Happy Thanksgiving!

Program Updates

This week we received one Travel Approval for a China Waiting Child.  This family will be joining the group that is leaving on December 1^st.

A new list of shared files of waiting children will be posted by CCAA on Tuesday, November 23^rd.  No word yet on the next group of the non-special needs China referrals.

The International Adoption Simplification Act passed House approval on Monday.  This law will now go into effect when the President signs it, or if not signed, will be effective 10 days after it lands on his desk.  This law will allow all Hague families to sign an immunization waiver promising that they will have their newly adopted child immunized in the U.S. and eliminate the need for children to have all of their immunizations done before leaving China.  This is great news for the older adoptive children who often have to receive several immunizations at the time of their medical exam in Guangzhou.

Journey of Hope and Special Focus Update

Our first Journey of Hope child is coming home the week before Christmas!   We wish her and her family safe travels and an easy adjustment period.

Other Information

FTIA offices will be closed November 24-26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

There will also be no blog postings next week. 

Here’s a great offer on one of my favorite adoption books:  http://www.emkpress.com/adoptparent15sw.html  I often find articles from this book to send to families regarding a variety of situations.

Continuing on with our 10 part series of sharing the Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know:

On week #6 - we focus on Developing rituals that organize meaning for the child:

1.      Greet your child into the day.  For example, when waking your child in the morning you might say “I can’t wait to see your beautiful brown eyes open!”

2.      Spend time in their world of play.  As mentioned in previous weeks, it is important to spend at least 30 minutes each day playing with your child.

3.      Create calming, soothing rituals that relax them into sleep. Depending on your child’s age, this might mean reading a book, giving a lotion massage, talking about the day’s events, snuggling while listening to music.  Whatever the routine, it should be consistent and calming.

This concept is giving attention to the child on the parent’s terms…greeting the child into the day, narrowing the child’s world to what they can handle, developing rituals of experience that help the child anticipate parents, and learn to perceive themselves through parent perceptions.

If you have any questions about the concepts presented or would like to talk in more detail please contact cscheller@ftia.org.   As a reminder, we will be hosting a webinar entitled Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know at the end of this series (December 2010).

During this time, I am reminding of how thankful I am to have been blessed by adoption.  I hope everyone enjoys a great Thanksgiving holiday!

 Betty

Approvals This Week

Program Updates

This week we received 3 PA’s (pre-approvals) and 1 LOA (letter of acceptance) for China Waiting Children families. 

We have also finalized travel plans for 11 families (8 with the regular program and 3 with CWC program) that will be leaving on December 1^st to meet their new children.

Journey of Hope and Special Focus Update

Drew and Tina from Journey of Hope, as well as Landon and Liam from Special Focus are on hold and will hopefully have Letters of Intent submitted for them soon.

Other Information

The CCAA orphanage donation has been set at 35,000 RMB for some time now.  With the US currency exchange rate worsening, we are finding this now translates to $5,345 in US dollars (up from $5,224).

Continuing on with our 10 part series of sharing the Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know:

#5:   The concept for week five is to allow your child to experience consequences. This means consequences not punishments….consequences that are congruent with the child’s actions.  Help your child face the results of the actions (cause and effect thinking), all the while maintaining a loving acceptance of the child.  Come along side of your child with perspective and use it as a teachable moment.  For example, if your child forgets his home work at school, you might retrieve it the first time and explain what might have happened if the home work wasn’t retrieved.  This gives the child a chance to think about the consequences.  If the child forgets the homework a second time, perhaps you don’t retrieve the homework from school and have her/him face the consequences for the action. “Cause and effect” thinking is a great concept to teach children at an early age – as it is something we use all day, every day.

If you have any questions about the concepts presented or would like to talk in more detail please contact cscheller@ftia.org.   As a reminder, we will be hosting a webinar entitled Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know at the end of this series (December 2010).

Happy National Adoption Month!

Program Updates

We received 3 more TA’s, this time for China Waiting Children families, so they will be joining the 8 other families leaving on December 1^st!  What a great holiday these families will have!

We also received 2 LOA’s this week.

New referrals went out through the regular China program for families with LID’s through May 23, 2006.  Since our next LID group is May 26, 2006, we did not receive referrals this time.

Special Focus Update

Two girls from our Special Focus program have families that have committed to them.  Congratulations to “Amy” and “Lexi” and their new families!

Other Information

November is National Adoption Month!  Here’s one of my favorite quotes:

From Radical by David Platt :
"...orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.
They are easier to ignore before you see their faces.
It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them
in your arms.
But once you do, everything changes."

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has launched a new resource page for adoption health issues on their website.  You can find this at: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/adoption

Continuing on with our 10 part series of sharing the Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know:

#4:   It is important to Keep perspective beyond the child’s difficult moments -  Perceiving the mind of the child within and beyond the child’s behavior.  Only give a 30 to 60 second lecture (we generally lose their attention after that)…..addressing unacceptable behavior, stopping it, and providing acceptance beyond correction.  This sounds so simple, but can be very difficult to follow through with.  It may take some practice. 

Sometimes, it is best for Mom or Dad to take time and think before addressing unacceptable behavior.  It can also be better for your child.  If your child is very upset, she/he may be unable to comprehend what you are saying.  It is actually more effective to wait until your child is calm to discuss the behavior.

If you have any questions about the concepts presented or would like to talk in more detail please contact cscheller@ftia.org.   As a reminder, we will be hosting a webinar entitled Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know at the end of this series (December 2010).

Red Couch Photo

Here's Emma Grace on the red couch!  She seems happy to be coming home with her new family tomorrow!  (To view the photo, go to our blog at ftiachina.blogspot.com)

TA’s, and PA’s and LOA’s – Oh My!!!

Program Updates

Yes, this week we received TA’s for 8 families that received referrals last month through the regular China program.   These families will be traveling December 1st and bringing home their new daughters just in time for Christmas!

Also, we received 2 PA’s and 2 LOA’s for China Waiting Children program!    And we’re very happy to announce that Lexi and Amy from our Special Focus program have both found their families.

We have one family currently in China that has met their new daughter and is doing fine.

Halloween News

If your little goblins are going out to Trick-Or-Treat on Sunday, we though you might be interested in this article on Halloween safety tips:

http://www.iyi.org/resources/doc/Peyton-Manning-Childrens-Hospital-Halloween-Safety-Tips.pdf

Other Information

Continuing on with our 10 part series of sharing the Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know:

The concept for week #3 is Emotional Joining.  Emotional joining………..being happy, sad, angry with the child in his or her feelings.  This is labeling feelings aloud.  Be happy with the child -  not just for him.  Be sad with your child - not just for him.  An example of how you might do this is when your child expresses sadness over not being included in a game at school; you might say “That makes me sad for you too.”  “I bet you felt really bad when that happened”.  Use this opportunity to name the feelings that are associated with the experience (sad, a bit mad, lonely, etc.). This is especially important for children who are not able to identify emotions well and for young children to help them understand what they are feeling. Don’t forget to share solutions or ideas about how to handle the situation, should it arise again.

If you have any questions about the concepts presented or would like to talk in more detail please contact cscheller@ftia.org.   As a reminder, we will be hosting a webinar entitled Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know at the end of this series.

Happy Halloween!

New Shared List!

Program Updates

Five families returned home this week with their newest family additions; while one more headed to China to meet their new child. 

A new list of shared files for waiting children was posted Tuesday night and our Beijing staff was able to match some of our families. 

Other Information

Good news for those adopting in 2010!!  The adoption tax credit was raised to $13,170 per child and was made refundable.  This means that eligible taxpayers can get the credit even if they owe no tax for the year!  To learn more, go to the IRS website at:  http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=228301,00.html

Continuing on with our 10 part series of sharing the Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know:

This week we introduce Concept #2 Attunement – Parents setting their feelings and reactions aside, to perceive the child’s behavior through the child’s eyes.  Parents should try to state the child’s needs to him/her without judgment, but with perspective.  A common example of this might be when your child wants your attention and may engage in behavior to get your attention, such as hitting, interrupting a conversation, or intentionally doing something that is not acceptable. In this case, an example of attunement may be to say to your child, “I think you need me to…..” rather than saying “You know you are not supposed to interrupt when I’m talking”.  We want to recognize and acknowledge the child’s needs, not focus on the behavior.  This can be especially challenging for parents.  Put this concept to work this week and see what type of response you get from your child!

The Ten Things Adoptive Parents Need to Know was developed by Richard Sudsberry, MA, LMFT, LMHC, who is a clinician specializing in attachment and children.  At the conclusion of these ten weeks, Rick will host a webinar for our families to answer questions and have more in-depth discussion about the ideas or concepts that we have shared. 

Red Couch Photo

Here's the red couch photo from our 5 families currently in China.  These families will be returning hom on Thursday!  (To view the photo, go to our blog at ftiachina.blogspot.com)