Schedule of Saturday Classes at Spring Conference

Time	Adopting…	Parenting…
8:30	BREAKFAST
9:00	Grieving Infertility	Advocating Adoption & Helping Others Become Adoption Fluent
9:30	Loss in Adoption	Preparing Children for a New Sibling
10:00	Marketing/Networking	Parenting the Adopted Child
10:30	Meeting with Birthparents for the First Time
11:00	Between Selection & Placement and Placement & Temple	Birthparent relationships (after placement)
11:30	Adult Adoptees (This class is pending.)
12:15	LUNCH
12:45	Birth Mother Panel
1:30	Open & Closed Adoptions
2:30	Transracial Adoption
3:30	Wrap-Up/Discussion

Register NOW for the FSA Spring Conference in Atlanta

Contact the LDSFS Office to Register 770-939-2121

2 days of classes & discussions all for $20!

Includes Entire 2 Day Conference & Jason’s Deli Catered Lunches both days!

Sat Mar 28 & Sat April 25

We are trying something different for this conference. The conference will take place over two days but not back to back. Also, the content is for both those new to adoption and those of us who have been involved for some time.

We are going to have an open outline that will allow for tailored discussions that will adapt to those that attend the conference.

There will be less lecture style classes & quite a bit of discussion and exchange of ideas. Socializing with other couples at all stages of the process included free!

If you missed the fall conference, you are kicking yourself now. You heard about the fantastic food, the cool people, the amazing t-shirts & the terrific speakers. Don't miss this one and regret it all summer. This will be a fun learning experience and a great opportunity to talk with others interested in adoption.

FSA Southeast Fall Conference Short SURVEY

Please give us your feedback. Did you attend? If not, tell us why. If so, tell us what was good and what we could change for next time. It's a short survey that should only take 3-5 minutes. 2 questions if you didnt attend and 5 questions if you did attend.
Click Here to take the survey

Hotel Discount for Conference Extended

Comfort Suites Perimeter Center called and they extended their special group rate for us. You can certainly try the others on the list below to see if they will still honor the group rates we had through beginning of July but I know Comfort Suites will. It's a pretty good deal. $89.99 king or 2 queen + sofa + microwave + minifridge. (770) 828-0330 They are less than a mile away.

ALL HOTELS INFO Click here to view all the hotel info!

It isn't too late!

Dear FSA members,

We are excited about the upcoming FSA conference and are grateful for the many hours of preparation by many individuals that have lead up to this great event. The Southeast Area is already being recognized as one of the largest and well planned regional conferences being held this year. We anticipate a fun, inspiring, and educational experience. For those of you who have not registered it is not too late. Please call the agency at 770-939-2121 and register right away.
For those involved, thank you for all the time and energy that has and will go into making this so successful. This conference is a unique opportunity to become more prepared and committed to the loving path that is adoption. We welcome all who desire to attend. See you at the conference.

Christopher Young
Agency Director
LDS Family Services, Georgia Agency

New Hotel Info

We have updated the hotel rates and information. Scroll down or click here to view the new group rates!

August Conference Classes

Hi! We are well on our way to preparing for the August Conference. On the left you will see links for the Conference Flyer and Registration form. We have also added pictures and details of the new FSA T-shirts, and some hotel info for those who will be traveling.

Class List for Aug ’08 Conference

Please note that this is our tentative plan, and is subject to change before the conference.

Loss in Adoption- how to process and overcome grief. Includes discussion on infertility, failed adoption, and loss of biological connection (30 min) Vonae Tanner

Networking- ideas for networking and finding an adoption situation. Includes discussion on the internet, how to recognize and avoid scams, and how to approach the topic with family and friends. Also includes overview of other adoption options. (30 min) Wendi Clanton

Transracial Adoption- 30 min discussion of how to prepare yourself for a transracial adoption, how to overcome challenges. 30 min panel of adoptive parents to answer questions. (1 hour) Presenters: Middletons, Panel: Middletons, Dranes, Browns

Open Adoption- Take the fear out of open adoption. Discuss the ways open adoption will benefit you, your child, and the birthfamily. Ideas for setting boundaries and overcoming challenges. (30 min) Linzee Carroll

Birthparent Relationships- How to establish and navigate a relationship with the birthfamily. Ideas for letters, gifts, and visits. How to help your birthmother heal. (30 min) Angela Johnson

Adult Adoptee- 2 adult adoptees will share their experience and answer questions (30 min)

Birthmother- A birthmother who has worked with LDSFS will share her experiences. (1 hour)

Helping Loved Ones Become Adoption Fluent- How to talk to others about adoption, how to promote positive adoption language. How to maintain privacy when asked questions. (30 min) LDSFS Caseworker, Ty Cunningham

Talking with your child about adoption- How to discuss adoption with your child. Includes discussion on developmental understanding of adoption, and how to answer questions. Also includes how to prepare a sibling for an upcoming adoption. (30 min) Mary Kate Villamor

Process of Adoption- Understanding the legal aspects of adoption, includes timeline, expectations, and each person’s role. Includes approval, selection, birth, and finalization. (30 min) Michelle Erickson

Adoption Tax Credit- A tax professional will give a presentation about the adoption tax credit. There will be time for questions. (30 min)

1st 3 weeks at home- What to expect after placement. Includes newborn care, communicating with birth family, post adoption depression, traveling with a newborn. (30 min) Shanna Witbeck

Advocating for Adoption in School- How to talk to teachers and other professionals about adoption. Ideas for introducing adoption to your child’s class. How to help your child answer questions from peers. (30 min) Brenda Alder

Funding Adoption- How to find the money to pay for your adoption. Ideas given. (30 min) Shanna Witbeck

“He’s all mine”- How to promote attachment and bonding with your child. Includes discussion of adoptive breast feeding, reactive attachment disorder, and infant massage. (1 hour) Angela Drane

Foster Adoption- A discussion of how to adopt from the foster care system, and how to overcome challenges of older child adoption. (30 min) Candy Haynes

Special Needs Adoption- discuss adopting a child with special needs. (30 min) Amanda and Joe Keddington

Strengthen Your Marriage- Ideas for strengthening and improving the marriage relationship. Ideas given for handling the stress of adoption, the frustration of waiting, and the roller coaster of new parenthood. How to help and understand each other through this process. (1 hour) LDSFS Caseworker

Class Schedule

Once again, this is our current plan. It is subject to change.

We are planning to have 3 classrooms with different topics in each.

The classrooms are A, B and C.

Classroom A has all the required classes for someone new to adoption or who has not attended a previous conference. We also encourage couples to split up as needed to attend all classes of interest.

8:30
A) Breakfast/ Welcome
B) --
C) --

8:45

A) LDSFS Policy Update

B) --

C) --

9:00
A) Loss in adoption
B) Networking and finding a match
C) Talking with your child about adoption

9:30
A) 1st 3 Weeks With a Baby
B) Helping Loved Ones Become Adoption Fluent
C) Advocating for Adoption in Schools

10:00
A) Birthmother Presentation
B) --
C) --

11:00
A) Open Adoption
B) --
C) Adult/Teen Adoptee Presentation

11:30
A) Break/parents reunite with kids, Pick up lunches, eat.
B) --
C) --

12:00
A) Question and Answer with your LDSFS Caseworkers
B) --
C) --

12:30
A) Legal process of adoption, and tax overview
B) Preparing for a Transracial Adoption
C) Funding Your Adoption

1:00
A) Birthparent Relationships
B) Transracial Adoption Panel
C) Adoption Tax Credit

1:30
A) Bonding and Attachment
B) Foster Adoption
C) Strengthen Your Marriage

2:00

A) Bonding and Attachment

B) Special Needs Adoption

C) Strengthen Your Marriage

2:30-4:30

A) SLC Broadcast

B) --

C) --

4:30
Closing Social

T-Shirts: Order now!

Would you like to own an ultra cool new “Adoption Rocks!” T-shirt?

Front chest: Families Supporting Adoption

Back: Adoption Rocks

http://www.itsaboutlove.com/

FSA Southeast Region

Here is the design for the new FSA T-shirts, available in Gray or Red. You may order them with your conference registration, or if you can't make the conference, you can order them on their own (just let us know by July 1st).

Preorder with Conference Registration for a discount and pick up your shirt at the conference.

You may order shirts from sizes YXS-XXXXL (youth XS- adult XXXXL) in Red (non-ringer tee) or Gray

Preorder t-shirt by July 1st $13
After July 1st $15 Limited quantities available after July 1st

Hotel Info for Southeast Region FSA Conference Aug 8-9th in Atlanta

The Southeast Region FSA Conference is coming up August 8-9th. Here is hotel info for locations very close to the conference. We are working on getting negotiated group rates with them and the more of you that signup for the conference, the better the rate we can get. Once we get additional rates, we will post them here. Homestead rate is fantastic at $61.99 for a suite. You can also checkout Hotwire or Priceline or Hotels.com and get lower rates but you may be farther away, these are all within walking distance of the conference.

****This information has been updated as of 6.17.08

Hotels within 1 mile of Glenridge Building

Hampton Inn Atlanta-Perimeter Center‎ (owned by Hilton)
769 Hammond Dr, Atlanta, GA‎
Free Wifi Highspeed internet, local calls, breakfast, fitness center, swimming pool
(404) 303-0014
Special Group Rate of 15 rooms held until July 18
Call the location directly ask for “Families Supporting Adoption code FSA”
Special Rate: $79 double or king/queen
Regular Rate: $109

Homestead Studio Suites Hotel‎
1050 Hammond Dr NE, Atlanta, GA‎ -
(770) 522-0025 PER@extendedstay.com
Special Rate: $61.99 queen suite Call the location ask for “Families Supporting Adoption”
Standard rate: $64.99 queen / $73.99 deluxe with pullout couch
Rooms include internet, phone, fridge, etc.

Comfort Suites Perimeter Center‎
6110 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, GA‎
(770) 828-0330
$89.99 king or 2 queen + sofa + microwave + minifridge

Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter North Hotel‎
800 Hammond Drive, Atlanta, GA
(404) 564-3000‎

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Perimeter Mall‎
765 Hammond Dr, Atlanta, GA‎
(877) 863-4780

Marriott Residence Inn-Perimeter Center‎ -
6096 Barfield Rd NE, Atlanta, GA‎
(404) 252-5066