Date:	March 10th 2012
Time:	8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Location:	Head Royce School 4315 Lincoln Avenue Oakland, CA Directions
Description:	In every adoption there are many stories. There is the birthparent(s)' story, the adopting parent(s)' story, not to mention those of siblings and extended families. Whether an adopted child has ongoing contact with their birth parents, or none at all, adoptees must "weave" together their own narrative to create a strong, healthy identity. Learn how the adults in adopted children's lives can best embrace and support each child's story and validate all triad members loving contributions to the child. Join us for a rare opportunity to learn to recognize a child's changing emotional and cognitive understanding of adoption over time. This daylong conference will prove enlightening and informative if you are: A birth mother, or a member of a birth family by adoption; An adoptive parent, or a person considering adoption; An individual engaged in work with families and individuals touched by adoption including educators, social workers, volunteers, counselors, or extended families members. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 8:30 - 9:00 am Registration 9:00 - 9:15 am Welcome and introductions 9:15 - 10:45 am Pat Irwin Johnston, Keynote speaker: "Adoption Realities: Weaving the Stories Together" 10:45 - 11:00 am Morning Break 11:00 - 11:30 am Keynote Question and Answer Session 11:30 -12:15 pm Susan Ito, solo performance, "The Ice Cream Gene" 12:15 - 1:15 pm Lunch and optional break-out affinity groups provided 1:15 - 2:30 pm Session I 2:45 - 4:00 pm Session II 4:00 - 4:30 pm Book signing Afternoon Session I Topics Expecting by Adoption (for parents-to-be) Talking about Adoption with 0-5 years olds How Kids Think about Adoption at Ages 6-11 Continuing the Conversation About Adoption with Tweens, Teens, and Young Adults Birth Parent Sessions - Sharing Our Stories With Each Other and Our Children Adopted Adults Speak Out About Their Own Stories & Experiences Afternoon Session II Topics For Professionals Only, Working with 21st Century Clients Transracial Adoption - Living Across Culture and Race LGBT Headed Families Intersecting with Adoption Navigating Identity Issues In Families Who Have No Birth Parent Contact Navigating Open Adoption Relationships, For Adoptive Parents Navigating In Open Adoption Relationships, For Birth Parents Parenting the Hurt Child: Recognizing Trauma Prior to Placement Afternoon sessions will be facilitated by a distinguished list of local adoption professionals including our featured speakers as well as Ann Brodzinsky, PhD, Leslie Foge, MA, MFT, Beth Hall, Susan Romer, Esq., Lynne Fingerman MSW and others. ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND MORNING PRESENTER Pat Irwin Johnston, MS, has been an award-winning advocate and educator in the field of infertility and adoption for over 30 years. Before her retirement in December, she had been the publisher at Perspectives Press for 30 years. She is an author of eight books and was a columnist for Adoptive Families Magazine. She has previously chaired the national board of directors for RESOLVE, along with other boards. Her most cherished credential is that of a parent through adoption of three grown children, and a member of a family which has experienced adoption as birthparent, adoptee, and adoptive parent through five consecutive generations. Susan Ito served as the director of Pact Camp from 2004 to 2011 and is now the Head of Pact's Adult Adoptee Advisory Board. Susan is herself a biracial Asian adoptee, teacher and published author. Her solo performance piece on adoption, The Ice Cream Gene, has been performed nationally and will be featured at the 4th International Conference on Adoption and Culture in Los Angeles in 2012.
Cost:	$75 per person ($80 for individuals wishing to earn CEUs). Scholarships for adoptees and birth parents available on an individual basis, please inquire. Catered lunch (vegetarian options available) and one copy per family of Pat Irwin Johnston's book "Adopting: Sounds Choices, Strong Families" included in cost of conference. Registrations received after Feb. 15 will be charged an additional $15.
Registration:	Register NOW We invite attendees to help us allow birth (first) parents to attend this conference by donating (tax-deductible) to our birth parent fund which we will use to subsidize attendance for first parents who could not otherwise afford to attend.