Happy Social Work Month! March offers a time for intentional reflection and celebration for the impact our social workers make each and every day. As you read this, likely a social worker who made a difference in your life or the life of your family comes to mind. Before the month is over, take the time to express thanks and gratitude to them. From all of us at Adoptions Together, thank you to our incredible social workers!
This is a frightening time for all of us. Many are feeling vulnerable, outraged and heartbroken seeing horrific images of the war in Ukraine on TV and in our social media feeds. Children and teens adopted from Ukraine and Russia have a complex relationship to this war and they need our support. 

On Wednesday, March 16, we hosted a free Community Town Hall that focused on providing families, parents, and caregivers with support and guidance as they navigate the complexities of helping their children process and understand the war in Ukraine. This Town Hall was included in coverage by NBC4 Washington. The PowerPoint slides from the Town Hall can be viewed here and an additional Q&A after the Town Hall can be viewed here.
As a follow up to our Town Hall, we are offering a 4-session support group for parents of children who were adopted from Russia and Ukraine. The group will meet from 7-8:30 PM on April 14, April 28, May 12, and May 26 and will cost $125 per household. If you think you might be interested in participating, please email us here.

In addition, we will be scheduling an evening of conversation for older teens and young adults who were adopted from Russia and Ukraine. More information on this event will be available soon.

We know this continues to be a difficult time for many as we witness the ongoing war in Ukraine. If you or someone you know is in need of support, please don’t hesitate to reach out. More resources in response to the crisis in Ukraine can be found here and additional information about all of our services can be found here.
Join us virtually on Thursday, April 7, from 9:30 AM-2:30 PM at All About Attachment, our annual conference for parents and professionals!
 
Lisa Ferentz of The Ferentz Institute and Lisa Danahy of Create Calm - INA Wellness, experts in healing from trauma and mind-body modalities, will lead engaging seminars and guided breakout sessions. This will be a unique space to learn and connect with other parents and professionals who are passionate and dedicated to ensuring children have healthy, secure attachments. 
 
Get credit for all your new knowledge! All professionals who attend the full conference are eligible to receive 4 CEUs and all families who attend the full conference are eligible for a Certificate of Completion (4 hours).

Can’t attend live? All sessions will be recorded and available for extended viewing through June 10, 2022.
A Scotch Tasting Event Benefitting Adoptions Together

Saturday, May 14 | 6PM
11810 Federal Street | Fulton, MD
Tournament

Friday, June 17 | 8 AM
Turf Valley Resort
Capitol Pride Festival
Saturday, June 11 | Washington, DC

Join us as we partner with Rainbow Families at the Pride Family Park for the Capitol Pride Festival! More details to come soon.

Families who finalized an adoption in Maryland may be eligible for our FREE Maryland Post-Adoption Program!

One of the benefits of this free program is the Adoptive Parent Support Line. Call 410-402-1121 Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm for support, guidance, and advice!

Click here to contact our team to check your eligibility.
We're thrilled to welcome July Thompson, MSW, as our new Family Find Recruitment Specialist to our team! Learn more about July below.
July is a Family Find Recruitment Specialist for the Extreme Family Find Program. While attending Towson University, July completed an internship with Adoptions Together while working with both the Home Study and Foster Care Adoption programs in 2017. She received her Bachelors degree in Family and Human Services from Towson University and her Masters degree in Social Work from University of Maryland, Baltimore.
In her free time July enjoys going to the movies, working out, catching up on television shows, and listening to music. Welcome, July!
Michele Bond is a longtime supporter of Adoptions Together and has served on our Board of Directors for many years. In this month's Why I Give segment, learn how she first got connected to our organization, why she chooses to support us, and more about her commitment to Adoptions Together. Thank you for your support!
Jimmy is an amazing teen who loves to watch a good basketball game or WWF match. When he isn’t cheering on his favorite competitors or doing family activities, he likes to settle down by watching a movie.

Jimmy would do best with a family that provides structure and patience and understands the impacts of trauma on youth development and behaviors.
Grow with us in 2022! We're hiring for several open roles including:


We also have openings for a few amazing internships including:
Thank you to everyone who joined our inaugural fundraiser for the NCAA Tournaments! Jump in on the fun and check the standings for the men's tournament here and the women's tournament here. Missed your chance to join? Keep an eye out for more information next year!
Join us for two new support groups, Lunch Bunch and Coffee Hour, hosted by our very own Weberlyn Dossen and Jennifer McLeod! Weberlyn is an adoption-competent clinician and yoga instructor and Jennifer is an adoption-competent clinician and foster and adoptive parent. RSVP here!
The Parent Support Group meets weekly via Zoom to provide a space for parents to connect and discuss their challenges and wins from the past week, share helpful resources, and ask questions in an empathetic group setting. To hear about the impact of this group from a weekly attendee, click here.

To register,
please contact
Melanie
Geddings-Hayes,
LCSW-C,
by clicking here.
The Interracial Adoptive Children's Group is a safe space of emotional support for children and youth adopted interracially. Each session, the group will engage in open discussion and guided activities (readings, lessons, games, etc) focused on civic and cultural topics that impact their lives. The focus for this group will be to build resilience, self-esteem, and identity.
Upcoming Sessions:
April 23, 2022
May 21, 2022
June 11, 2022

Organized by Age:
10-11 am | Ages 10-13
11 am-Noon | Ages 5-9

To register, please contact Delois Pearsall by clicking here.
Parent's Group is a safe space for parents to connect and engage with other interracial adoptive families to ask questions, share advice, and discuss their family's unique experiences. This group will meet monthly and include guest speakers, productive dialogue, and practical take-aways for each family.

Upcoming Sessions:
April 24, 2022
May 22, 2022
June 12, 2022
3-4:30 pm

To register, please contact Erica Moltz by clicking here.
Join the Child Welfare Academy for their Resource Parent Conference on Saturday, April 2, 2022 from 8:45 AM-3:30 PM. Our very own Erica Moltz, MA, NCC, will be the keynote speaker for this conference! This conference includes the keynote, the opportunity to attend two of the six workshops offered, and connection with other resource parents. Learn more and register by clicking here.