Articles

It is amazing for me see this article in which I was quoted about secrecy and openness in 2015 now, after my unexpected discovery that I am donor conceived in 2019.

When it emerged that a fertility clinic had made one woman pregnant with another’s baby, Renée Ballou and Carole LieberWilkins were advised to ‘lawyer up’. Instead they did something extraordinary – even as one raised the other’s biological child.

The holidays can be a joyful time full of connection and tradition, yet for donor conceived people (DCP), this season may also stir up complex feelings around family, identity, and belonging. While others might not understand these feelings.

By Joni S. Mantell, LCSW, Director Infertility and Adoption Counseling Center and Judith Kottick, LCSW, Director Fertility Counseling and Consulting Services Why disclose Children need information about their genetic origins to understand their identity as they grow up. Taking an open approach to information sharing about their donor conception: Helps children understand their nature and […]

Many adult adoptees report that adoption was on their minds much more than it was discussed at home. The single most common factor in their not discussing adoption with their parents was that they picked up on their parents’ discomfort with the topic.

Therapeutic Writing Workshop for Birth Parents of Children Ages Infancy to 21 Express yourself…Gain clarity…Work through feelings… Enjoy the amazing healing power of writing… And meet others with similar experiences Each meeting will include writing prompts, time to write, the optional opportunity to share your writing or to simply enjoy the personal insights gained by doing the writing […]

Happy Spring! I don’t know about you but I am going to act like its Spring even if it’s cold outside. Read about: What’s NEW at IAC Center Some stimulating articles and a video A Spring event you can participate in that helps the World Wide Orphan Organization WWO. IAC Center NEWS Joni Mantell, LCSW, […]

Monthly at IAC in Pennington NJ –  IAC Adoption Talking Circle On the 4th Friday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Our Talking Circle is not a therapy group; instead it is a place for adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents to talk about about adoption, search and reunion; and to feel a […]

How to Talk to Your Kids about Adoption Workshop Workshop Outline The Whole Truth  The Facts of Life  Budding Curiosity: Talking about adoption Ages 3 to 5 Talking 3-5  Talking tips till 6 Talking to Kids about Adoption ages 6-8 Talking tips 7 to 12 Dealing With Your Child’s Birth Parent Fantasy  Talking to Your […]

In case the Hanji Box Movie tempted you to seek out a Korean Spa experience here are some options: Island Spa & Sauna in Edison, NJ (732) 253-7379 Open 24 hours Island Spa & Sauna a 30,000 square feet day spa aims to revitalize your mind, body and soul. We offer unique dry saunas made […]

Closed era adoptions are very different from most modern domestic adoptions in that adoptees and their adoptive parents typically had very little if any information; and adoptive parents were not educated about “How to talk to kids about adoption.” As a result there are many scars from the shame and secrecy of this era. Search […]

For Pre-Adoptive and Adoptive Parents   Open Adoption Reference Guide: by Joni Mantell, MSW – This is a good guide for starting this relationship on the right foot, dealing with bumps on the road and keeping the focus on the purpose of the relationship: the best interests of the child. The Open-Hearted Way to Open […]

Ages 2 to 5 and up Katz, Karen. Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale.  Through mystical storytelling and beautiful imagery, the process of adoption from start to finish is told in terms that will enchant young readers. (A Joni Mantell favorite) Curtis, Jamie Lee.  Tell Me Again about the Night I Was Born. Some family […]

Adopting After Infertility, by Patricia Irwin Johnson.  A book to help you and your partner assess where you are at; when and how you are able to move from medical treatments to adoption. In On It: What Adoptive Parents Would Like You to Know About Adoption, By Elisabeth O’Toole (2010).  An excellent book for grandparents, other […]