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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 2013-14 membership form if you wish to join the support group.
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Important Announcement:The Board has made the decision to expand membership of this support group to all adoptive families in our area. The main reasons for this are:
International adoption is declining rapidly, and there are few new families joining. Membership declined to 14 families last year.
The majority of families joining our group in the past adopted from China. Few couples are adopting their first child from China, so no waiting families are joining our group.
More local domestic adoptions are foster-adopt, special needs and trans-racial adoptions. These childrens issues are very similar to those of our internationally adopted children, and we have much in common.
Families with internationally adopted children are also adopting domestically, as countries close.
Our group collectively has a great deal of knowledge, expertise, experience, and many resources, that we can share with other families
So, now we are Adoptive Families of Southwest Missouri, and we welcome all adoptive families. Please encourage all your friends who have adopted to join our group. Membership is still $25 annually, and we will continue to hold all our usual events. Please invite adoptive families to our annual picnic in Phelps Grove on June1.
All adoptive families are also welcome at our monthly parent support group meetings
JUNE MEETING: Summer Picnic and Annual General Meeting
Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Phelps Grove Park in Springfield, MO
This will be the first year we welcome all adoptive families. Please invite all families you know who have adopted or foster children to attend.
We will meet and eat in the pavilion at 4:30 pm, rain or shine. IAF will provide fried chicken. Please bring a salad, side or dessert, and a large bottle of soda, tea, water etc. Plates, cups, flatware, napkins, ice, etc, are provided.
Parents, please bring outdoor games for the children.
The Annual General Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Membership dues ($25) can be paid at the picnic.
CAMP PANDA
June 17-21, 2013 at The Summit Preparatory School located at the Chesterfield Village
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!
Camp Panda introduces children to the rich heritage of China. All classes and activities are authentically Chinese, to provide an immersion experience in Chinese culture. Children ages 3-12 will experinece the following activities for the week.
Speak Mandarin phrases
Sing traditional songs
Write words in Mandarin
paint Chinese brush paintings
dance traditional dances
Play authentic Chinese instruments
Learn Kung Fu
Do the Lion dance with masks
Play traditional childrens games
Eat Chinese snacks
Wear traditional costumes on performance day
Optional traditional Chinese lunch, catered by Bao Bao: $5 per day M-Th.
Camp Panda is now part of The Summits summer program.
HALF day program ages 4-7 from 9am-1 pm is $125 per child. FULL day program ages 7-12 from 9am-4 pm is $200 per child.
Register online at www.thesummitprep.org/summer.
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