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Jewish Family Service of
Metrowest
Continuing Connections
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June 2007
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Are those kids
yours? We've discussed some of the insensitive comments adoptive parents hear from other people about families formed by adoption. These comments can be even more common and feel even more negative when the families include transracial or transcultural adoptions. Confronting racist comments and helping children form a positive racial identity are therefore very important to these families. 1. Teach your children about racism. Point it out when you see it. Ignoring it or minimizing it can lead a child to think they are the cause of the behavior or that you think they are. 2. Increase your self awareness by: · realizing that your cultural and racial backgrounds influence your thoughts, actions and words. · recognizing your own prejudices and making an effort to change them. · acknowledging that others may see your family as different. · acknowledging that your children may be treated unfairly because of racism. 3. The following strategies can help your children form a positive racial or cultural identity: · Look at the world around you. As much as you can, try to include people of your child's race or culture in your life. Consider this in choosing: doctors and other professionals; schools or extracurricular activities; shopping locations; vacations or summer camps. · Discuss the history of your child's race early on - including both the positives and negatives. They should hear about this from you and from people of their own racial background. · Maintain a sense of the family unity through family rituals. These rituals can support your family member's similarities while acknowledging their differences. Again, using honesty, combined with compassion and empathy, would be the approach to take when discussing your child's adoption with them. Your family may be look "different," but different does not mean better and it does not mean worse. It just means different. Please contact Gail at ggregory@jfsmw.o rg with questions or ideas for future columns. If you are looking for some more information on transracial and trancultural adoptions please see our Links and Resources section. | ||||
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Love and
Limits Learn practical solutions to discipline in this 1 1/2 hour workshop. "Love and Limits" provides the opportunity to explore your style of parenting, why children do the things they do and how to positively change behaviors. Parents will gain a clear understanding of their own expectations for their children and many strategies for helping their children achieve these expectations. They also learn positive and effective tools that strengthen families. For parents with children 2-7 years of age. Presented by Mindee Meltzer, LCSW, EdM. This workshop is planned for a Thursday evening in October here at JFS/Metrowest. We would like to get a sense of the level of interest before we set an actual date. Please contact Gail at ggregory@jfsmw.org if you would like to attend. Together in Motion Adoptive Family Mixer at the Together in Motion kids tumble gym and adult exercise studio in Arlington. The mixer will be held each Monday morning from 9:30 am - 11:00 am. $5.00 per child. For more information call 781-643-1377 or visit www.togetherinmotion.com. Parents' Groups It's hard to believe that summer is here! We recognize that many of you will have vacation plans which prohibit getting together during the summer months; therefore, our parents' groups will take a brief break during July and August. Check your emails for our September dates. If you have any questions contact Lucia at lcarballo@jfsmw.org. Waiting Parents Have you completed the pre-adoptive parent group but have not yet welcomed home your child? Are you interested in staying connected while you wait? Contact Lucia ( lcarballo@jfsmw.org) or Gail ( ggregory@jfsmw.org) and we will work with Dale and Raquel on forming a group that suits your needs. Foster Families Needed! We're looking for foster families to provide short-term (1-4 weeks) care for infants. You will be reimbursed for board and care ($35 daily plus baby supplies). Criteria: 1. There's an at-home parent in the family. 2. Not currently involved in the adoption process. 3. Home-Study Update will be done by Adoption Choices at no cost to you (includes references, medical exams, and CORI). Please call Raquel Woodard at 508-875-3100 for more information. **SAVE THE DATE!** The Davis Farmland Picnic will be held on September 30th. Please join us (and Dale and Raquel of course!) at Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA. Invitations will be mailed to your homes over the summer. Hope to see you there! | ||
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Resources on
transracial and transcultural adoptions
www.adoptivefamilies.com/transracial- adoption.php. www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/types/families/trans_inf o.cfm. For kids www.adoptionclubhouse.org/ For parents www.adoptivefamilies.com odsacone.org/ www.adoptnet.org www.fwcc.org www.fruanewengland.org Send us your favorite websites and resources! | ||
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Since 1982, Adoption
Choices, a non-profit, licensed adoption program, has been providing
Massachusetts families with comprehensive adoption services. Our program
is designed to meet the needs of the adoptive parents, birth parents, and
adoptees by providing a wide range of educational and counseling services.
For more information, please visit our website at: Adoption
Choices of JFS/MW.
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Please send us comments and suggestions; we want this
to be your newsletter. Let us know about books, movies, etc. you think
others would enjoy. Keep us informed of adoption/family related events in
your area and we'd be happy to share them.
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