The Children's Bridge

2-Day AdopTALK Virtual Session
2020-09-26 09:00 - 17:00, 2020-09-27 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | ONLINE
Join us us Sept. 26 & 27 for a 2-day preparation workshop for international adoption.

Topics covered include:

Coming Home
Health Matters
Bonding and Attachment
Trans-racial Issues in Adoptive Families
Talking to Your Child About Adoption
Trip Preparation

Registration is required.

For more information or to register:
admin@childrensbridge.com | (613) 226-2112

South Korea: Program-Specific Information Session
2020-09-27 11:00 - 12:30
Have you been thinking about creating your family through international adoption?

Look no further! Learn more about specific country programs and meet our Adoption Program Managers through live Zoom sessions. These program-specific information sessions will provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and engage in interactive discussions.

These program-specific info sessions will provide details about:

Program History
Partnership
Requirements
Child Profile
Timelines
Step-by-Step Process
Trips

For full details, please view our flyer HERE, and register at Eventbrite HERE.

Pathways Practice Session: Touching Base After Pathways
2020-09-29 19:00 - 20:30
What is it?

An invitation to Pathways Alumni to join us for a coaching session with a PACT trainer. Let’s discuss how you are using the concepts and tools from Pathways. Are they helping? Would more explanation of the “how tos” be helpful? What other topics would you like to learn more about?
Includes a special session for kinship caregivers.
Learn more & register for free HERE

Social Justice & Allyship for Pre-Adoptive Parents of BIPOC Kids
2020-09-30 19:00 - 21:00, 2020-10-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2020-10-28 19:00 - 21:00
A 5-part anti-racism series designed for pre-adoptive parents of BIPOC kids
About this Event

Throughout the last few months, a new lens has been shown on the persistent, dehumanizing racism faced by BIPOC throughout the world, but most notably in North America.

If you’re a pre-adoptive or prospective adoptive parent considering adoption transracially (parenting a child of a different race than your own), you may be wondering how to think about these incidents or talk to your future child about them. You may be wondering if adopting transracially is the right decision for you and your family or considering how best to be prepared to be an anti-racist parent and raise anti-racist children.

This five-part series will:

educate you on social justice and allyship,
guide you through owning your role and responsibility as the future parent of a BIPOC child,
discuss how to show up as an anti-racist advocate in your life, family, and community,
provide insight on how to shape your future child’s life and community as one that is anti-racist and inclusive, and
have conversations with your child, family, and community about social justice, human rights and the history of adoption.

COST:

$450 + taxes per family (maximum two participants per family)
$400 + taxes per person

A resource list and study materials will be distributed via a secure link.

SCHEDULE:

All times in Eastern Time (ET)
Every other Wednesday (September 30, October 14, 28, November 11, 25) | 7 – 9pm

FACILITATORS:

Kara Eusebio, MPA and Karyn Arnauld-Bakelaar, M.A. Click HERE to meet your facilitators.

VIEW FLYER
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

ACO Live Webinar: Identity and Belonging
2020-10-01 19:00 - 20:30
Identity and Beloning with Dianne Mathes R.S.W. Adult Adoptee, Therapist, ED Adoption Council of Ontario.

Recommeded Audience: Adoptees, parents, teachers, partners and the community who wants to connect with and support the adopted child.

Goals: During this one hour webinar, Dianne uses original art and images to describe the life long journey of the adoptee from birth through the stages of development and into the experiences of the adults, including search and reunion. This webinar focuses on how adoption trauma may affect many aspects of an adoptee’s way of perceiving themselves and others, and the unique challenges which, if recognized, named and understood, can provide repair and healing. This webinar is intended to provide adoptees with support in naming and claiming some of their lens as well as for parents, teachers, partners and the community who wants to connect with and support the adopted child, youth or adult by learning about their unique lens and way of being.

Objectives:

See the “view” through the lens of adoption for many adoptees
Understand the experience from the core foundation, the sensory world of the infant
Learn the unique thoughts, feelings, experiences and perceptions that can be part of this unique journey in life
Learn how the world of the adoptee is both dual and multi layered and the many ways that adoptees may use to navigate these realities
Learn how this core experience informs identity and a sense of belonging at each stage of development
Learn how grief is different and what the differences mean in connections with self and others
Learn how adoption trauma is different and how and why children, youth and adults may respond differently and have unique and different needs
Learn how attunement to these unique experiences is important and what is needed beyond attunement

Register for free HERE

CANCELLED U̶S̶A̶ ̶(̶S̶a̶m̶e̶-̶S̶e̶x̶ ̶C̶o̶u̶p̶l̶e̶s̶)̶:̶ ̶P̶r̶o̶g̶r̶a̶m̶-̶S̶p̶e̶c̶i̶f̶i̶c̶ ̶I̶n̶f̶o̶r̶m̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶S̶e̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶
2020-10-03 11:00 - 12:30
CANCELLED
Have you been thinking about creating your family through international adoption?

Look no further! Learn more about specific country programs and meet our Adoption Program Managers through live Zoom sessions. These program-specific information sessions will provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and engage in interactive discussions.

These program-specific info sessions will provide details about:

Program History
Partnership
Requirements
Child Profile
Timelines
Step-by-Step Process
Trips

For full details, please view our flyer HERE, and register at Eventbrite HERE.

(Inter-cultural/Inter-racial) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-06 - 2020-11-24
Families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially | Oct. 6 – Nov. 24

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

Thailand: Program-Specific Information Session
2020-10-06 17:00 - 18:30

ACO Live Webinar: The Importance of Permanency for our Children & Youth
2020-10-07 19:00 - 20:30
The Importance of Permanency for our Children & Youth with Sylvia Gibbons & Aviva Zukerman Schure

Recommended audience: all audiences welcome

Goals: During this 90-minute webinar, we will explore the critical importance of lasting permanency to our children and youth. This webinar begins by providing an understanding of what permanency means and what permanency journeys are all about. It explores the outcomes for youth that “age out” of the child welfare system without finding lasting permanency. We then discuss the differences between surviving and thriving. The second part of the webinar focuses on what adoption and permanency can offer to children and youth and what permanency families and “humans” look like. Throughout the webinar we incorporate the perspectives of children and youth on permanency journeys and feature their thoughts, voices and art about permanency and adoption. Finally, the webinar provides information on next steps for those who are interested in becoming a family/human for children and youth, as well as for professionals who want to learn more about permanency and adoption journeys and how to work with all those on them.

Note: This webinar serves as Part 1 of the Never Too Late program’s Orientation for prospective families/humans.

Objectives:

Learn about and understand what “permanency” means

Gain a better understand of what permanency journeys are all about from a youth’s perspective

Learn about the outcomes for youth “aging out” of the foster care system without permanency

Explore the differences between surviving vs thriving in life & why permanency is critically important

Learn what permanency can offer to children and youth

Explore what permanency families and “humans” look like

Listen and reflect on kids/youth thoughts and perspectives – what permanency means and feels like to them

Learn how to find out more about being a family/human for kids who need lasting permanency

For professionals, learn how to find out more about permanency and adoption journeys and how to work with those on them

Register for free HERE

Social Justice & Allyship: A Five-Part Anti-Racism Series for Adoption Professionals
2020-10-07 19:00 - 21:00, 2020-10-21 19:00 - 21:00
Joins us for this 5-part anti-racism series for adoption professionals.
This course was developed specifically for adoption professionals including adoption practitioners, adoption consultants, adoption doulas, and anyone working in adoption with families adopting transracially.

It is designed to:

Educate you on social justice issues in relation to child welfare/adoption;
Guide you through challenging the adoption narrative;
Help you uncover the racism inherent in adoption and provide real tools to actively dismantle it;
Discuss ages and stages of development and actions anti-racist parents can take;
Provide guidance to families on how to shape their child’s community as one that is anti-racist and inclusive.

WHEN: Every other Wednesday via Zoom (Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 21, Nov. 4, 18) | 7 – 9 pm

COST: $450 + taxes (A resource list and study materials will be distributed via a secure link.)

FACILITATORS: Kara Eusebio, MPA and Karyn Arnauld-Bakelaar, M.A. Click HERE to meet your facilitators.

VIEW FLYER
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

(Teens) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-08 - 2020-11-26
Families parenting teens | Oct. 8 – Nov. 26

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

(Toronto Families) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-13 - 2020-12-01
Toronto Families | Oct. 13 – Dec. 1

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

(FASD) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-13 - 2020-12-01
Families who have adopted children with FASD | Oct. 13 – Dec. 1

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

CANCELLED U̶S̶A̶:̶ ̶P̶r̶o̶g̶r̶a̶m̶-̶S̶p̶e̶c̶i̶f̶i̶c̶ ̶I̶n̶f̶o̶r̶m̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶S̶e̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶
2020-10-13 17:00 - 18:30

(Eastern Ont. Families) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-14 - 2020-12-02
Eastern Ontario Families | Oct. 14 – Dec. 2

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

(W & SW Ont. Families) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-14 - 2020-12-02
Western & Southwestern Ontario Families | Oct. 14 – Dec. 2

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

ACO Live Webinar: Grief, Loss and Trauma
2020-10-14 19:00 - 20:30
Tasks to be Mastered to Facilitate Healing from a History of Grief, Loss and Trauma Part 1 with Judy Archer, MSW, RSW

Recommended Audience: Prospective caregivers, adoptive parents, foster parents & professionals.

Upon placement, children face two daunting emotional issues: forming an attachment to new caregivers while simultaneously grieving separation, loss and more often than not, reactivation of any trauma from the past. In this webinar, prospective caregivers, adoptive parents, foster parents and the professionals who work work with them will gain important knowledge, skills and insights about the indicators of healing in the child post-placement and what they can do in their respective roles and relationships pre and post-placement to facilitate the healing process.

Goals: To gain knowledge, skills and insights needed to facilitate a child’s healing from grief, loss and trauma

Objectives: By the end of the webinar participants will be able to…

Describe the grieving process including the nature, stages and symptoms of grief
Identify at least 3 child-specific factors that will influence a child’s reactions to grief and loss
Explain at least 5 contributors to unresolved grief and loss in the child post-placement
Delineate the 6 variables that set the grieving process for the child-in-care and the child who joins a family through adoption and permanency planning apart from other types of loss
Outline the 9 Principles of Practice for parenting or working with the grieving child
Define trauma and provide at least 3 examples of the types of traumatic experiences that are common to many children-in-care
Elucidate 4 indicators of healing from a history of grief, loss and trauma with explanations of the specific tools, resources and strategies that can be used in their respective roles and relationships with a child to facilitate the child’s mastery of each interrelated task
Demonstrate knowledge of specific resources relevant to working with children pre- and post-placement
Outline the 9 Principles of Practice for parenting or working with the grieving child
Define trauma and provide at least 3 examples of the types of traumatic experiences that are common to many children-in-care
Elucidate 4 indicators of healing from a history of grief, loss and trauma with explanations of the specific tools, resources and strategies that can be used in their respective roles and relationships with a child to facilitate the child’s mastery of each interrelated task
Demonstrate knowledge of specific resources relevant to working with children pre- and post-placement

Register for free HERE

(Northern Ontario Families) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-15 - 2020-12-03
Northern Ontario Families | Oct. 15 – Dec. 3

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

ACO Live Webinar: Search and Reunion
2020-10-15 19:00 - 20:30
Search and Reunion with with Dianne Mathes R.S.W. Adult Adoptee, Therapist, ED Adoption Council of Ontario.

Recommended Audience: Adult adoptees, first/birth families, adoptive families and the professionals who support them.

Goal: During this one hour webinar, Dianne explores the search and reunion phase in the life long journey of the adoptee. This webinar focuses on practical information about what reunion is and how to consider and embark upon a search. By exploring some of the key experiences within the adoption experience, our Search and Reunion webinar explores how questions, lack of mirroring and reflection as well as the lack of information about the story and circumstances of placement can be pieced together and the core issues within the lens of adoption addressed. Key to this webinar is a focus on how unresolved loss, grief and abandonment can be “triggered” and the normal and sometimes intense feelings this can create for both adoptees and their original and adoptive families.

Objectives: By the end of this webcast, participants will:

See the “view” of search and reunion through the lens of adoption

Explore and learn about approaches to searching

Understand the types of reunion and how best to make decisions about what is right for you

Learn the thoughts, feelings, experiences and perceptions that can occur are normal, and how they are connected to the experience of adoption

Learn that the intense feelings and longings can evoke intense needs such as Genetic Attraction

Understand how the issues of loss, grief and abandonment can emerge with search and reunion

Learn how search and reunion can provide a way to understand the missing pieces and facts that often exist within the adoption and placement experience

Learn why and how support is important and what support is most helpful

Learn ways to tell and talk about the need to search and why reunion is important to others in your life who may not know

Learn about how to navigate reunion relationships with care and compassion for everyone

Register for free HERE

(Kinship Families) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-16 - 2020-12-04
Kinship Families | Oct. 16 – Dec. 4

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

(LGBTQ Families) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-17 - 2020-12-05
LGBTQ Families | Oct. 17 – Dec. 5

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

ACO Live Webinar: ACEs & Developmental Trauma Part 1 - The Science & Why it Matters
2020-10-19 19:00 - 20:30
ACEs & Developmental Trauma Part 1: The Science & Why it Matters with Kathy Soden & Sylvia Gibbons, Adoption Council of Ontario PACT Team & DTAA Members

Recommended audience: pre-adoptive families, adoptive, kinship and customary care families, adult adoptees and the professionals who support those on adoption and permanency journeys

Objectives:

provide an overview of:

the Adverse Childhood Experiences study and its findings,
the brain science related to childhood trauma and adversity, and
what developmental trauma is all about

explain why it’s important to understand these topics through the lens of adoption and permanency journeys
introduce a discussion about the prevention and healing of developmental trauma which will be expanded upon in Part 2
discuss the brain’s resilience and opportunities for strengthening neural pathways
introduce Ontario’s Developmental Trauma Action Alliance and its goals
provide relevant resources and further learning opportunities

Register for free HERE

(Central Ontario Families) Pathways to Permanence 2: Parenting Children Who have Experienced Trauma and Loss©
2020-10-21 - 2020-12-09
Central Ontario Families | Oct. 21 – Dec. 9

What is it?

An eight session (24-hour) specialized training designed for adoptive, kinship and customary care families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss as a part of their history.

This Fall we are pleased to be offering our Pathways training program virtually to adoptive, kinship, and customary care families in classes that have been organized by geographical region in Ontario, as well as some classes specifically for kinship families, LGBTQ families, families who have adopted children with FASD, families who have adopted inter-culturally/inter-racially and families parenting adopted teens.
Download the flyer HERE.
For detailed information about the training click HERE.
Register for free HERE.

Connect-A-Kid: Games & Zoom Scavenger Hunt
2020-10-25 16:00 - 17:00
Games & Zoom Scavenger Hunt
Come join us and reconnect with your friends and mentors! Connect-A-Kid is a Team based mentorship program for adopted children, devoted to connecting the adoption community through mentorship, embracing cultural diversity and celebrating adoption.

Date: Sunday October 5, 2020
Time: 4 – 5 pm

This is a virtual event and we will email you the zoom link prior to the event.
For more information or to register, CLICK HERE
or contact Cathy at: cathy@adoption.ca or 613-680-2999 .
Adoption Council of Canada, Connect-A-Kid Program
2249 Carling Avenue, Suite 416, Ottawa, ON K2B 7E9

Connect-A-Kid is open to all adoptees from 6 to 12 years of age.

ACO Live Webinar: ACEs & Developmental Trauma Part 2 - Healing Through Adoption & Permanency Journeys
2020-10-26 19:00 - 20:30
ACEs & Developmental Trauma Part 2: Healing Through Adoption & Permanency Journeys with Kathy Soden & Sylvia Gibbons, Adoption Council of Ontario PACT Team & DTAA Members and Dianne Mathes, Executive Director of the Adoption Council of Ontario

Recommended audience: pre-adoptive families, adoptive, kinship and customary care families, adult adoptees and the professionals who support those on adoption and permanency journeys

Objectives:

focus on the understanding of developmental trauma through the lens and core issues of adoption and permanency journeys
emphasize the importance of truly understanding children, youth and adults and their “internal working models”, so that parenting, child welfare work and therapeutic interventions can be set up for success
expand on the introductory discussion of prevention and healing from part 1 and address what can help children, youth and adults who have been impacted by developmental trauma from the perspective of:

pre-adoptive families
adoptive, kinship & customary care families
adult adoptees
professionals

address the importance of understanding developmental trauma and the lens of adoption by all of the systems (child welfare, education, health – physical and mental, family law, justice, etc) that work with people and families on adoption and permanency journeys
provide relevant resources and further learning opportunities

Register for free HERE

ACO Live Webinar: FASD
2020-10-28 19:00 - 21:00
Recommended Audience:

Prospective and adoptive families and the professionals who work with them

New FASD with Judy Archer, MSW, RSW
*This is an introductory session for people who are just learning about FASD.
Our new webinar on prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs with Judy Archer, Adoption Counsellor and Consultant, will provide a comprehensive introduction to information about prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs that is critical for adoptive parents to consider when parenting or planning to parent a child by adoption.
Goals: Raise awareness about the lifelong impact of FASD as well as tools, strategies and resources for optimizing the child’s adaptive functioning.
Objectives: By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

Put FASD into context by explaining the extent of alcohol consumption in Canada
Pinpoint contributors to and symptoms of FASD: primary and secondary
Summarize the new diagnostic guidelines for FASD
Explain lifelong implications and realities of living with a brain-based disability
List strengths of children with FASD
Describe contributors to adaptive functioning in children with FASD
Identify formal and informal supports available to parents of children with a history of prenatal exposure to FASD

Register for free HERE
