Webinar for Parents Whose Internationally Adopted Children May Have Suffered From Early Poor Nutrition

 From Joint Council on International Children's Services -



Wednesday, October 20, 2010,  7:00-8:00PM Central Time
Cost: $15   CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

We all know the importance of prenatal and early nutrition. We also understand that it is likely our internationally adopted children have missed out on a fair amount of this key factor of development.

Join Dr. Dana Johnson, renowned international adoption physician, as he shares the results of his research on the common physical, cognitive and behavioral impacts of poor nutrition on international adoptees. He will give practical tips of what to look for in your child, what to ask your pediatrician to test for and how to help your child catch up and thrive both short and long term.
This webinar will share strategies and tips on:
 Understanding the impact of early nutritional deprivation
 Identifying signs of malnutrition in your child
 Having your child tested for nutritional deficiencies
 How to help your child catch up and thrive

Speaker
Dr. Dana Johnson, MD PhD


Dr. Johnson is the Director of the Division of Neonatology and the Director of the International Adoption Clinic at the University of Minnesota. He has researched, published and lectured extensively on the effects of early institutionalization on growth, development and outcomes of internationally adopted children. He is a frequent expert speaker at worldwide conferences on issues relating to institutionalized children's health.

New Book on Adoption from NPR Radio Host

Scott Simon, the host of Weekend Edition on NPR, writes about his journey in adopting two baby girls from China in his new book, Baby We Were Meant For Each Other.
Amazon describes the book as,
a love story that doesn’t gloss over the rough spots. There are anxieties and tears along with hugs and smiles and the unparalleled joy of this blessed and special way of making a family. Here is a book that families who have adopted—or are considering adoption—will want to read for inspiration. But everyone can enjoy this story because, as Scott Simon writes, adoption can also help us understand what really makes families, and how and why we fall in love.


Here, Simon discusses his book on a segment of NPR's Fresh Air.  He also discusses his international adoption story on a segment of NPR's Morning Edition here.

Facts & Figures on Foster Care Adoption from National Adoption Day

National Adoption Day provides some information on children in foster care, which can be found here:

- Every year, more than 123,000 children in foster care are available for adoption. Many spend more than
five years waiting for permanent, loving homes. Between 2000 and 2009, more than 30,000 children were
joined together with their forever families as part of National Adoption Day activities.

Who are these waiting children?

• There are an estimated 463,000 children in foster care in the United States, and more than 123,000 of them are waiting to be adopted.

• Through no fault of their own, these children enter foster care as a result of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment.

• The average child waits for an adoptive family for more than two years.

• 19 percent spend 5 years or more waiting for a family (24,300 children).

• The average age of children waiting for an adoptive family is 8.

What happens to them?

• 55,000 children are adopted from foster care.

• More than 29,000 children reach the age of 18 without ever finding a forever family.

Who adopts from foster care?

• Children in foster care are adopted by three types of families: former foster parents (59 percent), relatives (26 percent) and non-relatives (15 percent).

• Of the families who adopt children from foster care, 69 percent are married couples, 26 percent are single females, 3 percent are single males, and 2 percent are unmarried couples.

• A national survey in 2007 revealed that 48 million Americans have considered adoption from foster care – more so than any other form of adoption, including private adoption of an infant or international adoption. (National Foster Care Adoption Attitudes Survey, November 2007. Commissioned by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and conducted by Harris Interactive.)

To find out more about adopting a child in the United States, please visit
http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/  or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.

(Unless otherwise indicated, statistics are provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children; Interim Estimates for FY 2008.)

Children in the 2010 Heart Gallery Awaiting Forever Families

Have you seen the beautiful children in the 2010 Heart Gallery?  All are available for adoption now!

(The Heart Gallery of Metro Orlando is an innovative gallery-style photo exhibit that features some of the foster children available for adoption in central Florida.
The Heart Gallery of Metro Orlando is a program of Family Services of Metro Orlando.)

Government Statistics on Children in Foster Care

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau reports that 255,418 children entered foster care in 2009 and of those exiting, 20% were adopted.  These and other statistics can be found in the AFCARS Report.

National Adoption Day Events

National Adoption Day is November 20, 2010.  Find events happening in your area:
http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/events

2010 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has compiled it's 2010 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List.  Number one in the country is Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc.  You can find the story here, and a list of the top 100 here.

Club Kazi - Helping Black Children in Iowa's Foster Care System

Club Kazi is an organization of black professionals dedicated to helping black children in Iowa's foster care system.  They encourage African-Americans to become foster parents and work with the Department of Human Services in Johnson County, Iowa to help reduce the disproportionate number of black children receiving welfare services. 
This article from the Iowa City Press Citizen describes their goal:
Group Aims To Improve Foster Care System