In-Person Special Topic Meeting facilitated by Kim and Amy. This meeting will focus on split loyalties and how to balance our needs with the needs of others, topics which often rise to the forefront during the holiday season.  Who deserves our time and attention the most?  Is it okay to foster relationships we long for, even when it might hurt someone else?  Should we keep peace at the expense of our own happiness, or should we honor our own inclinations?  How do we nurture others and take care of ourselves simultaneously?  Join us to share your perspectives, as we unpack without judgment the many insights and sensitivities surrounding these topics.

General Discussion Meetings provide a safe place where people can share their feelings and experiences, get support from their peers, and learn from others’ perspectives. The meetings have an open discussion format and are attended by anyone with a connection to adoption or foster care, including adult adoptees, birth parents, siblings, and adoptive parents, those that have experienced foster or kinship care, or DNA discoveries such as misattributed parentage or donor conception. Professionals are also welcome to come and learn from the shared perspectives of the constellation members.

Why are these groups needed?

We believe adoption is a complex, lifelong, and intergenerational journey for all those whose lives are impacted by it. These meetings connect and empower individuals impacted by adoption, kinship, foster care, and DNA Discoveries and provide a source of healing, understanding, and learning. Recognizing that a unified voice is a strong voice, we advocate for truth and honesty on behalf of adoptees, who wonder where they came from and why they were placed for adoption; for birth families, who have never forgotten the child; and for adoptive families, who deserve to have their questions addressed honestly. We recognize that everyone has a right to know their genetic history. By bringing these groups together, we learn from the experiences of each other and have the opportunity to explore and process our own journeys.

What is the scope of this group?

This peer discussion and support group is not meant to replace conventional therapy, but rather serve as additional support on your personal journey to integrate your experience. The focus of this group is the emotional aspects of our journeys. For those involved in the process of search, one on one guidance and support as well as technical expertise and assistance are available through our Search & DNA Assistance Program.

Meeting Information

These are meetings led by trained, volunteer facilitators. Pre-registration is required and can be completed by finding the link for the meeting on our calendar and following the prompts for registration. There are five opportunities to participate in a meeting each month. Dates and times can be found on our calendar: https://www.adoptionnetwork.org/news-events/our-calendar.html