Austin Community Group Fall Kick Off Meeting

Please join us October 1, 4:00PM - 6:00PM, at Hill Country Bible Church to hear from Sarah Mercado, Caring Family Network, on "Advocating for our Kids in School." School is back in session! While this is an exciting time for many children, for others is stirs up much anxiety, stress and uncertainty. Sarah will share lessons learned from both her professional work and in her own parenting, in advocating for foster and adoptive children within the school environment.

Childcare is free! Deadline to RSVP for childcare is September 23. Visit the following link to register: http://www.hcbc.com/children.

October 1 ACG is hosted by Hill Country Bible Church, Northwest. HCBC is located at 12124 RR 620 North. ACG will meet in room 4-102, 4th floor. Email ACGAustin@gmail.com with questions.

Great Resource for Nutrition

Here is a great resource to learn more about the diet of kids adopted from around the world. It gives tips and tricks to encourage a good diet, it has info about food by country, and goes over feeding challenges of adopted kids. Please give it a look over. It is full of valuable information.

http://adoptionnutrition.org/

Can We Create a Culture Like This?

Creating a Healthy Adoption Culture in Your Church from Tapestry on Vimeo.

Together For Adoption - October 21-22

Registration for this conference is open! It is in Phoenix this year on October 21-22.

Helping Foster Care

There is a great organization who serves foster kids by providing them their own suitcase with clothes, a pillow and a other personal items. It is surprising to think that many of these kids are taken out of their homes with little to no personal items. Often then they are given borrowed items. When they are ready to move to another foster home, they may carry nothing of their own with them.

www.projectcarecase.org gives children not only their own valuables but also their dignity. Imagine a child arriving from school to their foster family home to see a social workers' car in the driveway and a small sack of clothes by the door. It doesn't take long for these children, who are often in and out of the foster system, to know what this means: they are being transferred to another place -- often the unknown is the worst on these children.

But with Project Care Case they can at least have their suitcase, their OWN clothes, a teddy bear, pillow and a Bible to take with them to the next living situation. It doesn't seem like much but it can meet a lot when nothing else in your life is permanent.

Project Care Case is always looking for donations of these items or gift cards to Wal-mart or Target where the director can buy these items. Please consider supporting this organization.

contact www.projectcarecase.org to find out what their current needs are.

Foster Care Needs

This post is the beginning of several posts that will lay out the various needs of foster care and how to get involved. There will be a variety of ways to care for the Austin foster child, from fostering children to supporting those directly care for the children. Keep checking back for more ways to help!

The Need:

In Travis County there are 430 children in foster care (ages 0-17)
In Williamson County there are 214 children in foster care (ages 0-17)
Approximately 200 children in Travis County are available for adoption and waiting for forever families.

So how can you get involved? I'll throw the big commitment out there first. Foster families are needed. It is not uncommon for kids who have emergency removals to stay overnight in the offices of foster care agencies because they do not have enough foster families to help.

How do you get started? Find a foster family and talk to them about their experience. Ask them about agencies and all the challenges and joys of fostering. Don't know anyone? Email and we'll help get you connected.


Stats from Nov 2010 DFPS Region 7 Performance Report.

Adoption Phone-line for adoptive families

A great new post-adoption resource is available for free. Focus on the Family recently launched a post-adoption phone line for adoptive families. The line is staffed by counselors who have been trained by Dr. Karyn Purvis (the author of The Connected Child). Counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8am-10pm EST at 800-A-FAMILY (800-232-6459). It doesn't matter how long ago your adoption took place or what type of adoption you did (international, domestic, or through foster care), if you have questions and need support, please take advantage of this free resource.

Is it the Same?

This is common question that comes from families who are considering adoption. Will bringing home an adoptive child be the same as a biological child? Will I feel as fulfilled with an adoptive child as a biological one?

I can't tell you I know from experience. We started out with a deep need and desire to have a biological child. And that way didn't work. So we adopted our two sons.

So I can't tell you from experience, but I can tell you what I do know:

The same God that sets the lonely in all families (Psalm 68:6), set the lonely in me and my husband. We wanted kids bad. Real bad. It was exciting, joyful, scary. It was a deep longing, a pull, a must-have, close to food and water.

And then we adopted our son.

We were fulfilled. That longing to have a family was satisfied. Our need was met. (until it was time to bring Baby #2 home :) Talking with families with biological children and it seemed like the same satisfaction that they had, we also had.

So all that to say, the same lonely that is in others was in us. And the same satisfaction of building a family was there for us. I don't know if it is the same. But I know I'm not missing anything either.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

What is sensory processing? How do I know if my child has sensory processing disorder? The following definitions are from the Sensory Processing Foundation. At the end of this post, there is a link to a sensory processing disorder checklist, as well as an invitation to join us at our next Adoption Community Group to learn more.

According to the Sensory Processing Foundation, sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. Whether you are biting into a hamburger, riding a bicycle, or reading a book, your successful completion of the activity requires processing sensation or "sensory integration."

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. Pioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, likened SPD to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively.

What does sensory processing disorder look like?

Sensory Processing Disorder can affect people in only one sense–for example, just touch or just sight or just movement–or in multiple senses. One person with SPD may over-respond to sensation and find clothing, physical contact, light, sound, food, or other sensory input to be unbearable. Another might under-respond and show little or no reaction to stimulation, even pain or extreme hot and cold. In children whose sensory processing of messages from the muscles and joints is impaired, posture and motor skills can be affected. These are the "floppy babies" who worry new parents and the kids who get called "klutz" and "spaz" on the playground. Still other children exhibit an appetite for sensation that is in perpetual overdrive. These kids often are misdiagnosed - and inappropriately medicated - for ADHD.

Taken from : http://www.sinetwork.org/

While a professional evaluation is highly recommended, you may wish to review this Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist.

Join us Saturday, March 5, 3:00PM - 5:00PM, at Grace Covenant Church (www.grace360.org), for hands on learning about sensory processing disorder and playful activities you can do with your children to help them feel "in sync." Parents and children will rotate together through various stations, participating in practical and fun sensory rich activities. Being a parent is not required to attend or participate. RSVP to acgaustin@gmail.com with your name, number of people attending and name/age of children who will attend with you.

A Future and A Hope Adoption and Foster Care Conference from Hill Country Bible Church on Vimeo.

Childcare Deadline Extended

If you missed the first deadline, we've extended the childcare registration until Saturday, February 12. Children ages 0-Kinder will have free childcare during the conference. There will be apple snacks and pizza for the older kids (please provide food for the younger ones). There will be a craft project and indoor and outdoor play time.

Register your children now!

Conference Speakers - Topics for Every Family!

Registration is in full swing for A Future and A Hope Adoption and Foster Care Conference! Two breakout sessions are scheduled during the February 19 conference. Check out the details below. Don't delay - sign up now! See you there!

SESSION #1

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION 101, Marshall Williams, Gladney Center. Are you interested in adopting internationally but the process seems overwhelming? Mr. Williams will share an overview of the international adoption process. He’ll also cover general information about a few of the top sending countries families are adopting from and explain how the Hague Convention affects the process. Marshall will also provide a glossary of adoption terms to help families sort through the confusion of intercountry adoption.

FOSTER-TO-ADOPT, Jen Reichert, Arrow Child and Family Ministries. This session will focus on many of the common questions about the Texas foster-to-adopt process. It will address common myths about adopting through the foster care system and some important considerations when choosing this path to build a family. Jen will also discuss how families are matched with available children and provide an overview of the adoption process for these children. In addition, this session will address information regarding a program called Special Needs Adoptions and the Adoption Assistance Program in Texas.

DOMESTIC INFANT ADOPTION, Sara Black, New Life Pregnancy Center. Domestic adoption can be an exciting way to build your family. Sara will discuss the differences between an agency and a private adoption, and will explain the degrees of openness in adoption placements. Some of the topics covered will be: 1) the time line of adoption as it relates to both birthparents and adoptive families, 2) transracial adoption issues, and 3) common questions and fears regarding adopting domestically.

ADOPTION BASICS, Chris and Tanya Maclin, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church and Julie Kouri, Grace Covenant Church. Are you so new to this process you are not even sure what questions to ask? Does adoption terminology sound like a foreign language to you? Do you need the basics to help you feel like you can get started? Olivia and Julie will give you a quick overview of all the adoptions options and discuss basic questions to ask yourself and spouse as you explore what an adoption would look like for your family.

Foster Care at a Glance, Sibyl McDade, LBSW-IPR, Department of Family Protective Services. There is a lot of misunderstanding and questions surrounding the foster care system. This breakout will answer many frequently asked questions about foster care and the children in foster care.

SESSION #2

Feeling Safe Versus Being Safe, Lisa Martin. Families and those who care for children often assume that children from hard places FEEL safe because they ARE safe. This is especially easy for families to assume if they have brought an infant into their home. Lisa will explain “felt safety” and how it is crucial to attachment, development and the ability for a child to trust. She will also demonstrate how to create an attachment-rich, sensory-rich environment for at-risk children to experience “felt safety.”

DOMESTIC INFANT ADOPTION, Sara Black, New Life Pregnancy Center. Domestic adoption can be an exciting way to build your family. Sara will discuss the differences between an agency and a private adoption, and will explain the degrees of openness in adoption placements. Some of the topics covered will be: 1) the time line of adoption as it relates to both birthparents and adoptive families, 2) transracial adoption issues, and 3) common questions and fears regarding adopting domestically.

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION 101, Marshall Williams, Gladney Center. Are you interested in adopting internationally but the process seems overwhelming? Mr. Williams will share an overview of the international adoption process. He’ll also cover general information about a few of the top sending countries families are adopting from and explain how the Hague Convention affects the process. Marshall will also provide a glossary of adoption terms to help families sort through the confusion of intercountry adoption.

IF YOU CAN’T BRING HOME A CHILD, WHAT CAN YOU DO?, Tonya Parrott, Austin Christian Fellowship. If you are not sure you are called to adopt or foster a child, there are lots of ways you can still be engaged in caring for these vulnerable children. Tonya will give you an overview of needs and opportunities to serve orphans and children in foster care in Austin and the surrounding areas. She will share both concrete and creative ways to engage your family, friends, small group, and others in serving the needs of these kids, their caregivers, and other individuals on the front lines working with orphans and foster care. She’ll also encourage participants to identify how God has uniquely equipped them – through their spiritual gifts, abilities and experiences – to serve this population.

FOSTER-TO-ADOPT, Jen Reichert, Arrow Child and Family Ministries. This session will focus on many of the common questions about the Texas foster-to-adopt process. It will address common myths about adopting through the foster care system and some important considerations when choosing this path to build a family. Jen will also discuss how families are matched with available children and provide an overview of the adoption process for these children. In addition, this session will address information regarding a program called Special Needs Adoptions and the Adoption Assistance Program in Texas.