The Cradle offers a series of workshops to support families connected through adoption. These are open to any family, whether they adopted through The Cradle or not.

Registration Information:
Fees:   $20 per person per workshop, $10 for second family member; non-refundable.

Pre-registration is requested: register online below or register by calling  847-733-3233 to ensure a seat; space is limited. If you register online, plan to arrive a bit early and bring payment – cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover accepted.

Walk - in registration times: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to start time.
We regret that babysitting is not available; programs are not appropriate for children.

Overcoming Sensory/Regulatory Issues in Adopted Children Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:30 - 11:30am The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest speaker: Dan Griffith, PhD, Clinical Pediatric Psychologist

Children require nurturing, responsive environments that provide well-organized input
to their nervous systems through their senses. Children may have difficulties
responding appropriately to their physical and social environments. In particular, they
may have difficulty processing sensory information and/or regulating their attention,
behavior, emotions, and arousal levels. This workshop will provide information
regarding the identification of sensory/regulatory problems in children and appropriate
parenting/intervention strategies to overcome these difficulties.

The participants will be able to:

• Identify different types of sensory/regulatory difficulties common in children.
  
• Describe the impact that these sensory/regulatory difficulties may have on the
  parent/child relationship.
  
• Describe strategies for addressing different types of sensory/regulatory problems
  in children.

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training/Hague Aligned

Growing Up Adopted! What Parents Should Know About Child Development Saturday, February 27, 2010 9:30 - 11:30am The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest speaker: Pat Kluzik-Stauch, MA, Early Intervention Specialist, adoptive parent

This presentation will highlight the various risk factors to healthy growth and
development that children adopted domestically and internationally can face. The
workshop will discuss what healthy childhood development looks like. The
emphasis of the discussion will be on what parents can do when they have
questions or concerns about their child’s development, and finding available
resources to meet their child’s needs. Early Intervention Services and Special
Education services will be highlighted.

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training/Hague Compliant

Attachment Saturday, March 6, 2010 9:30 - 11:30am The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest speaker: Myra Lawrence, PsyD, Child Psychologist and CEO & Clinical Director of Shared Vision

When children are adopted, it is not uncommon for it to take time for them to attach to
their new family, or even have some more prolonged issues with attachment. This
presentation will educate and assist parents in gaining an understanding of their
adopted child’s needs and provide adoptive parents with the tools and information
necessary to successfully navigate the two-way lifelong journey of bonding with their
adopted child.

The participants will learn

• Understand the impact of pre-adoption experiences on the ways children
  develop secure or insecure attachment styles.
  
• Identify their own attachment styles and explore the ways in which their unique
  personal experiences influence their approaches to parenting and interacting
  with their children.
  
• Explore their own parenting styles and suggest effective interactions that
  promote attachment for each type of parent and their adopted child.
  
• Discuss the Circle of Security and attachment styles.
  
• How to recognize and understand indiscriminate attachment.

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training/Hague Aligned

Caring for Afro-Textured Hair and Skin: Practical Advice for Parents of African-American and Biracial Children Saturday, March 27, 2010 9:30 - 11:00am The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest speaker: Erlyne Jean-Baptiste and Iheoma Okeke Banks

Do you have questions about how to care for your child's skin and hair? Join us for a
"hands on" seminar on afro-textured hair and skin care. Participants will learn basic
hair care techniques such as shampooing, conditioning and hair styling. Instructors
will also provide information about the differences between naturally textured hair
styles (such as braids, twists and afros) versus chemically treated hair styles (such
as relaxers and texturizers), appropriate hair tools and accessories for naturally
textured hair. Instructors will also discuss how and when to seek professional hair
care for children. Participants will be provided with online and retail resources for
hair care products and styling techniques. The seminar will also include information
on caring for the skin of African and African American children including information
on addressing dry skin and eczema. Parents are invited to bring their children ages
nine months and older to practice the techniques discussed in class and to address
specific hair/skin care issues they face.
Limit 20 children.

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training/Hague Compliant

Promoting Children's Language Skills Saturday, April 17, 2010 9:30 - 11:30am The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest speaker: Renee Reilly, Certified Speech-Language Pathologist

Effective communication skills are critical for relating in a family, succeeding in school,
and developing a secure sense of self. For a variety of reasons, children may be at
risk for communication delays and disorders. This can be particularly true for children
adopted internationally but can also apply to children adopted domestically. Parents
are often unsure about how to best support rapid language learning as well as how to
distinguish typical delays associated with a language switch from more significant
disorders.

Participants will learn:

• Expectations for typical language development and second language learning.
• Strategies for home language stimulation.
• Red flags for speech and language impairments that require more direct treatment.
• Accessing appropriate support services for language development.

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training/Hague Aligned

Brainstorming: Understanding the Effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Saturday, May 1, 2010 9:30 a.m. - 12:00pm The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest Speaker: Ajeet Charate; FASD Program Director at Trinity Services

Some children who have been exposed to alcohol in utero actually feel as if they have
a storm brewing in their heads, and this can result in some very challenging behavior.
The more parents can understand the causes, effects, and behavior, the better they
can respond positively to the child’s needs. Parents can expect to learn tips on
managing behaviors as well as how to advocate in the school systems.

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training/Hague Compliant

How to Talk With Your Children About Adoption and Answer the Tough Questions Wednesday, May 12, 2010 6:30 - 8:30pm The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest Speaker: Kay Holler, LCSW, therapist in private practice and adoptive parent

Many parents wonder how they will answer their children’s question about adoption.
This workshop will be a discussion on talking with your children about adoption. It will
include talking about tough topics, such as birth siblings, unknown birth parents, and
difficult birth parent information. Families will also learn how to talk with both their
adopted and birth children in ways that will benefit the entire family.

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training/ Hague Aligned

How to Embrace Your Child’s Culture: Living in a Cross Cultural Adoption for a Lifetime Saturday, October 16, 2010 9:30 a.m. - 12:00pm The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest speaker: Myra Lawrence, PsyD, Child Psychologist and CEO & Clinical Director of Shared Vision. Moderated Panel of Domestic & International Adoptive Parents

For families formed by adoption it’s likely parents and children don’t look alike. As a
result, questions, comments and even stares from complete strangers, as well as
acquaintances are inevitable. It is also likely that your child will experience prejudice,
even though you might not feel it. These experiences will occur throughout your
child’s life with different issues coming up at different ages. It is important to consider
how you will respond to different situations and how you can support your child.
Come hear from and share with other families in your similar situation.

Learn from the personal experiences of parents who adopted transracially who
will address these questions:

• How should I respond to comments and questions?
• How can I help my child respond to comments and questions?
• How can I help my child identify with his or her race and culture?
• How can I be sensitive to and help prepare my child for racism in the world, be it
towards him or her personally or their race in general?

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training/Hague Aligned

Same Gender Legal Issues in Adoption Saturday, November 6, 2010 The Cradle, 2049 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 View directions to this location Guest speaker: Rosemary Mulryan, adoption attorney

Families formed through adoption face unique challenges that other families don’t. It is
important to be aware of what some of the legal issues are and what to consider when
estate planning. Rosemary Mulryan, an experienced adoption attorney who has worked
with many same-gender families, will share her insights on such topics as:

• The legal adoption process
• Legal implications of last names
• Health insurance
• Traveling
• Guardianship
• Estate planning

Adoptive families will also share their practical experience.

2 hours of DCFS Foster Care Training

Edited - December 23, 2009

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