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SPRING 2018 News & Updates
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 Director's Pen
by Adrienne Elliott,
Executive Director
As summer approaches, Adoption Options is preparing
for all the fun things that come with that, such as kids bei
ng out of school!
Summer can be a very hard time for our foster children for a variety of re
asons, like the lack of structure every day. A lot of our kiddos need special camps and activities to keep them busy until they can return to school. If you happen to come across a great camp or activity that you would love to share with other parents, please let us know and we will make sure to pass it along. In this newsletter we also have some family-friendly activities for parents to try out with their rambunctious kiddos.
Another big development lately is our venture into social enterprise. We are in the middle of developing our business plan/model to present and launch our idea. Be on the lookout for a survey to our adoptive families that will explore your thoughts on what we are doing. Your opinions and ideas count and we need your input! Thanks in advance for your help.
We also have several events coming up. We have our first ever Lunch and Learn, where we will share our exciting programs with our business-minded folks. Then for those of you that like to golf (either with or without your kiddos), we are holding a Top Golf Fundraiser. Next is our annual picnic to celebrate our adoptive families, which is always a special event for us because we get to see how these kiddos are growing up. Our November Gala this year will be a Roaring 20's Evening and we can't wait! Check out the Upcoming Events section for all the details.
As always, thank you for being part of the AO family. Happy summering!
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CRADLE CARE SPOTLIGHT
By Marianne Anderson, Cradle Care Placement Supervisor
BEST WISHES
For over 29 years, Diane and Kelly Scott have provided cradle care to 75 babies. As Diane says, "It is an honor to be able to give love and stability to a new life in the midst of their decision making. It is fulfilling. It is a matter of the heart."
The Scott family has touched so many lives with their outstanding care for newborns, been a welcoming environment for birth parents and adoptive parents, and used their expertise teaching Infant Care Classes to adoptive families, and mentoring new cradle care moms. The Scott family
will be greatly missed!
CONGRATS
Congratulations to Sherri and Wayne who had their 150th
cradle care baby in March!
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EXPANDING SERVICES FOR BIRTH PARENTS
By Kelsey Johnson, Birth Parent Counselor
One of Adoption Options' 2018 goals is to further develop our post-placement offerings and referrals for birth parents. We acknowledge that finding a sense of normalcy after placing a child is lonely. Grief is a life-long journey and we want to help ease that pain. As a non-profit with limited resources, we know we need to get creative!
One birth mother who attended the retreat last year is excited to go again; she said, "I can't thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to go on the retreat. I was really needing some guidance and support through all of this and you gave me the perfect platform to find that on. Being able to talk with people who know exactly how I feel was so amazing."
Adoption Options is utilizing grant money to cover attendance fees for our clients. We are thrilled to be able to offer these services.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, May 17, 2018 // 11:30-1:00 pm
This event will start with a networking opportunity, followed by complimentary lunch and an inspiring program about important adoption topics. It's an ideal opportunity for any friends and colleagues you'd like to introduce to the agency or to the topic of adoption. There is no cost to attend, but it IS a fundraising event, so guests will be asked for contributions.
Register HERE and choose 'Open Table' from the Table Captain menu.
Sunday, July 22, 2018 // 2-5 pm
From expert to novice we welcome all skill levels - it will be the perfect event for everyone. Top Scramble: beginner and experienced golfers compete mano-a-mano on a level playing field. Players are split into teams, and the best score on each ball is used as the score for the team. We'll also have a noncompetitive game for players of any skill level.
Purchase tickets HERE.
Adoption Options Family Picnic
Saturday, August 11, 2018 // 11:30-2:00 pm
We love to see all of our families (former, current, and waiting) at our annual picnic! Join us at Maple Grove Park in Golden for food, games, and fun. Let us know if you can join us. RSVP HERE.
Saturday, November 10, 2018 // 6-10 pm
Our annual gala is a highly anticipated event and sure to be a night to remember. Join us for a 1920's centered evening which will include live music, speakeasy, casino games, live and silent auction, and much more. Watch for tickets to be available soon!
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SUMMER FAMILY FUN
By Leah Klein, Flexible Families Case Manager
Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner! This season is a great time for children and families to spend quality time together. It's exciting, but can also feel stressful and hectic when considering what activities are available in your area for kids to participate in. Although summer camps may be full or limited, there are several activities and events available in the Denver Metro area for families and children of all ages to attend. Here are some that we recommend checking out!
Free family-friendly events:
- Five Points Jazz Festival (May 19th) located in Five Points celebrating Jazz music
- Denver Chalk Art Festival (June 2-3) located in Larimer Square celebrating chalk art
- The Denver BBQ Festival (June 15-17) located at Sports Authority Field at Mile High with BBQ food and drinks available for purchase
- Cherry Blossom Festival (June 23-24) located off 20th and Lawrence in Denver, celebrating Japanese culture
- Cherry Creek Arts Festival (July 6-8) located in the Cherry Creek North area celebrating multiple forms of art
- Slow Food Nations (July 13-15) located in Larimer Square celebrating various foods from across the world
- Colorado Black Arts Festival (July 13-15) located at City Park celebrating African American culture
- Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (July 28-29) located at Sloan's Lake celebrating Asian Pacific American culture
Adoption Options' hopes your summer is filled with plenty of fun, excitement, and great memories!
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TRAINING NEWS
By Sarah Olsen, Training Specialist
Upcoming:
Over the spring and summer, Adoption Options will be offering a variety of classes for adoptive parents.
- My Adoption Journey Part 1 & 2 in August
- My Adoption Journey Part 3, (a post-placement class) in May & September
- Infant Care for Adoptive Parents on May 19 & August 15
- Dynamics of Transracial & Transcultural Adoption on June 2
Please call our office (303-695-1601) if you are interested in attending one of these sessions!
Call for Speakers:
Are you an adoptee? Birth parent? Adoptive parent? We are always looking for members of the adoption triad to share their stories in our training courses. New adoptive parents appreciate hearing about the diversity of adoption experiences you've had. Additionally, we are looking to expand our list of physicians available to speak in our training course on the topic of medical issues in adoption.
Speaking as a member of a panel only takes about an hour a few times per year, and is a great way to contribute to Adoption Options! If you are interested or know someone else who might be, please contact Sarah Olsen, LCSW, at
[email protected] or by phone at 303-695-1601.
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| WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS!
Bill Flynn -
Bill
joined Stratagem PC as a senior accountant in Auditing and Assurance, bringing a number of years of experience in auditing local government, non-profit, and construction industries. Bill's experience includes working with large single audit clients from school districts to housing authorities, special districts, and municipalities. Prior to pursuing a career in accounting and auditing, Bill owned and operating a small business. As such, he thrives on assisting entities and individuals achieve their maximum potential.
Logan Lewis -
I grew up in the Denver metro area and am excited to have returned to my home town to practice law and become an involved member of the community. I attended college and law school in the Midwest, and began a career there as a criminal defense attorney. Now I focus my legal practice on estate planning. I am excited to serve as a board member at Adoption Options because I grew up in a loving home and every child deserves the same.
Adam Beal -
As co-owner and Executive Vice President of Development, Mr. Beal oversees all real estate, land development, and permitting activities for TurningPoint Energy, a Denver-based clean energy development, advisory, and investment company. A parent of two (one child adopted through Adoption Options), Mr. Beal has an affinity for seeing children grow up in safe, stable households, into successful teenagers and adults. He also has held a longtime professional desire to sit on the board of a successful non-profit. A combination of those interests is what brought him to the Adoption Options board. A business owner and investor for 15 years, Mr. Beal brings a wealth of real-world business experience to the role. He enjoys time spent shuttling his kids from activity to activity, including skiing, hockey, baseball, golf, and violin, and doing just about anything with his wife, Stephanie.
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| AGENCY WISH LIST
Our Flexible Families staff members have requested a child's booster seat for their program, as they sometimes need to transport children.
If you would be interested in purchasing a booster seat to help the staff, please contact Erin Groce ([email protected]).
THANK YOU!
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