We are excited to be partnering with Together for Adoption (T4A) for the 2012 Together for Adoption National Conference in Atlanta. In addition to being a sponsor of the conference, CCS will be providing a pre-conference seminar on Thursday, September 13, as well as leading seven breakout sessions during the main conference on September 14-15.
Pre-Conference on Thursday, September 13:
Adoption Awareness Training
CCS is partnering with T4A for a special pre-conference event: Adoption Awareness Training. This eight hour training will cover the history and evolution of domestic adoption, Georgia laws regarding the rights of birthparents, and understanding how to serve the adoption-minded client. This training is intended primarily for professionals who work with pregnant women. Upon completion of the training, participants will be equipped to discuss adoption as an option for a client experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Training will qualify participants for 8 hours of CEUs through the University of Georgia. The course also meets the adoption training criteria required for pregnancy centers to apply for “Choose Life” tag funds from Choose Life of Georgia. See the pre-conference schedule here.
Register for the pre-conference on the T4A registration page.
Main Conference Breakout Sessions, Friday-Saturday, September 14-15
Over 60 breakout sessions will be offered during T4A (see the complete list here). Covenant Care Services will specifically be leading the following seven breakouts. You can register for these breakouts when you submit your main conference registration on the T4A web site.
Breakout Session 1 (Friday)
Domestic Adoption as Gospel-Driven Ministry (Stephen Story, Director of Ministry Development) – Why adopt children? Is it simply to grow our families? Is it to meet our own desires for children? Is it to minister to a little one? A gospel driven adoption opens up endless opportunities to live out the good news of Jesus to birth families, agencies, and your current family. Come hear about the importance of being motivated by the cross as you pursue domestic adoption, whether you are adopting domestically or serving pregnant women considering adoption.
Presenting the Choice of Adoption (Jill Thomley, Executive Director) – If you are a pastor, a lay-leader, or involved in any type of setting where you encounter women facing an unplanned pregnancy, it is important to know how to present the idea of adoption. Women every day receive an abortion because they see it as their only choice. Come hear about the popular misconceptions portrayed by the media and the myths of adoption addressed. Learn important language that needs to be used to communicate the power of adoption and how gospel centered adoptions can be a wonderful and beautiful way to redeem a seemingly hopeless situation.
Breakout Session 2 (Friday)
Answering Abortion in Georgia (Stephen Story, Director of Ministry Development) – There are over 30,000 abortions each year in Georgia, making the state 7th in the nation for abortions performed annually. How can the local church respond to this hard reality? How is adoption one of the answers? How do we apply the gospel in answering abortion in our state?
Loving Birthmothers through Adoption (Jill Thomley, Executive Director) – The adoption process is much more than just finding a baby for a family. It is an opportunity to live out the gospel by walking alongside a hurting mother who is weighing many difficult decisions for her life and the life of her unborn baby. In this workshop for adoption ministry leaders and adoptive parents, we will talk about how we can honor birthmothers throughout the adoption process.
Breakout Session 3 (Saturday)
A Lifelong Conversation: Talking to Kids About Adoption (panel discussion facilitated by Jill Thomley, Executive Director) – When is the right time to explain adoption to your children? How does that conversation take shape throughout their life and at different milestones? Join adoptive parents and adoptees as they share ways to help children understand their adoption story.
Black Families Adopting (panel discussion facilitated by Stephen Story, Director of Ministry Development) – Imagine that you are a black woman, coming from a majority black community and you are facing a crisis pregnancy. For important reasons, raising this baby doesn’t seem to be an option, but the idea of your child being the only black baby in an adoptive family concerns you. African American babies are the most aborted babies in America, yet a majority of the families seeking domestic adoptions are Caucasian. Many African American birthmothers look through the photo book of potential adoptive families and ask the agency for an African American family, but there are few. Come hear the statistics, stories, and needs of birthmothers and learn about the need for African American adoptive parents and how to make it possible.
Breakout Session 4 (Saturday)
Difficulties/Surprises for Adoptive Moms (Jill Thomley, Executive Director, & adoptive moms) – Becoming an adoptive mom is more than getting a baby, but a time to grow deeply in your faith and love of God. Adoption is a unique journey full of challenges and wonderful surprises. Come hear about the journey of emotions that come along the way, grieving losses, and the joy that comes with the new gift of life that enters your family.
You can register for these breakouts when you submit your main conference registration on the T4A web site.