Adopting and Parenting the Older Child
There are many joys and challenges associated with parenting an older adopted child (school age and up). This live webinar will examine parental motivations to adopt older children, and will help families assess their readiness and ability to adopt an older child. Participants will gain a better understanding of attachment, trauma, grief and loss issues as they relate to the adjustment of the later placed child. Specific behavioral, emotional and learning challenges will be discussed, and effective parenting techniques and approaches will be explored. This webinar will benefit those who are currently parenting, as well as those who are contemplating older child adoption.
Date: Wednesday, March 28 2012
Time: 8:30-9:45pm
Fee: $25
Facilitator: Carol Edelstein
Carol Edelstein is the Director of AdoptionWorks, an Adoptions Together program dedicated to placing older children from foster care into stable, permanent homes. Over the years, Carol has been a strong advocate for older child adoption and has been instrumental in uniting countless US foster care children with loving families. She has an intimate understanding of the challenges and concerns that adoptive families face before, during and after adoption.
Navigating the Birth Parent Relationship
The relationship between adoptive and birth parents is at once complicated, challenging, and highly gratifying. It is only natural for adoptive parents to worry about how to build and sustain a mutually rewarding connection that keeps the best interests of their child at the forefront. This webinar will explore several critical issues related to communicating with birth parents such as establishing clear agreements up front, what to do and say during the first meeting, the importance of pictures and letters, entrustment ceremonies, and steps to take when problems arise. The topic of search and reunion will also be addressed, and social media as a means of connecting will be explored. Being informed and prepared is the first step toward alleviating anxiety and establishing a healthy foundation for you and your child.
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Time: 8:30 – 9:45 pm
Fee: $25
Facilitator: Pam Hoehler
Could My Child Have ADHD? How to Know and What to Do About It
Are you concerned that your child may have ADHD, or do you have a child who has already been diagnosed?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that can make it difficult to control one’s attention span, impulse control, activity level, and even one’s emotional responses. All children act out from time to time, but children with ADHD have more severe, frequent issues that interfere with their ability to function across settings like home and school. While there is no definitive test, there are signs, symptoms and diagnostic criteria that can be used to determine if your child has ADHD. Parenting a child with ADHD can be a challenging and exhausting endeavor. There is no single definitive cause or proven cure for ADHD, but effective treatment options are available. With an effective treatment plan in place, the outlook for children diagnosed with ADHD is very encouraging.
By participating in this webinar, parents will learn:
1) Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD
2) What Does (and does not) Contribute to ADHD
3) Related Problems and Co-Existing Conditions
4) Treatment Options for ADHD
5) How to Be a Strong Advocate For Their Child With ADHD
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Fee: $25
Facilitator: Hellen Streicher, Ph.D.
Dr. Hellen Streicher is a child clinical psychologist with specializations in pediatric/health psychology and neuropsychology. She is the Director of Behavioral Health Services at Central Virginia Health Services, Inc, which provides comprehensive healthcare to underserved populations across 14 primary care clinics throughout the state.
Dr. Streicher completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University with specializations in child clinical and health psychology. She completed her internship training in clinical and health psychology at the University of Florida, and her fellowship training in pediatric psychology and neuropsychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She has held faculty positions at UNC Chapel Hill in the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Psychology, and at the University of Virginia in the Curry Program for Clinical and School Psychology.
Over the past 20 years, she has given numerous professional presentations within the field of pediatric psychology, assisted in developing the first integrated care model for behavioral health services within the community health care system in Virginia, developed clinical practice guidelines for conditions such as obesity and ADHD, developed a school-based integrated care clinic, and served for over 10 years as a clinical supervisor for pre-doctoral students and post-doctoral residents in clinical psychology. Dr. Streicher’s specializations include neuropsychological testing, evaluation and treatment of ADHD, learning disorders, autism spectrum disorders, pediatric mood and anxiety disorders, elimination disorders, children’s stress and coping, adjustment to illness and disability, and parent-child relationships.
Dr. Streicher is also the proud parent of two bright, beautiful children who were adopted internationally.