaw etc.

Enjoy your meal.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Powerful Truths About FASDs and Little Heroes

Advancing the conversation about the issues of health and social welfare.

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Like us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterView our videos on YouTube

Missed the recent webinar on FASDs? No Problem.

In case you missed the recent webinar, The Powerful Truths About FASD, featuring Dr. Ira J. Chasnoff and hosted by Mike Berry of Confessions of a Parent: Hope and Humor from the Trenches, please enjoy this free link to the recording.

Listen Now

Little Heroes: An Educational Comic Book for Parents and Children

Little Heroes #4: Sensory IntegrationLittle Heroes is a series of stories written about children who face a variety of challenges in their everyday lives. The series is meant to guide you, through story and pictures, to help children understand why they feel the way they do based on problems that are beyond their control. Each comic book is accompanied by a Parent's Guide that provides a much fuller explanation of each of the comic book topics.
All of the Little Heroes books are based on true stories of children and families treated by Dr. Ira J. Chasnoff and his clinical team. The comic books engage children by providing fun illustrations with easy-to-understand stories and can also be used as coloring books. Little Heroes #1: FASDs includes educational games and puzzles.

$10/book, includes both the comic and Parent's Guide.
Buy now and receive FREE SHIPPING*

Little Heroes #1: FASDs5 Little Heroes books to choose from:

Our latest addition to the series, Little Heroes #5: Military Separation, helps families cope with being separated during a military deployment. It can be used to help families explain the separation to their children and prepare them for the challenges they will face. The accompanying Parent's Guide provides a fuller explanation of the effects of military deployment and prolonged separation on the family.

Check out our online store for more resources on FASDs, attachment, prenatal care, adoption, and more.

*Offer valid through October 16, 2015, 11:59 PM PST.

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(503) 724-5692 | info@ntiupstream.com | www.ntiupstream.com

Monday, October 12, 2015

Why is Orphan Hosting So Important?

a253cc255901a35a9843a7ae8ca75007The photo on the left was taken in the Children’s Home where he lives. The photo on the right was taken by his host family during his stay in America. Pictures speak so clearly of what a change this program makes.

Orphans usually feel left out, left behind and unworthy. Their self-esteem is many times so low because they have been labeled in their home city by peers as “orphans”. After coming on our program for 4-5 weeks over Christmas holidays or during the summer months, most children learn as much English as they would typically learn in 4-5 semesters if taught at home in their school. This gives the children pride in themselves and helps boost their self-esteem tremendously!

Receiving unconditional love and nurturing and being treated as a member of their host family who will usually maintain contact even after the child returns home to their orphanage. This gives them hope. Learning that they do have a Father, the same Father in Heaven that we all have…who loves us dearly and is always with us and lets them know they are never alone.

Questions About Hosting?

Are you Considering Hosting? Click here to complete the pre-application!

What is Orphan Hosting???

What is Orphan Hosting?

d9715bf5644799284fc3b19fe3e42111 Extend your hand, open your home, share your heart with an orphaned child this year!

Christian families (like you!) can invite an orphaned child from Latvia or Ukraine to become a member of your family for a period of time.   We offer orphan hosting programs twice a year.  5-6 weeks in the summer (Late June – Early Aug.)  and 4-5 weeks over Christmas Holidays (Mid Dec. – Mid. Jan.).  Being included as a member of a family and receiving unconditional love gives an orphan HOPE for a better future. Learning they do have a Father, the same Father in heaven who loves us all, gives an orphan the promise they are never alone.

NHFC is the largest faith based orphan hosting organization in the USA.  Since 2002, thousands of orphans have been hosted through our ministry, matching orphaned children to Christian host families nationwide.  Typically about 600 children per year are served and growing!

Are you Considering Hosting?

Click here to complete the pre-application!

All About Your Adoption Tax Credit - Join Us For A Live Seminar!

Tax%20Credit%202012 Join us for this live webinar with tax specialist, Becky Wilmoth from Bill's Tax Service.  We'll review all of the guidelines you need to know to take full advantage of the adoption tax credit.  Whether your adoption is complete or you are just getting started you will find this webinar very informative!

Tuesday, October 27th, 7:00 pm CST
Space is limited, register today!

For more information on this free event please email us at coach@youradoptionfinancecoach.com

Best regards,
Hopscotch Adoptions

Thursday, October 8, 2015

A Collaborative Future for Adoption

October 6, 2015

DOS%20COA%20ASP%20Symposium%202015
Group photo of participants at 2015 Adoption Symposium at the Department of State.

We would like to thank the participants of the Adoption Service Provider (ASP) symposium, “A Collaborative Future for Adoption.”  We appreciate everyone’s participation and willingness to share ideas on how to work together to improve the adoption process. We hope the conversations and relationships developed during the symposium will continue and produce meaningful results.

We found these discussions fruitful as we discussed strategies to increase coordination and cooperation in relation to intercountry adoption. The Department’s goal is to strengthen our relationships and communication with the adoption community, and this symposium served as a starting place to pursue that goal. The Department believes intercountry adoption should be a viable option for children in each country, and working to ensure the adoption process is ethical, transparent, and in a child’s best interests is a Department priority. We believe intercountry adoption can provide children the opportunity to grow up in a loving, protective, and permanent family environment when they cannot be cared for in their country of birth. 

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Less Than One Week to Register for Webinar: Understanding Grief and Loss

Less than one week left to register for our newest webinar!

"Understanding Grief and Loss"

Join NCFA on Thursday, October 1st at 2pm EST when Bethany Christian Services’ Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations, Kris Faasse, will educate us on the basics of the grieving process. Special attention will be given to some common implications for birth parents and adopted children of various ages. We’ll explore the science, research, and experience of grief and loss in the context of adoption. This 90 minute webinar will include some time for Q & A with the expert. 

In order to attend the webinar session, you must register by Wednesday, September 30th at Noon EST!

About the Presenter

Kris Faasse, LMSW, ACSW started working in the adoption arena as a pregnancy counselor working with expectant moms facing unplanned pregnancies and wrestling with decisions about whether to parent their children or make adoption plans. Currently, she serves as the National Director of Adoption Services for Bethany Christian Services, an adoption and family preservation agency with offices nationwide. She has over 20 years of experience and holds both a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in social work. Kris has trained both nationally and internationally on topics including openness in adoption, the adoption process, grief and loss issues and Safe Haven Laws.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

VanHalle Family Fundraiser to Support Two Waiting Armenian Children!

front The VanHalle Family is hosting a fundraiser to support the future adoption of two wonderful waiting children in Armenia.  You can help grow their sponsorship accounts and show your support with a t-shirt purchase.  Proceeds will be donated to each of their sponsorship accounts on Reece’s Rainbow. 

Your Last Chance to Register for Thursday's Discipline Webinar

Last Chance to Register for Thursday's Webinar!
Tired of Timeouts - Take 2: Practical Advice on Trust-Based Discipline

Thursday, Sept 24, 2015
Conveniently offered at 7PM or 10PM CDT

To register, click your preferred time above or the button below.

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Do you know families who need help managing their child's difficult behavior?

Recommend they attend our upcoming webinar with Dafna Lender, LCSW, Clinical Director of The Theraplay Institute.

She'll provide her expert advice on:

  • Addressing common behavioral challenges
  • Fostering connection through specific activities and games
  • Maintaining a close relationship while reining in bad behavior

For the first time ever, clients can attend live at two different times:

7PM CDT/5PM PDT OR 10PM CDT/8PM PDT

For a sneak peek of what to expect, check out these popular sound bites from last year's webinar.

Questions? Email Kirby