A Great Minnesota Network: Minnesota Adoption Resource Network

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Zero Kids Waiting is the monthly eNewsletter of Minnesota Adoption Resource Network, a 32-year old organization that creates and supports lifelong nurturing families for children needing permanency. As an email subscriber to Zero Kids Waiting, you will receive a monthly update about what our organization and others are doing to promote adoption of Minnesota children and teens.

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To learn more about Minnesota’s waiting children and our goal to reach Zero Kids Waiting visit State Adoption Exchange

With her neon-colored shoelaces, 13 year-old Monica is always on the lookout to make a fashion statement. While she sometimes likes to have her hair and nails done, she is always ready for a shoe-shopping trip. Describing herself as “funny, cool, and fashionable,” Monica is open to new experiences. She seems shy and reserved to strangers, but once she gets to know you she can be talkative and energetic. Her generous spirit shines through during interactions with peers. Monica excels in swimming and loves to be in the water. When she grows up she would like to be a photographer or cook. Her favorite recipes include chicken and vegetable saute. Currently her favorite part of school is science where classes are conducting experiments with volume and water. She greatly anticipates upcoming units in biology that will include dissecting animals.

Monica shares why having a family is important by saying, “When you have a family, you always have someone to talk to when you are down and someone to be there for you during the hard times.” Important qualities for her adoptive family include having fun and being respectful. As for her future, five years from now, Monica says, “I hope to be part of a family, successful, and trying my best.”

For more information about Monica, please contact Cimena Gordon, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Child Focused Recruiter at Kindred Family Services at 651-224-2172 or cgordon@kindredfamilyservices.org.

Haiti’s adoption authority has announced new administrative adoption procedures to take effect on October 1, 2012. The new procedures are part of the Government of Haiti’s efforts to become a Hague Adoption Convention partner with the United States, although at this time Haiti is not party to the Convention. The U.S. government will continue to process adoptions under the non-Hague system until the Convention enters into force for Haiti.

For more information 

Russia and U.S. Negotiate Inter-Country Adoption

A bi-lateral agreement on adoption between the United States and the Russian Federation is progressing. A meeting in late September indicated the continuance of inter-country adoptions of Russian children. Both countries are discussing safeguards for adoptive children, a concern that grew out of some high profile disruptions, as well as the obligations of adoptive parents. An agreement is expected to be implemented on November 1, 2012.

For more information

Pediatrics Association Guides Adoptive Families     
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently issued guidelines for families including that parents tell children they are adopted and that they should rely on pediatricians to help address challenges in raising adopted children. Other recommendations included positive adoption language with children, acknowledging racial differences and discussing pre-adoption health history with pediatricians. The guide identified developmental stages with expectations of behaviors related to what adopted children understand or misunderstand about their adoption. The AAP concluded that health professionals have an important role in helping families deal with difference, losses, and other issues associated with adoption

For more information

Childhood Adversity Impacts Adult Health

Ongoing research between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente in San Diego is studying the effect of childhood trauma on adulthood. An analysis of 17,000 routine health screenings has found a link between adversity in the formative years and developing health problems that may lead to premature death. The research is designed so data-based policies and investments during early interventions will have the most beneficial impact.

For more information

Kids Count Provides Thumbprint of Children’s Well-Being
The Annie E. Casey Foundations tracks the status of children throughout the country in a state-to-state report that The Children’s Defense Fund publishes. Kids Count is a free online booklet that provides a measurement of education, social, economic, and physical well-being of national children. The Minnesota Kids Count 2012: Children Across Minnesota reports on 2010 findings, revealing widespread child poverty in Greater Minnesota as well as in urban areas.

For more information

Parents and Professionals 

Adoptive and foster parents are invited to “Choosing Hope: Adoption &  Foster Care Conference” on Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 9 am to 5 pm at Brunswick United Methodist in Crystal, Minnesota. The day conference provides families an opportunity to hear from local adoption experts. Participants will gain insight and tools to help families grow and navigate through the life-long process of adoption and foster care while generating connections with other families. The day conference will host presentations from Claudia Fletcher, Deb Fjeld, Kari Fletcher and more. For a list of topics and trainers, please visit www.hopebloomsmn.org or contact Shannon at 320-217-9304.

Pow Wow of Healing
The 9th annual Gathering of Our Children & Returning Adoptees Pow Wow will take place on Saturday, November 3, 2012 starting at 11 am at the Minneapolis American Indian Center at 1530 East Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. Adoptees, adoptive parents, formerly fostered individuals, birth relatives, and foster youth are invited to observe the grand entry at 1 pm with an afternoon ceremony at 3 pm. Past participants have found the gathering to be a time for remembrance, celebration, and healing. For more information, visit http://www.maicnet.org

Minneapolis Film Society to Show Film on Tranracial Adoption
Families with Children from Asia Midwest (FCA) is proud to be working with Minneapolis Film Society to bring Somewhere Between to the Twin Cities area. The film addresses identity formation, adoption, family, and race through the coming-of-age stories of four girls adopted from China. Through their specific stories, viewers come to understand more fully the meaning of family and the ever prevalent cultural disconnect between stereotyping and race. The film will be showing at St. Anthony Main Theatre in Minneapolis November 16-22, 2012. A special Q & A session will follow the film. For more information, visit www.somewherebetweenmovie.com

Celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month
Each year, the President of the United States makes a proclamation that November is National Adoption Month, as does the Governor of Minnesota. A week-long celebration of adoption in 1976 evolved into a national month for adoption awareness during the time of Thanksgiving. During the month many Minnesota counties and private placing agencies will hold special events often featuring finalization ceremonies with judges that are open to the public.

Minnesota’s 15th annual free Circus of the Heart gathers families and children for a free afternoon of games, prizes, mascots, pony rides, petting zoo, family photos, refreshments and more. On Sunday, November 4, 2012, families formed through adoption, kinship, foster care, and guardianship are invited to the Oakdale Prom Center from 1 pm to 4 pm. The annual event combines celebration of the 588 children adopted last year with an awareness for the 339 Minnesota children still awaiting adoption. Circus provides opportunities for families and teens to win prizes. A teen room only will host activities for older youth, and teens will have a chance to win an iPod Touch, an Xbox 360, and more. The family drawing will offer a weekend package to Rutgers Resort and various tickets to local attractions. No reservations are needed, and the event is free.

For more information and driving directions, click here

Adoption Expert Addresses Sibling Placements During Live Webinar  
The sibling bond is very important in children’s development. Brothers and sisters share friendship, warmth, and concern for one another. Sibling relationships play a major role in the development of social skills since children spend the majority of time with their siblings and learn how to interact with others. Evidence shows that siblings influence the development of secure attachment. So what happens when children are separated from their siblings during placements adoption or foster placements?

Dr. Richard Delaney, internationally known speaker and author, will address sibling placements in adoption and foster care. He will discuss the long-term impact sibling separation has on the stability and well-being of the child and offer suggestions to caregivers and to professionals on how to handle behaviors related to sibling separations. Dr. Delaney is slated to present “Brothers & Sisters: Addressing Sibling Placements in Adoption” on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 from 12 pm to 1:30 pm (CST). For more information go to www.mnadopt.org/calendar.php

Fee
$15 webinar only — Register Now
$25 webinar + CD — Register Now

$15 CD only. To purchase any webinar CD, please visit www.mnadopt.org/webinars.php

• Each Metro house of worship pledged to find a family for a waiting child or sibling group.
• Corporations promoted adoption “in-house” through bulletin boards, kiosks and newsletters.
• Populations who have been identified as potential parents — older career women, empty-nesters, communities of color — were better targeted in recruitment.
• Barriers to adopting were reduced. Call us at 612-861-7115 if you are encountering any obstacles.* The number of Minnesota children waiting for families has decreased from 650 to less than 400. While this shows progress our target is ZERO waiting children.