[KristineM]

Do any of you go to an adoption support group? What do you think of it?

There is an adoption sopport group here in Overland Park, Kansas that my friend and I are going to join. We are both adoptive patents in open adoptions. I am really looking forward to joining. It is for anyone touched by adoption.

[cupcake17]

HI, I started an adoption support group in our town (SE Ohio). Currently we have only adoptive and hopeful adoptiove parents coming but we open are meetings up to any one touched by adoption. I think it is great. Some of the parents have older children and it helps to know what kind of things to expect.
Best Wishes,
Terri

[DianeScraps]

I travel about 1 hour each way to a transracial support group. I can't go much but I really do get a lot out of it.

Our group also offers free childcare and it has been awesome for my girls to interact with kids like themselves

Diane

[SchmennaLeigh]

Cupcake; I PMed you!

Kristine; keep us updated on how it goes. I'm interested in how these go.

[StorkWatcher]

I haven't found one nearby, so these forums are my group for the moment!

Our agency didn't have one at the time while we were waiting, so we formed our own with a couple (that ended up just the 4 or us) while waiting which was the BEST thing we did during the wait. It helped to have someone who was experiencing the same things at the same time who could understand all our feelings. We ended up having several more things in common, and now our kids are playmates and e-pals whenever we can get them together.

It is a small dream of mine to volunteer to start/work with one at the agency we used some day.

[BlessedBe]

I've been thinking about doing this as well. I would love organize one in our community but was until this summer to get it started since I'll have more time on my hands.

I'd love to hear some ideas on starting one from the "ground" up.

I have tons of ideas floating around in my mind.

How often do the groups in your area meet? What kind of facility are the meetings held in? What are some of the topics covered at each meeting?

Any advice and ideas are greatly appreciated. I also plan on consulting with our sw for tips soon.

Thanks!

[StorkWatcher]

Hi, Blessed Be - you're one of my favorite people on this forum. You always have good things to add to topics in a very supportive and positive manner. It seems you would be very valuable to have as facilitator or even just a part of a support group.

During the wait, I was hoping that our agency would go back to having a support group which met quarterly, although it didn't happen. Monthly meetings would be nice, but maybe too much for people to attend all the time, yet good for people who might miss a quarterly meeting session and be able to meet up with others on a schedule more convenient to them.

I'd thought of having meetings in different churches (just because many don't charge a fee or charge a small fee for renting rooms) or in nice weather at parks or at our agency.

One tip - during a meeting for waiting parents, we got to hear from/talk to a couple who had recently adopted. It was a very good experience. And while the birthmom who'd been scheduled to speak couldn't make it, we did get to see 2 videos of other birthmoms talking about their experience. It completely changed how I viewed open adoption.

Now that I'm finding myself here for my support group, getting to speak and learn from birthmoms has given me a lot of insight and compassion as an adoptive mom. I love being able to interact with all sorts of people here.

We adopted domestically. While most of the local support groups I've found nearby are for international adoptions, I didn't feel I could join one. I have been trying to learn more about the international route on these boards and find that just like everything else, adoption has few boundaries - there are many similarties no matter what country/type of adoption you're involved in. I welcome talking to people with these different experiences.

I also know that some agencies around us have an annual picnic that adoptive and birthfamilies can attend. It sounds like fun.

[BlessedBe]

Wow, Storkwatcher, thanks so much for the kind words. You're so kind. Thank you - I really needed that today!

Thanks so much for the ideas. I had originally been thinking of monthly meetings but I do think that would be too often. Every three months sounds great to me.

I'm truly looking forward to this and I hope I can make it work. I am also looking at this opportunity to network with other adoptive parents as a way to someday allow DS to have a group of friends who've been adopted as well. I think this will help him in the years to come - to have friends that he can talk to about the same issues that he may experience as an adoptee.

I'm envisioning such a successful support group that we can branch off and have separate domestic and international meetings. I have several good friends that have adopted internationally and they would be great resources for those who have or are considering adopting outside of the country.

I'm so excited about getting started. I believe I'll send in that email to our sw today to see if she can help me get the ball rolling.