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IN THIS ISSUE...
Meet Carissa
MN ADOPT Honored As Angel in
Adop�on
Foster Care Numbers Increasing
Foster Care Success Story
MN ADOPT Trainings
Visitusatwww.mnadopt.org
CreatingPermanency,EmpoweringFamilies
ZeroKidsWaitingNewsletter,October2015
FEATUREDWAITINGCHILD
Carissa,16,BrightandFun-Loving
Zero Kids Waiting Newsletter - October 2015
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WhoisCarissa?Carissa is a bright and fun-loving 16-year-old girl. She has a beau�ful, so(-spoken voice
which accentuates a childlike sweetness in her personality. Carissa is crea�ve, cha+y,
insigh,ul, and she likes to catch you off guard with a hilarious and outlandish comment -
thrown out with a twinkle in her eye. She has a special love for poetry and has wri+en
some of her own dis�nc�ve poems. She appreciates the chance to try new things - at
least once! Her Na�ve American culture is important to her and she values her family. She
has several sisters, and is tender, protec�ve, and nurturing with them
AFamilyforCarissaA family for Carissa will need to be willing to learn how to provide a nurturing, open
environment for her to explore becoming an adult, while s�ll allowing her to be young.
Carissa grieves the loss of her childhood, and in a low moment will talk about how life has
le( her feeling old. In the past year she has thrived in an environment that offers her
structure and consistency, while s�ll giving her opportuni�es for new experiences that
feed her sensi�ve and high-spirited nature. There are two things that will never change
Zero Kids Waiting Newsletter - October 2015
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for Carissa and that any family will need to be willing to support: 1) Carissa's involvement
in her Na�ve American community and culture; and 2) Her devo�on to her biological
family.
FormoreinformationaboutCarissa,pleasecontact:
Gail Swenson
Permanency Specialist
Ampersand Families
Phone: 612.605.1904 ext.6
MNADOPTNEWS
18thAnnualCircusoftheHeartwillbeheldNovember1
This year's Circus of the Heart will be
held on Sunday, November 1 at the Prom
Center in Oakdale from 1:00pm -
4:00pm. We have a fun a(ernoon
planned with great prizes, games, cra(s,
and ac�vi�es for kids of all ages. We will
also have a resource table to answer
ques�ons about adop�on and provide
informa�on about post adop�on support
services. This is a great opportunity for
those interested in learning more, as
well as those who have adopted.
We also plan to honor Joe Kroll and
Cathy Bruer-Thompson, two individuals
who are well known within the adop�on
community and who have made
significant contribu�on to the lives of
Minnesota children and families.
MNADOPTtobeHonoredasan"AngelinAdoption"
MN ADOPT has been selected as a recipient of
this years "Angels in Adop�on" award, an
Zero Kids Waiting Newsletter - October 2015
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honor given to individuals,families and
organiza�ons that have made a significant
contribu�ons on behalf of children needing
families. This award is given by the Congressional
Coali�on on Adop�on Ins�tute and MN ADOPT
was fortunate to be nominated by both Senator
Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Tom Emmer.
We are thrilled and humbled to receive this
recogni�on! Director Rachel Walstad and HELP
Program Manager Emily Alewine will be
traveling to Washington DC from October
4th-8th to receive our award, meet with local and na�onal leaders regarding child
welfare issues, and network with others who share a common goal of finding homes for
children and suppor�ng families. See the link below to learn more about this award and
past receipients.
Learn more about Angels In Adop�on
NEWSANDINFORMATION
DonaldInstitutetoComplete
StudyonOptionsCounseling
The Donaldson Adop�on Ins�tute is
collabora�ng with the University of Texas,
Arlington on a new study to explore and
create recommenda�ons on best prac�ces
for op�ons counseling when working with
expectant parents considering an adop�on
placement for their child. This is an
important study that will hopefully create
strong recommenda�ons and standards that
consider non-coercive counseling for women
and couples that focuses on family
preserva�on the first choice.
Read More
NumberofKidinFosterCare
Increasing
The latest report from AFCARS (Adop�on and
Foster Care Analysis and Repor�ng System)
show that the past year saw a notable
increase in the number of children in the
United States in Foster Care. This annual
report from the Department of Health and
Human Services shows that as of September
30, 2014 there were 414,219 US children in
foster care. This change marks a shi( in
trend, as the foster care numbers had been
decreasing in recent years.
Learn More
MinnesotaTransracialFilm
Festival
GOAReportonRe-Homing
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AdoptSource will be hos�ng the 6th Annual
Minnesota Transracial Film Fes�val on
October 10 at the Parkway Theater in
Minneapolis. There will be films,
opportunity for conversa�on and ques�ons,
as well as food and an opportunity to mingle
with filmmakers.
Learn more and sign up
The Government Office of Accountability has
completed a report on the prevalence and
reasons for re-homing, or "unregulated child
custody transfers". The results are not
surprising and very much in line with what
we at MN ADOPT have seen-that families,
especially those who adopt interna�onally,
need far be+er pre-adop�on prepara�on as
well as post-adopton support. The hope is
that posi�ve change will come from these
findings. The links below provide more detail
about this report.
Summary Ar�cle
Report Highlights
Full Report
STORIESANDEXPERIENCES
MinnesotaWoman'sInspirationalStory
Esther Mulder spent a large por�on of her youth in
the Minnesota Foster Care system. She transi�oned in
and out of mul�ple homes and care facili�es and
faced some pre+y steep odds. But through these
experiences, and with the support of some key
people, she was able to focus on her future and went
on to successfully complete her undergraduate degree
and earn a post graduate degree in law from Harvard.
Her success story is truly an inspira�on!
Read Esther's Story
GETINVOLVED
GivetotheMaxDayisNovember12,2015
November 12 is the day Minnesotans
will come together to support the
causes that are important for our
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state and our communi�es. This is a
great opportunity to think about
what you can do to help support MN
ADOPT's mission to promote and
support successful adop�ons for
Minnesota children and families. By
choosing MN ADOPT as one of the
organiza�ons you support on Give to the Max Day, no ma+er the size of your dona�on, you can
directly have a posi�ve impact on outcomes for Minnesota children. Please bookmark the link
below to learn how your monetary dona�on can help.
MN ADOPT's GiveMN Page
EDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIES
Below are current educa�onal opportuni�es being offered by MN ADOPT through
October. To learn more about more MN ADOPT trainings or to register for a training,
please visit the training page of our web site.
WORKSHOPSERIES:ReactiveAttachmentDisorder:HowtoThrive&
SurviveBeyondtheDiagnosis(RADLABS)PresentedbyDeenaMcMahon,MSW,LICSW&KristaNelson,LICSW,LMFT
5 Session Series - Wilder Founda�on, St. Paul
Monday, September 21, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday, September 28, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday,
October 12, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday, October 19, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Monday, October 26,
6:30pm-8:30pm.
Join Deena McMahon and Krista Nelson during this 5 session LABS Series (Learning Alterna�ve
Behavioral Strategies). This training is specifically designed to address the support and educa�on
needs of those paren�ng children with significant impairments and/or trauma issues with an
emphasis on good self-care and humor! This training explores the unique experiences going on in
your home and implements role play scenarios and class par�cipa�on.
WEBINAR:"What'stheMeaningofThis?"GettingaNewPerspective
onYourChild'sBehaviorPresentedbyBonnieHarris,M.S.,Ed.
Thursday, October 8, 2015 (12:00pm - 1:30pm) - OnlineEver wonder where your child came up with
their behavior or those words? Does it seem like nothing you do stops the behavior you hate? Does
the behavior exhaust you? If so, then your child is trying to tell you something but does not know
how to express themselves outside of their behavior. When children think that you "just don't get it,"
their behavior o(en becomes louder and more drama�c for you to pay a+en�on. This workshop will
teach you the meaning of Childology and how to shi( your perspec�ve and find the words so that
you can connect instead of react. You will learn the steps of Connec�ve Communica�on so your child
learns how to use their words instead of reac�ng drama�cally and so peace can be restored in your
family.
Zero Kids Waiting Newsletter - October 2015
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WORKSHOPSERIES:BeyondConsequencesTraining&SupportPresentedbyBrendaBenning,MSW,LICSW
4 Session Series - Sawmill Inn, Grand Rapids, MN:
Friday October 9, 6:30pm-9:30pm; Saturday October 10, 8:30am-3:30pm; Friday October 23,
6:30pm-9:30pm; Saturday October 24, 8:30am-3:30pm
Please join adop�ve mother and skilled trainer, Brenda Benning, as she offers new perspec�ves
into your child's behaviors, while offering real life techniques that can help regulate these same
behaviors. This is a specialized training for families who are or may be paren�ng children with
trauma�c histories and/or a+achment issues. This 20 hour series follows the model and book by
Heather T. Forbes, "Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control." Parents and caregivers will have
the opportunity to safely share their own experiences and build a support system with other
families who are living with the same unique experiences o(en found in adop�ve, foster, and
kinship families.
WORKSHOP:IntentionalParenting:Race&CulturePresentedbyRobertO'Connor,MSW
Thursday, October 20, 2015 (6:30pm-8:30pm) - Lutheran Social Service, Minneapolis, MN
Whenever a child joins a family through adop�on from another culture, the family becomes a
mul�cultural family. In our mul�cultural, mul�cultural families, workplaces and communi�es we
tend to leave much to chance versus choice when it comes to crea�ng suppor�ve and peaceful
environments. This session will help families examine how parents can become posi�ve agents of
change to create strong, thriving communi�es and families. Par�cipants will also learn the
following objec�ves:
WORKSHOP:HealingTrauma:AGuideforParentsPresentedbyChristinaCorwin,LMFT
Thursday, October 22, 2015 (6:30pm-8:30pm) - Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN
Join Chris�na Corwin, co-owner of Cedar Valley Center for Child & Family Therapy as she provides
par�cipants with informa�on about how trauma impacts a child's development. This training will
focus on how parents can understand a child's behaviors as a form of communica�on and why
tradi�onal paren�ng strategies may not work. This workshop will also provide tools and
techniques in handling behaviors through a trauma-informed lens and give par�cipants specific
ac�vi�es to reinforce healthy a+achment rela�onships.
WEBINAR:HandinHandParenting-SimplePracticesthatHeal
ChildrenwithTraumaPresentedbyMayaColeman,Ph.DandPattyWip)ler
Thursday, November 5, 2015 (6:30pm-8:00pm) - This webinar will introduce parents and
professionals to some simple but highly effec�ve prac�ces that you can use to help your adopted or
foster child heal from emo�onal hurt. The training will follow the Paren�ng by Connec�on approach,
and bring you simple ways to support your child's strong ins�nct to heal. Maya Coleman and Pa+y
Wipfler will use anecdotes from their extensive personal and professional experience to illustrate the
five "Listening Tools" that are the backbone of the approach. There will be plenty of �me for
ques�ons and ideas that apply to your family.
Zero Kids Waiting Newsletter - October 2015
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WORKSHOPSERIES:BeyondConsequencesTraining&SupportPresentedbyBrendaBenning,MSW,LICSW
4 Session Series - Minnetonka Community Center, Minnetonka, MN:
Friday November 6, 6:30pm-9:30pm; Saturday November 7, 8:30am-3:30pm; Friday November
13, 6:30pm-9:30pm; Saturday November 14, 8:30am-3:30pm
Please join adop�ve mother and skilled trainer, Brenda Benning, as she offers new perspec�ves
into your child's behaviors, while offering real life techniques that can help regulate these same
behaviors. This is a specialized training for families who are or may be paren�ng children with
trauma�c histories and/or a+achment issues. This 20 hour series follows the model and book by
Heather T. Forbes, "Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control." Parents and caregivers will have
the opportunity to safely share their own experiences and build a support system with other
families who are living with the same unique experiences o(en found in adop�ve, foster, and
kinship families.
WORKSHOP:Tools&TechniquesforImprovingAttachment
RelationshipswithAdoptedChildrenPresentedbyDeniseLacher,MA,LP
Monday, November 9, 2015 (6:30pm-8:30pm) - Children's Home Society, St. Paul, MN -
Join Denise Lacher of the Family A+achment Center for a training that encourages parents think
outside the box and have fun in order to improve a+achment connec�ons and behaviors with
their child. Bring your stories and ques�ons! Early a+achment rela�onships, trauma�c life events
and developmental disrup�ons influence a child's belief about themselves and others in the
world. This internal working model sets a pa+ern for future rela�onships. It drives challenging
behaviors and can cause problems in the family, school and community. This workshop will
present tools and techniques to be+er a+une to your child, understand the meaning of your
child's behavior, and shi( nega�ve models or beliefs. This interac�ve training will explore
techniques to repair and improve a+achment rela�onships, such as parent-child play techniques,
regula�ons tools, and therapeu�c stories.
WORKSHOP:BeyondPickyEating:EndthePowerStrugglesand
SupportNutrition&HealthyGrowthKatjaRowell,M.D.
Monday, November 15, 2015 (6:30pm-8:30pm) - Evolve Adop�on & Family Services, Edina, MN
-Roughly one in ten American children eat so li+le variety or amount that it interferes with
physical, social or emo�onal development. With diagnoses and labels like "failure to thrive,"
selec�ve ea�ng, ARFID (avoidant restric�ve food intake disorder), sensory disorders and just play
picky...families are struggling. Foster and adopted children o(en face addi�onal challenges with
difficult beginnings. This workshop will help parents understand why children are struggling and
importantly, share rela�onship-building strategies to move forward and support their child's
appe�te and intake.
Formoreinformationonanyofthesetrainingsortoregister,gohere
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Visitusatwww.mnadopt.org
MN ADOPT (formerly know as Minnesota Adop�on
Resource Network or MARN) was founded in 1980 by
a group of adop�ve and foster parents. Their mission
was focused on advoca�ng for the rights of every child
to ensure they find permanent and nurturing
families. Today, MN ADOPT con�nues to fulfil this
mission, while also providing ongoing support and
educa�on to all Minnesota adop�ve families.
MN ADOPT welcomes inquiries about how to begin
and prepare for the adop�on process, adop�on
assistance, expenses and how agencies and coun�es
facilitate adop�on of Minnesota Wai�ng Children.
Contact us at 1.866.303.6276 or email us.
© 2014 MN ADOPT. All Rights Reserved.
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Minnesota Adoption Resource Network | 1221 Nicollet Mall | Suite 501 | Minneapolis | MN | 55403
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