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International Adoptive Families
is a support group founded in 1997 that now offers an impressive range of programs for families adopting children from other countries. For 13 years we have organized the annual Adoption Fair for prospective parents. We provide educational programs for waiting and new families on essential topics such as choosing special needs adoption, preparing for and coping with travel, health issues in adoption, promoting attachment post-adoption depression. Parent meetings cover many important aspects of raising adopted children: attachment issues, race and adoption, sensory issues, school issues, telling the adoption story etc. We offer a workshop on making lifebooks, and a W.I.S.E UP workshop that teaches children how to handle questions and comments about adoption. We build children’s positive self-image with events that celebrate their country of origin; Lunar New Year and Moon Festival for Asian children, an Eastern European celebration, and one for the Americas, most of these in partnership with the Discovery Center. Through Missouri State Universitys Camp Bear, we offer a weeklong summer camp on Chinese culture, Camp Panda. We also hold social events where families with children from many countries get together: our summer picnic and swim party, and our holiday party in December. We bring in outside speakers, the most important being the nationally-renowned Heart of the Matter Seminar on adoptive parenting. We also have a lending library of books, videos and DVDS on all adoption issues. In addition, the President, Jessica Gerard, is a recognized local expert on every aspect of international adoption, and is always available to give information, advice and support. Finally, she sends out an online newsletter every month.
All this for only $25 a year membership dues!
For more information contact us
Click here to print off a 2011-12 membership form if you wish to join the support group.
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January Meeting: Welcome the Year of the Dragon at the Discovery Centers Chinese New Year Event
Sunday, January 22, 2012, from 12:00-5:00 pm.
The Discovery Center is located on 438 East St. Louis Street in Springfield, MO
This year IAF families will enjoy a private dumplings lunch at the Discovery Center before the public is admitted at 1 pm. The lunch will be catered by OTC culinary arts students as a fundraiser for their trip to China.
After 1 pm the Discovery Center will offer their great hands-on activities. Hing Wah Hatch will lead our traditional Lion Dance and John Prescott and his students will provide music! We willl be handing out Lucky Envelopes, too!
The cost of the dumplings lunch is $5 per person over 3 years of age. Please RSVP so the students know how many dumplings to make.
Further information and a map at http://www.discoverycenter.org
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We need volunteers to arrive at 10 am on the 22nd to decorate the lobby at the Discovery Center, and to stay afterwards to remove our decorations.
Please email Jessica Gerard, jgerard95@aol.com if you can help.
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