Adam Pertman
Featured Speaker
Adam Pertman is the Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a national nonprofit that is the pre-eminent research, policy and education organization in its field. Pertman is also the Associate Editor of "Adoption Quarterly", the premier research journal dealing with adoption and foster care. He is the author of the groundbreaking Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming America, which has been reviewed as "the most important book ever written on the subject." In addition, he is the author of many chapters and articles on adoption- and family-related issues in books, scholarly journals and mass-market publications. He lectures extensively throughout the United States, as well as abroad, and has appeared on programs including "Oprah," the "Today" show and "Nightline."

1. "Ongoing Openness: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" Patricia Martinez Dorner, MA, LPC, LMFT. This workshop will deal with triad members’ communication strategies and how to conduct yourself in a post reunion relationship.
2. "Adopting Older Children" Stephen Terrell, PsyD, LPC, RPT. This workshop will discuss the adjustment and attachment issues faced by children adopted at an older age.
3. "So You’re Thinking About Adopting" Janie Cravens, LMSW-ACP. (1.75 ethics hours) This session will outline the basic issues prospective adoptive parents must deal with to successfully pursue placement.

1. "Untangling the Ties That Bind" Martha Fralia & Darlene Denton. This workshop will reveal the history and the consequence of sealed records in Texas, and will examine current legislative efforts to provide all adult adopted people with their family medical histories and original birth certificates. The workshop will also explain search techniques used to locate family members separated by adoption.
2. "Adopted Young Adults Speak Out" Patricia Martinez Dorner, MA, LPC, LMFT & Young Adult Panel. Patricia Martinez Dorner will lead the panel on a discussion on issues these young adults have pertaining to their adoption experiences such as identity, self-esteem, extended family relationships, loyalty and belonging.
3. "Adult Attachment Styles: How Early Experiences Affect Our Lives Today" Stephen Terrell, PsyD, LPC, RPT. This workshop will discuss how our attachment styles carry into our adult lives and impact our sense of self and our relationships.

Janie Cravens, LMSW-ACP, has more than 22 years of experience in adoption, infertility, and birth parent concerns. She is a pioneer of open adoption who resides in Austin, where she owns a consulting company, Adoption Development Resources.

Ms. Darlene Denton is a Gladney adopted person who had her records opened by court order and has reunited with her birthmother. She is Director of the Family History Center in Gainesville, Texas, and serves on the board of TxCARE and several other community organizations. Ms. Denton is well versed on the resources available for identifying and locating lost family members. She is currently working on completing the genealogical lines of her own adoptive and biological families.

Patricia Martinez Dorner, MA, LPC, LMFT, is the author of Talking to Your Child About Adoption and How to Open an Adoption, and co-author of Children of Open Adoption. She is owner and Director of Adoption Counseling and Search, a private practice in which she serves all members of the adoption triad, consults to agencies, and provides public education and training. Ms. Dorner, who has 26 years of experience in the adoption field, is also an adoptive parent residing in San Antonio.

Dr. Rowena Fong Ed.D., MSW, is the Ruby Lee Piester Centennial Professor in Services to Children and Families at The University of Texas at Austin. She has done training and consultation to staff and foster-adopt parents at the Beijing Child Welfare Institute in the People’s Republic of China. Coauthor of five books and numerous book chapters and journal articles, Dr.Fong is currently a Co-Investigator on a Health and Human Services Commission funded Health Marriage Initiative grant on support networks for adoptive parents. Her scholarly publications and research focus on international adoptions, culturally competent practice, child welfare, and immigrant and refugee children and families.

Martha Fralia serves on the board of the Texas Coalition of Adoption Resources and Education (TxCARE) in Fort Worth. She has been actively involved in adoption rights issues over several legislative sessions, and has worked closely with state legislators to reform legislation that would give adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates. She is an expert on Texas searches, and has facilitated the successful search and reunion of over 100 birthparents and adoptees. She is experienced in petitioning Texas courts to open sealed adoption files, and has acted as an intermediary in numerous cases. Ms. Fralia is a reunited Rest Cottage adoptee.

Stephen J. Terrell, Psy.D., LPC, RPT, a foster and single adoptive parent, is an Attachment and Trauma Therapist practicing in Austin who works extensively with adoptive and foster children and their families. The combination of therapist and parent brings a certain authenticity to Stephen’s work and support of families with challenging adoptive situations. Dr. Terrell brings humor, joy and very specialized knowledge to his audience as they discuss attachment issues in foster-adopt families.

WANT TO MEET ADAM PERTMAN?
The author of Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming America is coming to Austin to speak.

WANT TO UNDERSTAND ATTACHMENT DISORDERS?
Two workshops will focus on this misunderstood problem.

SEARCHING FOR THE LATEST IN ADOPTION BOOKS?
Hundreds of titles will be sold at this conference, with proceeds benefiting the adoption support group.