On January 3, 2011, Forever Families Through Adoption (FFTA), local adoption agency and resource center in Rye Brook, sent two agency social workers, Vanessa Bush and Becca Leitman, into Rye Middle School for a day of interactive adoption education activities for approximately 100 students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Students shared their knowledge of and questions about adoption.
The discussions highlighted topics such as: different types of adoption, the adoption process, making an adoption plan, the steps involved for a pregnant woman/couple who is/are considering adoption, famous adoptees and famous birth parents, and positive adoption language. Students were eager to share their responses and the room became full of exciting dialogue.
The students then participated in a physical activity called “step the line” where they were asked to step forward in response to statements made about adoption that applied to them. Vanessa Bush stated that “It was amazing to see how many students in the classroom were connected with adoption in one way or another; it affects the lives of so many, which just emphasizes, even more, the need for adoption education in the community.”
Forever Families Through Adoption has been providing workshops for hundreds of middle and high school students throughout New York and Connecticut as part of their community outreach programs since 2007. “It’s important to raise awareness on adoption issues to provide basic information and correct misconceptions and myths about adoption in order to increase sensitivity towards those who were adopted, have made adoption plans, or are adoptive parents” stated Joy S. Goldstein, LCSW, ACSW, a local resident, adoptive mother of three, co-founder and Executive Director of FFTA. Feel free to contact FFTA with any questions you may have using the information below.
CONTACT
Joy S. Goldstein, LCSW, ACSW
Executive Director,
Forever Families Through Adoption
62 Bowman Avenue,
Rye Brook, NY, 10573
Phone: (914) 939-1180
E-mail: adopt@foreverfamiliesthroughadoption.org
Website: www.ForeverFamiliesThroughAdoption.org
