We look forward to seeing you at our virtual conference,
​October 23 & 24, 2020!

Adoption Knowledge Affiliates and Adoption Network Cleveland have joined forces to present, "Journeys of Discovery: Navigating the Intersections of Adoption." This amazing opportunity brings together the expertise of both organizations to offer presentations by national and state experts on adoption, providing opportunities for members of the adoption and foster care community as well as adoption professionals to receive support and skills, gain knowledge and network with others. Ohio and Texas CEUs are available. See below for an overview of offerings and CEU information. Visit the Schedule and Speaker pages for full information regarding conference offerings. 

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Schedule at a Glance

​Friday October 23, 2020
 
9:00 AM (ET), 8:00 AM (CT)
Welcome (All Attendees)
 
Plenary Sessions
9:40 AM (ET), 8:40 AM (CT) (2hrs)

• Panel: Managing grief, loss, power & identity: A dialogue on adoption ethics, Monica Faulkner, Ph.D., LMSW Patricia Martinez-Dorner, MA, LPC, Will Francis, LMSW, Joellen Peters, PhD, Renee Gelin, Ty Pennington, Family Law Attorney

 
11:45 AM (ET), 10:45 AM (CT) (1 hr)

• Keynote: The Ethical Traps in Building Families Through Adoption and Permanency, Sharon Kaplan Roszia, MS

 
Workshop Session 1
1:15 PM (ET), 12:15 PM (CT) (1.5 hrs)

1. Is It Just ADHD? Understanding the Adopted Child's Behavior, Dr. Elaine Schulte
2. From the Unknown to Known: Living in Complexity after the Search, Barbara Lynn Robertson, LMSW

Workshop Session 2
2:55 PM (ET), 1:55 PM (CT) (1.5 hrs)

1. Transforming Trauma: Resilience and Healing for the Adoption Community, Lesli Johnson, LMFT
2. Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ Youth in Foster & Adoptive Families, Karey Scheyd, MPA

 
Workshop Session 3
4:35 PM (ET), 3:35 PM (CT) (1.5 hrs)

1. Feminist Perspectives on Adoption, Kate Livingston PhD
2. Intersections of Unresolved Grief, Mental & Behavioral Health, and Adoption, Erin Spalding, LCSW-S

 
Bonus optional evening programming
1. Networking time/Meet & Greet 7:30 PM (ET)
Breakouts 8 PM - 9:30 PM (ET)
1. Male Adoptee Workshop - Richard Uhrlaub
2. Waiting, Creating, and Finding Family: Past, Present, and Fiction - Suzanne Gilbert

Saturday October 24, 2020
 
9:30 AM (ET), 8:30 AM (CT)
Welcome (All Attendees)
 
Plenary Session
10:10 AM (ET), 9:10 AM, (CT) (2 hrs)

• Keynote: Navigating the Intersections of Transracial Adoption, Torrey E. Carroll, MA, LPC & Nikki M. Carroll, MA, LPC

 
Workshop Session 4
12:45 PM (ET), 11:45 AM (CT) (1.25 hrs)

1. The Urgency of Seeing Color in Adoption and Foster Care, April Dinwoodie
2. Dissecting Infant Adoption and the Ethics of Informed Consent, Renee Gelin, Board President, Saving Our Sisters

 
Workshop Session 5
2:10 PM (ET), 1:10 PM (CT) (1.25 hrs)

1. Let’s (Learn How to) Talk about Sex! An Adoptive/Kinship/Foster Parent’s Workshop, Holly Spencer-Trueman, Mdiv
2. BEHIND ME / BEFORE ME, Leslie Pate Mackinnon, LCSW, Clare Allen, MSW, Jennifer Frederickson, Carrie Thompson, LPC

 
Workshop Session 6
 3:35 PM (ET), 2:35 PM (CT) (1.25 hrs)

1. Decoding Your DNA Identity, Amanda Reno & Traci Onders
2. Supporting Positive Identity Development, Amanda Schranghamer, LSW

 
Workshop Session 7
 5:00 PM (ET), 4:00 PM (CT) (1.25 hrs)

1. Equal Access to Original Birth Certificates: Fighting for Our Rights in the State of Texas, Joellen Peters, PhD, Texas Adoptee Rights President
2. The Changing Racial Equity Needs of Adoptive and Kinship Families and in Child Welfare, Chelsy Alexander, LMSW

 
Bonus optional evening programming
- Awards Ceremony 7:30 PM (ET)
- Solo Show and Q&A with artist: Hot Dogs at the Eiffel Tower, Maggie Gallant 8 PM (ET)

(This event is open to public with no conference registration required.)

Ohio CEUs at a Glance

Please note that to be granted Ohio CEUs you must attend the live virtual version of the offering, Ohio CEUs cannot be granted for watching the recorded version late

SOCIAL WORK CEUs Friday, October 23, 2020

Workshops offering CEU’s	Number of CEU’s offered
Panel & Keynote	2.0 + 1.0 Ethics
​1a, 1b	1.5
​2a, 2b	​1.5
3a, 3b	​1.5

Total Available CEUs on Friday: 7.5

SOCIAL WORK CEUs Saturday, October 24, 2020

​Workshops offering CEU’s	Number of CEU’s offered
Keynote	​2
4a	​1.25
​5a, 5b	​1.25
6b	​1.25
7a, 7b	​1.25

Total Available CEUs on Saturday: 7.0 Hours
TOTAL SOCIAL WORK CEUs: 14.5 hours includes 3 ethics

COUNSELOR CEUs Friday, October 23, 2020

Workshops offering CEU’s	Number of CEU’s offered
Panel & Keynote	​2.0 + 1.0 Ethics
1a, 1b	​1.5
​2a	​1.5
​3a, 3b	1.5

Total Available CEU’s on Friday: 7.5

​COUNSELOR CEUs Saturday, October 24, 2020

Workshops offering CEU’s	Number of CEU’s offered
Keynote	2
5b	​1.25
7a, 7b	​1.25

Total Available CEUs on Saturday: 4.5 Hour
TOTAL COUNSELOR CEUs: 12 hours, includes 3 ethics

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Texas CEUs: LMSWs, LPCs, & LMFTs maximum potential earning is 17.5 for this conference (incl. specific CEU identified sessions from Fri & Sat. evening programming). Individual CEU session credit eligibility listed on the Conference Schedule page of this website. Attendance will be verified at each virtual session, a convenient session tracking sheet will be provided to each attendee to assist in meeting regulatory board requirements in Texas, and for you to submit to any national certifying boards to which you may belong. You may also request a simple certificate of attendance to the overall conference. If you are not required by your board to show specific sessions attended, this might be the option for you.
*AKA will keep all CEU attendance records & session exit surveys on file for the requisite three years to verify your participation, acquired skills  assessment, and feedback, in accordance with Texas law. 
**If you are a professional submitting directly to your TX certifying board, and need assistance or more session info, please email [email protected]. 

Thank you to our conference planning committe

Ginger Breckenridge
Nicole Cheraso  
Deborah Wentz
Betsie Norris
Traci Onders
Katy Ptacek
Tammy Willet
Zoe Breen Wood   
Jennifer Zisk-Vitron
Amy Zlotnik

Ty Cliffel
Dawn Scott
Marci Purcell
Tamara Whinston
Keri Moran
Anne Bingham
Rod Lind
Pam Greentone
Courtney Peques
Gail Whitehea

And to all of our presenters!