by Candy Day

I am thrilled to be serving as the Ohio Administrator in the Blue Ash office, just north of downtown Cincinnati.  Several years ago, I chose to leave my career in Human Resources to stay at home with my children; now that they are close to becoming teenagers, I was interested in returning to a professional career in a different way.  As a mother of two internationally adopted children, I was delighted to learn of this position at FTIA, and am so excited to be a part of the team.  My position is to serve our Ohio families: both those who are interested in learning more about international adoption options as well as those who are FTIA families.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is something with which I can help you.

ADOPTION RESOURCE CENTER 

Our Ohio office is housed in and a partner of the Adoption Resource Center.  The Center offers the general public a lending library with books, videos and tapes available.  In addition, flyers and pamphlets advertise upcoming cultural and adoption-related events as well as local resources.  Currently, the Adoption Resource Center has partnered with The Southwest Ohio Regional Training Center and The Children’s Home of Cincinnati to offer a series of programs for parents and professionals.  Upcoming topics include:

• September 15^th – 7-9pm  – Building and Maintaining Optimum Attachment
• November 12^th – 9-12pm – What About Me?  The Impact of Adoption on Birth Children in the Family (PRE-REQUISITE: Families must have children in the home at time of training)
• November 12^th – 12-1pm – Lunch and parent panel discussion ($10 fee)
• November 12^th  -  2-4pm  - Parenting session facilitated by medical professional(s)

To register, please call the Training Registration line at 513-272-1725 ext. 4101.

CALENDAR UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo for our 2006 Celebration of Children calendar!  Our calendar is a fundraising opportunity for our humanitarian aid projects.  Last year, we were able to contribute over $7,000 to these important projects – and we certainly could not have done that without your photos or support!  The 2006 calendars will be ready for delivery in late November – just in time for holiday gift giving.  Pre-order forms can be found at www.ftia.org, and are accepted until October 31^st.  Order early and order often!  We hope to make another significant contribution to humanitarian aid through the 2006 calendar!

TRI STATE ADOPTION CONFERENCE AND FAIR

Join us at the Tri-State Adoption Fair & Conference Celebrating Families on Saturday, October 29^th at the Vineyard Community Church in Springdale, Ohio.  This combined event will feature the Tri-State Adoption Fair from 9am-12pm with representatives of all types of adoption, foster care services and support groups available to answer your questions and offer extensive information to interested families.

• More than 40 agencies and support groups will be in attendance.
• Videos and photographs of waiting children will be displayed.
• The Adoption Fair is free and open to the public; no registration is required.

Holly Van Gulden, nationally known family counselor and co-author of the popular book Real Parents, Real Children: Parenting the Adopted Child, will open the Celebrating Families conference at 12pm.  Holly will present the keynote address, “Fresh Perspectives on Adoption and Parenting,” while participants enjoy a catered luncheon.  Workshop sessions will follow from 1:15 until 4pm.

• Fourteen workshops in the two afternoon sessions will speak to both pre- and post-adoption topics.
• Professionals and parents will be available to share their adoption experiences and answer questions.
• Please visit www.tristateadoptionfair.com for registration information and complete details.

UPCOMING WAITING FAMILIES MEETINGS
 

In their continued support of FTIA's service to our adoptive families, authors Karen Foli, Ph.D, and her husband John Thompson, M.D.  will be presenting and discussing their book, The Post-Adoption Blues at our Waiting Families on September 24^th.  As adoptive parents, they bring both personal and professional expertise in speaking, and they will have copies of the book available for purchase.

Saturday, September 24^th       Ascension Lutheran Church (Cincinnati)        1:00-2:30pm

Back by popular demand!  Our Waiting Families “Travel Panel” will be conducted in Columbus on November 5^th.  Learn all about international travel with your child – what to pack, what to leave home, and what to purchase there.

Saturday, November 5^th         Columbus Metropolitan Public Library (Main)          1:00-2:30pm

INFORMATIONAL SEMINARS

For prospective adoptive families, FTIA-Ohio will be presenting informational seminars on the following dates and times:

Thursday, September 8^th     7-8:30pm     Columbus Public Library (Gahanna)

Saturday, September 24^th  10-11:30am     Ascension Lutheran Church (Cincinnati)

Thursday, October 6^th         7-8:30pm     Southminster Presbyterian Church (Dayton)

Saturday, November 5^th    10-11:30am     Columbus Public Library (Main)

Tuesday, November 15^th    7-8:30pm      Ascension Lutheran Church (Cincinnati)