You've probably heard the news by now! If not, visit the press release for more info. We would love to hear back from you. What excites YOU about this partnership?

NCFA is excited to announce a new upcoming two-part webinar series on trauma-informed parenting for adoptive parents!

While this webinar is geared primarily towards adoptive parents, it will offer important principles and helpful practical applications that will be relevant for adoption professionals as well. Please feel free to spread the word about these resources!

Trauma-Informed Parenting for Adoptive Parents (Part 1)

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

1:00 – 2:30pm EST

This workshop-style webinar will delve into the essential principles of trauma-informed caregiving and equip participants with applicable strategies and techniques for managing challenging behaviors, promoting emotional regulation, and fostering a sense of safety and trust. This presentation will focus on real-life examples to help attendees gain confidence in recognizing and responding to the unique needs of children who have experienced trauma.

Presenter: Susan K. Taylor, MS

Trauma-Informed Parenting for Adoptive Parents (Part 2)

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

1:00 – 2:30pm EDT

This workshop-style webinar will look at the characteristics of Complex PTSD, behaviors and conditions that can develop after exposure to traumatic stress, and the ways this may present itself within an adoptive parent-child relationship. We’ll provide strategies for parenting through challenges related to maintaining trust, repairing self-worth, and regulating complex emotions. This presentation will explore ways to understand and meet the needs of children as they move toward adolescence, a phase where the brain’s developmental progression may present additional challenges for those who have experienced significant interpersonal trauma.

Presenter: Susan K. Taylor, MS

Thanks to the support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, this webinar will offer 1.5 free CEs for all live attendees. In addition, the recorded webinar will offer 1.5 CEs at a 50% discount for NCFA members. New York contact hours will also be available (for the live webinar only). For more information on social work CEs and to register, follow this link: Webinar Registration

NCFA also invites you to explore their continuing education opportunities in their NEW online learning library!

We love this resource from Gladney Center for Adoption! Click to see a treasure trove of educational videos for adoptive families.

Creating a Family, the national adoption, foster care, and kinship care education and support nonprofit, is currently offering an evidence-based Prenatal Substance Exposure Training for Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship parents!

This training is being offered for FREE courtesy of our partner, Jockey Being Family®!

This comprehensive online training is media-rich and includes opportunities for interactive discussion as well as access to a resource library of parenting strategies, tip sheets, and other information to support children affected by prenatal substance exposure. The training uses a neuro-behavioral brain-based approach and includes video interviews with experts in the field, including Dr. Robin Gurwitch, professor in the Duke University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Leon Coleman, professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, and Dr. Bill Allen, clinical geneticist at the Fullerton Genetics Center. The training video also features interviews with adoptive and foster parents raising children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol or drugs. 

Their Prenatal Substance Exposure Training is divided into three 90-minute sessions. At the end of the training, parents will receive a certificate of completion worth 4.5 hours of CE credit. The training is evidence-based. Studies show that participants saw increased confidence in raising children/youth prenatally exposed to alcohol and drugs and increased efficacy in knowing techniques and strategies to help these kids thrive.

Space is limited! Please share with parents you feel would benefit from participating. Click for more information and to learn how to register!

The Taiwanese American Students Club at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is excited to announce the upcoming 2024 Illinois Cultural Adopted Students Program (ICASP)! 

The Illinois Cultural Adopted Students Program has hosted this conference several times in the past to welcome Asian adoptee families from all over the area to help deepen connections to Asian culture and identity. They are dedicated to showcasing community service, leadership, and active engagement for the Asian adoptee community at UIUC and in the local area. Their efforts focus on promoting awareness of cultural heritage, fostering understanding of ethnic identity, and nurturing youth leadership.

ICASP is completely FREE and will include activities for both parents and kids! Lunch will also be provided!

This year ICASP 2024 will be on Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Asian American Cultural Center, located at 1210 W Nevada St, Urbana, IL 61801. Free parking is available!

ICASP is tailored towards elementary schoolers but all kids are welcome! For the kids, they will pair every kid with a “big,” a college student who will serve as a mentor assisting the child with activities for the whole event! This year, some of the activities will include making noodles and shaved ice, doing arts and crafts, watching educational videos, and playing group games. Parents can participate in a discussion-based workshop during the childrens’ activities.

If you are interested in joining them for ICASP 2024, please fill out this form to sign up and better tailor the experience for you and your family!

NCFA is excited to announce a new upcoming event!

Online Discussion Group: Learn More About Adoption, which will be held Tuesday, March 12th from 8:00-9:00pm EST. This FREE informational gathering is for individuals with histories of infertility who are interested in adoption.

Also, take some time to explore their Adoption After Infertility webpage which offers a curated library of free resources tailored to prospective and current adoptive parents with histories of infertility, and provides education, personal stories, and guidance for the next steps.  

Families home in February!