Is It An Adoption Thing?

 Webinar  - Wednesday, August 7, 2013

7:00 PM Central, Q&A 8:00 PM

Are you struggling to decide if your child's challenging behaviors are adoption related or just kid stuff? Because so many families face that difficult task, Adoption Learning Partners asked an expert to help! Join Dr. Gregory Keck as he helps parents understand the impact of adoption and trauma on child development. Common challenging behaviors, how to manage behaviors, and effective (and ineffective) parenting tools will be discussed. Register here.

What No One Ever Told Me About Special Needs Adoption: Loving Our Perfect Child

  

Adopting several children from China has been a joy-filled, faith-building, abundant adventure. We have four biological children and feel as though we are experienced parents. However, sometimes even experienced parents can find that they are not adequately prepared for some issues.

During November of 2006, we decided that we would pursue a special needs child on a waiting child list. Our agency diligently prepared us for parenting a child with special needs....

Here is a list of items that no social worker ever prepared us for:

1. No one ever told us that when we had our adopted "special needs" daughter evaluated by an occupational therapist, that she would be 6-months ahead of her typically developing two-armed peers in motor development

2. No one ever told me that at age 2, she would figure out how to climb to the top of a bunk bed with her one arm just to admire her brother's trophies on a high shelf.

3. No one ever told me that she would be only 19 pounds but have the desire, tenacity, and strength of a Super Bowl bound football team.

- Tamera Wong - Rainbow Kids

To read the rest of this article and the remainder of this inspiring list, click here.

Gladney Cup

The Gladney Cup Golf Tournament is a world-class, PGA style charitable golf related event benefiting The Gladney Center for Adoption. It is held every-other year on one of the most beautiful, prestigious golf courses in the nation. This year's event will take place on Monday, September 23, 2013, on the famed Merion Golf Club East Course in Ardmore, PA.

Click here for more information.

Monkey: Journey to the West

Last night, several Gladney Asia staff attended Chen Shi-Zheng’s Monkey: Journey to the West at New York City’s Lincoln Center. The performance is an adaptation of Journey to the West, one of the four great classics novels of Chinese literature. It was a very exciting and interesting performance which used mixed media, including music, animation, acrobatics and martial arts to tell the compelling story of the Monkey King’s quest for immortality. The music was a blend of Chinese traditional opera and electronic pop, and the use of color, elaborate stage props and acrobatic performances were very reminiscent of shows that can be seen in China. Although the traditional Chinese themes in the show were the highlights, there were moments of humor that seemed to be able to cross cultural boundaries and were enjoyed by all!

Thinking about Adoption? Have you considered a Waiting Child?

When my husband and I first started our adoption process, these children were referred to as Special Needs which can be a scary term.

But what if instead we called them "Waiting Children"? Doesn't sound as intimidating, right, and it is the truth as well! Furthermore, what if we thought of "Special Needs" kids as "special", amazing children in "need" of or waiting for a forever family?... 

When our caseworker mentioned reviewing a special needs list, we looked at each and said, "we don't think so", but God had other plans. He began to work in our hearts and brought people into our lives who had adopted children from China on the waiting child list and showed us that He had a completely different plan than we were thinking of for our adopted child. Read more.

New Adoption Law

On July 14, 2014, a new law goes into effect requiring all agencies and persons providing adoption services in Hague Convention and Orphan cases to be accredited, approved, super­vised or exempted under the Hague accreditation regulations.  The U.S. Department of State designated the Council on Accreditation (COA) as the entity responsible for accrediting/approving adoption service providers in intercountry adoption. 

Gladney Center, as a Hague accredited agency, is in compliance with this law. 

 

For more information about the UAA, see the Department of State’s notice of January 15, 2014, The Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 becomes law and our FAQs on universal accreditation. 

Get involved with your local GFA!

The summer fun continues... check out the GFA sponsored events planned for July and August - pool parties, play groups, potlucks and more will be taking place around the country to bring families together to enjoy each other's company and the beautiful weather!

Click here for the GFA Network's Event Calendar to learn what is happening in your area!

 

If you would like to learn more about opportunities to volunteer your time with your local GFA board, please contact the GFA Director of volunteers: Wendy Lee at

wendy.lee@gladney.org. Volunteers can help in a variety of ways. The new GFA season will kick-off in the Fall with a calendar of events specific to each local region. It is a great way to meet other families and make a difference!  

Thoughts about Sharing and Connecting

For almost two years now, I have had the privilege to work with the Gladney Asia staff on communications by creating a monthly newsletter and maintaining the program's blogsites. It has been such a pleasure getting to know the staff and experiencing first hand, their passion for adoption! Each month, we have enjoyed working collaboratively to publish adoption related articles and news, helpful resources and most importantly, adoption announcements and photos! 

Gladney and the Gladney Family Association strive to keep families involved and informed, providing a resource for parenting needs from before placement through young adulthood. There is so much wonderful information about adoption, parenting and heritage celebration that it is always exciting selecting the contents for our readers. It is our hope that our outreach and communications serve all Gladney Asia families, from those who are waiting, through those who adopted 15 or more years ago.

  

After publishing this summer newsletter, I will pass along this role to others so that I have more time as our oldest daughter prepares to apply for college! However, as I wrote in the article last month "The Benefits of Staying Connected", I will remain in contact with the Gladney Asia staff, complete some projects we have been planning and continue to assist Gongzhan with the custom China Heritage Tours.

- Lydia Macci

Gladney's Waiting Child website has been re-launched!

A Child to Love is now available to families who are interested in domestic or international adoption. Profile information of children waiting to be adopted can be accessed with varying levels of detail. The levels of access allow Gladney to present relevant child information, but also make sure the child's information is kept secure.

Recent Taiwan Adoption News

June was a busy month for our Taiwan program - we had three families travel to complete the adoption of their amazing children! 

The Lancaster family welcomed 5 year old Ying-Tzu with open arms! The whole family spent two weeks in Taiwan getting to experience Ying-Tzu's birth country, but Ying-Tzu was most excited to get home and see her new room and toys! 

Chris and Jennifer welcomed Caiden home! Big brother Liam was excitedly awaiting their arrival in New York City! 

Michael and Hui-Min came home to Texas last week with their twin boys David and Samuel! These 4 year olds will definitely keep these new parents busy!

We are also happy to announce that one of our families received a referral this month of a healthy two year little girl! Another family was alerted that they will likely be traveling in July to complete the adoption of their son in time for his eighth birthday! 

New York GFA named GFA of the year!

This year, Gladney staff chose the New York Metro Gladney Family Association (GFA) as the Legacy Blanket 2013 WINNER!

Sarah Krikstone, along with the New York GFA, worked with passion and commitment to host several events for families to share and connect with each other. This year, two great new activities were offered: Family Day at Greenwich Beach and a sleepover event at the Intrepid Museum. Due to their overwhelming success, these will become annual events! 

If you would like to learn more about opportunities to volunteer your time with your local GFA board, please contact the GFA Director of volunteers: Wendy Lee at

wendy.lee@gladney.org.