Our top five articles from 2020 range from international adoption, transracial adoption, trauma, and more! They're as diverse as the community we serve. Have you read them all?

1) Adoption in Islam

2) What we know about Crystal Meth and the developing fetus

3) Hair and skincare for kids: A guide for parents of black and bi-racial children

4) When emotional development is delayed

5) Helping children cope with and understand abandonment

These top downloads showcase some of the most helpful and interesting publications on our site! From our ever-popular adoption roadmap to our resource guides, these are all great reads!

1) Adoption roadmap

2) Infant and toddler placements through the Adopt BC Kids program

3) Resource guide: Supporting LGBTQ2S+ youth in adoption and foster care

4) The final issue of Focus on Adoption: Family in bloom

5) Resource guide: School and adoption Navigating the education system

Our top five webinars from 2020 are filled with valuable lessons for adoptive families, and don't forget all of the webinars on our site are free right now!

1) Predictable adjustments

2) Support and strategies for substance-exposed children

3) Transitioning children and youth into adoption

4) FASD: Becoming the sensory detective at home

5) Beyond the attitude:
Adopting teens and tweens

On November 24, 2020, we were honoured to host MCFD's Executive Director of Guardianship, Adoption & Permanency Renaa Bacy, and Arlene Goddard, MCFD Adoption Team Lead from Prince George in a live Q&A hosted by AFABC Family Support Worker Lucy French.

Check out this recording of the live event to get answers to some of the most common questions around adoption and the Adopt BC Kids program.

AgedOut.com wishes everyone a happy holiday season! We know this year brings challenges around surrounding yourself with your peers over the holidays but try a virtual hang out or play a game with friends online! Stay safe.

We'll leave you with these words of wisdom from our founding project lead. 

Written by Sam Pothier

When I aged out of care there was one day a year I loathed, and it’s called Christmas. The one day a year I was reminded about family private. While all my friends were excited for their mom’s cooking, presents, and seeing their favourite uncle, I was trying to figure out how I could sleep for 24 hours and skip the day. I wasn’t going to have any of the aforementioned fun, and I was too ashamed to let anyone know I didn’t have anywhere to go on Christmas day. Unfortunately, this isn’t a unique experience for us ex-foster kids. So here is how I survived the dreaded Christmas day…

1)     I rented all the movies. Back in my day (I’m about to date myself here) I would go to Rogers and pick out seven VHS (this was what they had before DVD players) movies. Seven because I knew I would be awake for at least 14 hours that day and each movie, give is take, is about two hours. I picked out all my favourites and a couple I’ve never seen before.

2)     I bought all the comfort food. For me, it’s basically dip and then some things to put in the dip, like chips and veggies. I would get different kinds of cheese and the softest baguettes. I would have mac n cheese and Dr. Pepper.

3)     I worked. If I could work that day, I did. Frist you get some mad cash for working Christmas day and you’re pretty much guaranteed to work that day because all the people with family privilege want the day off.

4)     I went to the movies. Believe it or not but movie theatres are open on Christmas day and they are busy! You can easily find a seat where it looks like you’re in a group.

5)     I lied. Eventually my friends discovered that I was alone on Christmas and invited me to the family gatherings. I was ashamed to tell them I’m a foster kid, so I told them that I recently moved to Vancouver to work. I don’t want to promote lying at all, but if you feel like I did, it is an option. I will tell you though, that most people care more about sure they get gravy than whether you were in foster care.

6)     I walked. The city is so quiet on Christmas day, so it kind of feels like you’re in a zombie apocalypse because there is no one around.

7)     I volunteered. There are lots of places looking for volunteers on Christmas day. This is a cool thing because you get to be with other people, and chances are you’re going to get a turkey dinner.

And lastly, surround yourself with other foster kids—you know they would rather hangout than looking up grumpy cat memes all day!

Parenting teens and tweens is challenging. Parenting teens and tweens who are adopted requires specialized knowledge and tools to deal with the unique experience of adopted children.

AFABC has developed a brand new Teens and Tweens online workshop that offers an introduction to the parental joys, challenges, and typical behaviours connected to teen and tween adoptions. The three-part workshop begins on March 31.

The first year of adoption placement can be tough— especially for parents managing kids with trauma. This three-part online workshop helps parents understand the relationship between trauma and adoption.

The spring session of this popular course will begin on April 27.

Registration for our February Safe Babies workshop is open!

If you are planning to adopt or foster a baby or toddler, this course is for you—especially if there is any risk of prenatal exposure.

In three 1.5 hour workshops, learn about infant development, substance exposure, sleep issues, household and infant safety, support services, self-care, and more.

The AEP-Online programs are designed to provide prospective adoptive parents with a strong foundation of knowledge for caring for their adopted child. These programs fulfill the legal requirements for adoption education in BC.

Eligible applicants can register for courses starting in January and February.