Participants will learn typical characteristics and behaviors of children adopted over the age of two years and the long term parenting skills necessary to facilitate a successful outcome. Speaker/Moderator Bridget Devine, LSW, is an IAC Center Counselor with extensive clinical experience working with all adoption triad members; families of children with developmental delays, learning disabilities, […]
Archive | Adoption
Beyond “Happy”: New Parents Have Complex Feelings
You will feel elated when you finally bring your child home, but you might also experience other emotions on the outskirts of that joy — from lingering sadness about infertility to echoes of failed matches to becoming a parent literally overnight. You are finally home with your newly adopted child, and you’re thrilled — but […]
Adoption and the Schools
When adoptive parents send their children to school, they want what all parents want. They want their children to be happy, successful, to make friends, to enjoy learning and most important, to feel comfortable in the big world represented by the classroom. In this presentation we review: Talking to teachers and schools about adoption; how […]
Birth Parent Fantasies and Fears
By Joni Mantell on August 21, 2015 in Adoption, adoptive families, Featured in Adoptive Families, Open Adoption, TEENS
Is your child entertaining a wild birth parent fantasy? Don’t worry — it’s totally normal. Around ages six to seven, children are capable of more complex thinking and begin to grasp what adoption means. This gives rise to new, sometimes alarming fantasies and fears. While many children daydream about another set of parents — who […]
Baby Care for Adoptive Parents – NY, NY
By Joni Mantell on August 21, 2015 in Adoption, Family Building Options, Open Adoption, Pre-adopt, Upcoming Events
Saturday, November 21, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM (EDT) 333 West 57th Street New York, NY This workshop is for you if you are waiting to adopt and would like to learn about baby care. Workshop Facilitator is Nicole Mayer RMA, RN, BSN, an IAC Center Educator, with extensive experience in infertility, OB/GYN, and newborn […]
Therapeutic Writing: Putting Your Feelings on Paper
By Joni Mantell on August 21, 2015 in Adoption, Family Building Options, Featured in Adoptive Families, Infertility, NEW Articles, Open Adoption, Pre-adopt, Psychotherapy
Infertility, parenting after adoption, growing up in an adoptive family, relinquishing a child—all give rise to complex emotions. Learn about the innovative Therapeutic Writing model that’s helping many lay bare and make sense of their innermost thoughts.
Open Adoption: A Reference Guide for Families
By Joni Mantell on August 21, 2015 in Adoption, Family Building Options, Featured in Adoptive Families, NEW Articles, Open Adoption
By Joni Mantell; as seen in Adoptive Families Magazine Open adoption is a scary phrase. “When I first heard it, I wondered, would I feel like a ‘stand in’ or a ‘rent-a-mom’?” says Christine, from New Jersey. This is the most common initial reaction prospective parents have—that open adoption is “co-parenting.” Others may come to domestic […]
Support Groups: The Five Top Benefits and FAQ’s
Infertility and Adoption Support Groups: The Top 5 Benefits The IAC Center loves groups. We offer: infertility groups; pre-adopt groups, adoptive parents groups, children’s adoption groups and teen adoption groups. These groups have shown us the best side of human nature as we see the members support each other, share tips, make each other laugh […]
Talking About Adoption with Children
This workshop is for adoptive parents, pre-adoptive parents and professionals. Some adoption agencies will accept this workshop as credit toward the home study requirements. Certificates will be issued upon request. In this workshop you will learn: How to create a safe family atmosphere in which adoption can be openly discussed What children think about adoption […]
Famous Adoptees
Please use the link below: Famous Adoptees
Single Mother’s By Choice Conference DVD’s
Single Mother’s By Choice Conference DVD’s from their 30th Anniversary conference held in Brooklyn NY In October of 2011. While these will appeal to singles this may also appeal to you if your family is touched by third party reproduction or adoption as you will be able to learn from:
Transracial Adoption: It Will Change Your Family Forever
By Carolyn Berger, LCSW As a white person, my understanding of what it took to bring a black, Latino, or Asian child into my family was straightforward. You either adopted a black or biracial child domestically or you traveled to Guatemala, Columbia, Ethiopia or somewhere in Asia to bring a child of color home. You made sure that your […]
Pieces of Me Book Review
Susan Merkel Book Review: Pieces of Me Edited by Robert L. Ballard ISBN: 9780972624442 “Who am I?” is a question everyone asks themselves at least once in their life. But for adopted people, especially during their teenage years, the answer can be more elusive, which makes for a much more complicated experience in adolescence and […]
Adoption and Schools
To play the presentation click on the link below then click “open’. ADOPTION&THESCHOOLS Written by Joni S. Mantell, LCSW, CSW, Director of IAC Center, 2005 All Rights Reserved
Talking to Your Child About Adoption: Infancy to Age Six
5 Key Steps for Parents – Prepare yourself to talk with your child about adoption Claim your child and feel entitled to parent your child Emotionally accept that your child has an interest in his birth history. Learn about the ages and stages in children’s understanding of adoption Get comfortable talking about adoption with your […]