Purdue University Research Project... Thank You... Adoptive Parents!

Dear Adoptive Parents:
Thank You! We are very excited with the information provided on our web based survey. Many of you who adopted a child in the past 12 months generously responded, and we are grateful.

Unfortunately, there was a software problem that only logged participants' names -- not addresses. However, we can cross check your name against our original roster and send you a gift card once we have your address. Remember, there is no link to your original survey responses.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Karen Foli (kfoli@purdue.edu  or Dr. Susan South ssouth@psych.purdue.edu
Thank you for your patience.
Please click on the link below to provide us with your contact information.

https://purdue.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8wW9wloaeeKXuXW

National Adoption Month... Adoption Ornament

November is National Adoption Month... Donate $15 and receive this beautiful ornament and starfish card with poem.

This beautiful starfish ornament has the saying" It Matter's to This One" based on this starfish poem...



The Starfish

Original Story by: Loren Eisley

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed

a little girl picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the little girl, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The girl replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.

The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

The man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?

You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the little girl bent down, picked up another starfish,

and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, she said…”

I made a difference for that one.”



Donate Now! www.journeytome.com/help.cfm

Angel in Adoption Award

For Immediate Release Contact: Bren Wolfe

September 13, 2010 Phone: 720.933.9182

Email: brenwolfe01@msn.com





Congressman Michael Coffman Honors Bren Wolfe as an Angel in Adoption™ To Be Recognized at National Event in Washington, DC





Denver, CO – Congressman Michael Coffman has selected Bren Wolfe as a 2010 Angel in AdoptionTM for her outstanding advocacy of adoption issues. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which orchestrates the Angels in Adoption™ program, will honor Bren Wolfe, along with more than 190 Angels, at an awards ceremony and gala event in Washington, DC, October 6, 2010.



Bren Wolfe is being honored as the Founder of the non-profit organization, Journey to Me [www.JourneytoMe.com]. Inspired by her own journey as an adoptive parent of Zoe, whom she and her husband Tim adopted from a poor orphanage in China, Bren decided to leave her corporate job and volunteer 100% of her time developing the Journey to Me organization. For the past four years, Bren’s passion has lead her to build a comprehensive network of resources, therapists and professionals from around the country for families with adopted children in handling a myriad of issues associated with trauma, attachment and bonding, sensory, multi-cultural integration and all the unique and individualistic characteristics and challenges that these adoptive families face each day. By providing quality post-adoption education, Journey to Me has become a safe and supportive network, committed to strengthening families and helping adopted children thrive, impacting over 50,000 families per month.

The Angels in Adoption™ program is CCAI’s signature public awareness campaign and provides an opportunity for all members of the U.S. Congress to honor the good work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad.



“The Angels in Adoption program is unlike any other program in the Nation’s Capitol. Because of it, over 1600 “Angels’ have come to share with Washington their adoption experience and left with a renewed excitement of all that adoption makes possible,” said Kathleen Strottman. “I learned one simple lesson from my time on the hill, knowledge is power. Angels in Adoption is meant to give Members of Congress the knowledge they need to use the power they have toward making the dream of a family a reality for every child.”





In addition to the more than 190 local angels from around the country, several National Angels will also be recognized at the ceremony and gala for their dedication and commitment nationally and internationally to child welfare on a grand scale. Former “National Angels” include First Lady Laura Bush, Patti LaBelle, Jane Seymour, Muhammad Ali, the late Dave Thomas, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bruce Willis, Alonzo Mourning, and Marcus Samuelsson.



The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes through adoption. CCAI’s goal is the elimination of the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right of a family.



CCAI was created in 2001 by the active co-chairs of the bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) to more effectively raise Congressional and public awareness about the issue of adoption.



The Angels in Adoption™ program was established in 1999 as a Congressional press conference to honor outstanding individuals. Since then, the program has developed into a yearlong public awareness campaign culminating in an extraordinary awards Gala and celebration in Washington, D.C.



CCAI does not receive any government funding and they rely on the generous support of foundations, corporations, and individuals to accomplish their mission. For more information visit http://www.ccainstitute.org/



Journey to Me is a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization committed to strengthening families and helping adopted children thrive by providing quality post-adoption education and comprehensive resources through a safe and supportive network.

www.journeytome.org

Talking to Your Adopted Child About Their Birthmother...

Recently, I received an email from my daughter's teacher announcing she is pregnant with twins.  You could tell by the way she wrote this email announcement she was over joyed with excitement.  Ahhh... what joy and happiness!  (Children are a True Blessing)

I sat at my desk at work and my heart sank for my daughter...  I think it will be very obvious her teacher has a baby in her belly... or should I say, babies :)  My husband and I discussed thi,s and realized what a great opportunity this is to talk to Zoe about her birthmother and birth family.

We have talked many times about her birth-family and how her adoption story began...  Telling our children the truth in a sensitive way is freeing for them as they walk their journey of adoption.  Recently, while chatting with a friend of mine at work who is adopted... He told me how wonderful his parents were with his adoption and how special he felt that he was adopted and still does :)

In my daughter's book library... She has many great adoption books that will help understand the beautiful journey of adoption.  I feel forever blessed that Zoe is apart of our family, and we have been choosen from above to have an opportunity to parent, love, laugh, cry and experience this journey with our daughter.

Resources you may want to add to your child's book library:
Forever Fingerprints - Sherrie Eldridge
I Don't Have Your Eyes - Carrie Kitze
Tell Me Again the Day I Was Born - Jamie Lee Curtis
Mother's Bridge
http://www.journeytome.com/resources.cfm?content=Adoption Books

Back to School Basics...

Are you concerned about your adopted child startting the new school year?  Preparing your child is critical for a smooth trsansition.  Recently, my daughter started the 1st grade... Leading up to the new school year we talked about what 1st grade might look like and the many positives regarding 1st grade.

I think what she liked best was the (2) recesses she will now have during the day :) Preparing our children and having them open up about their feelings is important to their success.

For more info regarding back to school information for your adopted child visit http://www.journeytome.org/
Click on our article database: http://www.journeytome.com/article.cfm?adoption_article=1007