Adoption Training Course Descriptions
Gladney's Family Service Department's mission is to provide education, counseling, pre and post adoption education to Domestic and International Adoptive Parents.

The Gladney Center for Adoption is excited to present informative and educational training sessions on adoption. Each training will be facilitated by a highly trained professional. Some of the courses offered to families include:

Child Development Training, Ages 0-5
The Child Development Training will provide information on age appropriate developmental levels for ages 0-5. Along with information about normal child development, you will also learn what to watch for concerning developmental delays in children. Language, Cognitive, Social and Emotional, Motor, and Sensory Developmental Stages will be explored for each stage of development.

China Training
This training will help adoptive families prepare for the specifics of adopting a child from China. Topics that will be discussed include cultural awareness and sensitivity, practicalities of travel and the adoption process, issues of identity as a transracial family, health concerns, and post-placement adjustment.

Collaborative Group for Families who Adopted Older Children
This group provides an opportunity for parents to gather and share ideas, support, and strength as they face the unique challenges and joys involved in parenting their adoptive children. Adoptive parents whose children were 4 or older at time of adoption are encouraged to attend. The group is held on Gladney's campus on a quarterly basis. Childcare is not provided.

Ethiopia Training
This training will help adoptive families prepare for the specifics of adopting a child from Ethiopia. Topics that will be discussed include cultural awareness and sensitivity, practicalities of travel and the adoption process, issues of identity as a transracial family, health concerns, and post-placement adjustment.

Latin America Training
This training will help adoptive families prepare for the specifics of adopting a child from Latin America. Topics that will be discussed include cultural awareness and sensitivity, practicalities of travel and the adoption process, issues of identity as a transracial family, health concerns, and post-placement adjustment.

Medical Issues in International Adoption
Dr. Heidi Schwarzwald will present information regarding the medical and psychological health of children adopted internationally. She will cover both short-term and long-term issues families adopting internationally face and will emphasis certain trends from specific countries.

Sensory Integration
In our estimation, sensory integration is one of the most important topics for parents, teachers, educators, and professionals. Sensory processing issues can be caused by difficult pregnancy, birth complications, lengthy hospitalizations, abuse, neglect or trauma. Because of the wide range of causes, there are many children whose lives are significantly altered by their inability to completely understand sensory input from their environment. During this seminar we will talk about its causes, symptoms, and most importantly, we talk about how to recognize and effectively deal with your child's need for sensory integration.

Transcultural Adoption Training
This two hour training is designed for families who have adopted or are considering adopting transracially or transculturally. This dynamic training will give families an opportunity to share their experiences, concerns, and joys of raising a child who comes from a different racial and ethnic background than their families. Topics will include the following: a) preparing for a transracial or transcultural adoption; b)"Feeling different" from a child's perspective; c) recognizing racism d) seeking role models and community connections and e) understanding adoptive identity and racial identity development.

True Colors
This one hour training is designed to meet the needs of families that have adopted transracially. This dynamic training by Jaiya John will give families an opportunity to share their experiences, concerns, and joys of raising a child who comes from a different racial and ethnic background than their families.