Adoption Network Cleveland

ADOPTION NETWORK CLEVELAND ACCOMPLISHES OUR MISSION BY 1. CREATING A SAFE PLACE FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY ADOPTION, KINSHIP, AND FOSTER CARE TO PURSUE PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT. THIS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO ADOPTEES, BIRTH PARENTS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DNA SURPRISES, THOSE WHO ARE DONOR-CONCEIVED, ADOPTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, FOSTER PARENTS, AND SIBLINGS; 2. PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER SUPPORT AND EDUCATION FOR THOSE TOUCHED BY ADOPTION, KINSHIP, AND FOSTER CARE AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE THEM; 3. DEVELOPING AND ADVOCATING FOR BEST PRACTICES IN ADOPTION PRACTICE, POLICY, AND LAW; 4. CREATING AND IMPLANTING HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BASED ON BEST PRACTICES IN THE FIELD; 5. CONVENING AND LEADING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, PROMOTING PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM CHANGE; 6. PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SOCIAL CHANGE REGARDING ADOPTION, KINSHIP, AND FOSTER CARE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE BROADER COMMUNITY; 7. CREATING POSSIBILITY THROUGH PROMOTING OPENNE

FAMILIES & YOUTH - OUR FAMILIES & YOUTH PROGRAMS FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, NURTURING RESILIENCY, AND CREATING STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN'S HEALING. PROGRAMS TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SERVING ADOPTIVE, KINSHIP, AND FOSTER FAMILIES RAISING CHILDREN THROUGH STRATEGIES THAT MEET THE FAMILY'S NEEDS AND FOCUS ON THEIR STRENGTHS. THROUGH PARTICIPATING, PARENTS DISCOVER THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND SUPPORT SYSTEM THEY NEED TO PARENT THEIR CHILD(REN) SUCCESSFULLY, AND CHILDREN FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED, AND CAPABLE OF DEVELOPING HEALTHY HABITS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT, MONTHLY PARENT AND TEEN SUPPORT GROUPS, PARENT EDUCATION, PEER NETWORK BUILDING, NORMALIZING FAMILY SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, FAMILY MEDIATION, ADOPTION 101 (PROSPECTIVE PARENTS), INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, AND PERSONAL ADVOCACY.

ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY - ONE OF ADOPTION NETWORK CLEVELAND'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES IS TO CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE AND SERVE AS A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR MANY WHO FEEL OTHERWISE SILENCED. THE ORGANIZATION ACTS TO EFFECTUATE CHANGES IN PUBLIC POLICY GOVERNING ADOPTION AND CHILD WELFARE. THIS PUBLIC POLICY INCLUDES LAWS, AGENCY REGULATIONS, AND SOCIETAL ATTITUDES. THE ORGANIZATION USES GRASSROOTS AND OTHER LOBBYING EFFORTS TO ENSURE THESE VOICES ARE HEARD. ON A MORE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, ADOPTION NETWORK CLEVELAND ALSO WORKS WITH HUNDREDS OF ADOPTEES, BIRTH PARENTS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DNA SURPRISES, THOSE WHO ARE DONOR-CONCEIVED, ADOPTIVE, KINSHIP, AND FOSTER PARENTS, AND FOSTER YOUTH EACH YEAR TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND EMPOWER THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.

ADULT ADOPTEES, BIRTH FAMILY, AND DNA SURPRISES - OUR ADULT ADOPTEE & BIRTH PARENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE INFORMATION, SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY FOR ADOPTEES AND BIRTH PARENTS, SIBLINGS, AND OTHER IMPACTED FAMILY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THOSE DISCOVERING NEW DNA CONNECTIONS. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THIS AREA INCLUDE OUR GENERAL DISCUSSION MEETINGS AND SEARCH & DNA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. OUR GENERAL DISCUSSION MEETINGS ARE FACILITATED PEER SUPPORT MEETINGS OFFERED MULTIPLE TIMES PER MONTH THAT PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR MEMBERS OF THE ADOPTION CONSTELLATION AND THOSE WITH DNA SURPRISES TO SHARE PERSPECTIVES AND RECEIVE SUPPORT. OUR SEARCH & DNA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR THOSE WISHING TO SEARCH AND RECONNECT WITH THEIR BIRTH FAMILY.

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH-OUR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES CREATE A COMMUNITY FOR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT, AND COLLABORATION FOR ALL THOSE WORKING WITH THE ADOPTION, KINSHIP, AND FOSTER CARE POPULATIONS. WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE ADOPTION CONSTELLATION AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE THROUGH PRESENTATIONS FROM LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL EXPERTS. WE MAINTAIN PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE RESOURCES, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS.