Workshop Series

Crossing the Bridge:  From Infertility to Adoption:

Date:  Saturday, October 18, 2008  
Time:  8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Place: Princeton Hyatt, 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540

In this workshop you will learn:
What to expect emotionally, how to deal with your own emotions and any issues between yourself and your partner, what the adoption process is really like, what is like to be a family formed through adoption and how to prepare your friends and family and employer for your adoption.

Time: Promptly at 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Is Adoption For You? What to Consider
Speakers: Joni S. Mantell, LCSW, Director of the IAC Center, psychotherapist specializing in infertility & adoption
Judith Kottick, LCSW, psychotherapist specializing in reproductive counseling with a particular emphasis on egg donation and gestational carrier arrangements

The speakers will discuss some of the common emotions and issues people experience when considering adoption or donor options.

Session 2:

Time:  9:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Adoption Triad
Moderator: Joni S. Mantell, LCSW
A Panel of Adoptive Parents, Birth Parents and Adults Who Were Adopted

Learn about adoption issues that occur over the course of the life cycle.

The Adoptive Parents will share a male and a female perspective on their journeys to adoption, how they made the transition from feelings of loss and ambivalence to making their decisions to adopt and what it is like now that they are adoptive parents.

The birth parents and adults who were adopted will share their perspectives and personal experiences with adoption. This will give you an opportunity to hear real emotions and probably have some of your fears and fantasies about adoption decreased as well.

Joni S. Mantell, LCSW will discuss the common issues and concerns that adopted children have and how parents can talk with their children about adoption.

Break Out Groups and a light lunch

Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Steps to Adoption: What to Consider and What to Expect in the Adoption Process
Group Moderators:  IAC Center Counselors and Adoptive Parents

There will be three break out groups including:  Domestic Adoption, International Adoption, and a 'not sure which method' (undecided) group.   You will have the opportunity to speak directly with professionals and adoptive parents.

The IAC Center offers counseling and education. We do not do adoptions and are not affiliated with any agency or attorney. Our goal is to give you an unbiased view of how to deal with the "business of adoption." From this neutral perspective, we will discuss how to begin the adoption process, the right questions to ask when making adoption decisions, what the process is like and how to begin to make an adoption plan that will work for you for a life time. The adoptive parents will share how they adopted their children domestically and internationally and how they dealt with the reactions of friends and family or employers.

Concluding Remarks, Questions and Answers
Time:  1 to 1:30 p.m.
Joni S. Mantell, LCSW,Director IAC Center

Seating is limited. Pre-registration is required and should be completed at least one week prior to the event. Payment must be received in order to confirm your registration. Cancellations must be received at least three days prior to the event.

For additional information:
Phone 609-737-8750, or E-mail: JMantellMSW@iaccenter.com