Adoption Monthly: Celebrate the Gift of Family

Unsubscribe

View in your browser

Celebrating the gift of family

Welcome to the December issue of Adoption Monthly—the final issue of 2022! We want to wrap up the year on a happy note by celebrating the gift of family with you. Nothing lifts our spirits more than the beautiful photos you submit to our Faces of Family photo contest every year. These wintery shots showcase some of the joy, diversity, and love of adoptive and permanency families. We hope they warm your heart!

Photo credits: the Loeffler, Hall-Ciccone, Hall, MacPherson, Doornbos, Altizer, Levesque, Hogan, and Sterne families.

Give a gift that changes lives

We have one wish on our list this holiday season: family for every child.

While most kids are looking forward to presents or a special holiday meal, BC's waiting kids wish for a place to call home and a family of their own.

You can help make that wish come true. When you donate to AFABC, you help us find families for waiting children and youth. It's a gift that changes lives: the gift of family.

DONATE NOW

Upcoming events and opportunities

DECEMBER 12: WINTER WONDERLAND EVENT

Join us online for stories and crafts at our end-of-the-year winter-themed community virtual event! This event is geared to families with children ages 4-10 years, but all are welcome. Participants will have the choice to participate in arts and crafts or listen to read-aloud stories.

For arts and crafts, we will be making 3D snowflakes. All you will need is paper, scissors, and tape. For our read-aloud, we will read several stories, including some by famous children's author Robert Munsch. This event takes place Monday, December 12 from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM.

DECEMBER 14: PEER BANTER SERIES FOR YOUTH

Join us for our last Peer Banter Series event of the year! Peer Banter is a virtual space for youth to come together and play games, connect, and have fun with our Family Support Worker Sam Johnson! Our next session is on December 14th at 5:00 PM.

DECEMBER 19: WAITING PARENTS SERIES

Join us for our last Waiting Parents Community Discussion Series of the year! We’ll discuss topics related to adoption and permanency with the company of a guest speaker. Connect, reflect, learn, and build your community of support. Our next session is on December 19th at 5:00 PM.

Encouragement and inspiration

TIP OF THE MONTH: KEEP IT SIMPLE

Do your holiday celebrations include children or youth who were removed from their birth family or have lived in foster care? It's important to remember this time can be associated with tremendous losses and upsetting memories.

To help you make your family’s holiday celebrations special and sensitive, focus on keeping it simple.

Don’t overdo things. Some children have already had adults try to buy their affection or make up for disappointments with gifts.

Overdoing the holiday season may also remind children of what they have missed out on and produce very mixed feelings about the upcoming festivities.

Try to gauge the child’s expectations, ask about their holiday experiences, and explain that it’s okay to have sad or mixed feelings.

Keeping things simple at home during the holidays can also help kids who have sensory challenges or are easily overwhelmed. A calm, quiet home base will help them feel safe and stay regulated.

Simplicity takes effort, especially during the holidays—but it can make all the difference.

Read more tips on managing the holidays.

RECOMMENDED READING

THE TAYLOR TURBOCHASER
by David Baddiel, illustrated by Steven Lenton

Looking for a holiday gift that celebrates diversity? Check out this exciting book for kids aged 8-13, suggested by AFABC staff member Joanne!

Joanne says: “I really like David Baddiel’s children’s books. The protagonist in The Taylor Turbochaser uses a wheelchair and has adventures.”

Do you have a book, movie, podcast, or article to recommend? Send it our way!

SHARE YOUR STORY

What does adoption or permanency look like for you? Do you have advice, expertise, or a story to share with the community? We’d love to hear from you. All perspectives and experiences are welcome. Contact Brianna at bbrashnyberg@bcadoption.com.

From the community

FREE E-BOOK: SOMETHING IN COMMON

Not everyone has the same type of family, but we all have something in common! That’s why Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada partnered with Tsehay from The Wiggles and youth who have experienced Canada’s child welfare system to create Something in Common.

This new children’s e-book tells the stories of children who have been involved in the child welfare system and will help parents and caregivers talk about different family structures with their children in an accessible way.

Download Something in Common (it's free!)

MCFD SEEKS INPUT ON SOCIAL WORK OVERSIGHT

The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) is conducting a public engagement to gather feedback and perspectives on social work oversight in B.C. Oversight is the system of standards and requirements that determines who can work as a social worker and the rules they must follow when working. Members of the public are invited to complete a survey or a written submission.

Click here for more information and to participate (until January 13).

RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR FASD STUDIES

The Psychology Department at the University of Guelph is recruiting volunteers—youth, caregivers, and professionals—to get involved in FASD research across a number of studies.

Click here for more information and to get involved.

Third-party events and opportunities in Adoption Monthly are listed as a service to the community. AFABC does not endorse or favour these individuals, groups, or organizations, nor the programs or services they provide. We have not verified the quality of these events or the credentials of their staff. Always use your best judgment when attending community events. To submit an event or opportunity, email communications@bcadoption.com.

Our mailing address is:

Belonging Network
408 - 602 W Hastings St
Vancouver, BC V6B 1P2
Canada

Phone: 604-320-7330

Registered Charitable #: 118777671RR0001

Unsubscribe from our updates or

Opt out from all emails from AFABC.