Our Next Quarterly Educational Meeting
AKA Quarterly Education meetings are open to the entire adoption constellation, including Adoptees, Former Foster Youth, Parents (First, Foster, and Adoptive), as well as adjacent communities of Donor-Conceived, NPE, and DNA Discoveries. There is no charge for this event, but you must pre-register. A ZOOM link will be forwarded to registered attendees the morning of the meeting.
Quarterly Educational Meeting with Dr. Lynn Zubov
August 20, 2024 @ 7:00 pm
August 20, 2024 @ 7:00 pm
After over 20 years of service to Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), Dr. Lynn Roche Zubov has recently retired as a Professor of Education. While at WSSU, in addition to being a faculty member, Dr. Zubov also coordinated several programs over the years, including the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and the graduate and undergraduate special education programs.
In her final year at WSSU (2024), Dr. Zubov developed and implemented the Preliminary Exploration into Adoption Reunion Survey. The survey was initially designed to uncover commonalities that may lead to long-term “successful” mother-child reunions and identify common pitfalls. However, during the survey’s development, the survey expanded to include a wide variety of topics that explored the adoption experience from the perspective of adoptees, first mothers, and first fathers.
When the Phase One survey data was collected on July 1st, over 1,300 individuals participated. The data is currently in the analysis stage. However, a cursive look at the data suggests that the long-term separation of mother and child significantly impacts the mental health of both adoptees and first mothers. Furthermore, this negative impact occurs regardless of the type of adoption (open, closed, kinship, termination of rights, or NPE).
In addition to the data regarding mental health issues, Dr. Zubov will also discuss her findings various other topics such as who is more likely to initiate the search, reasons for searching, how adoptees and first mothers refer to each other versus how they would like to refer each other and how they would like to be referred to, emotions around the adoptees’ birthdays, first mothers’ feeling of control at the time of placement, and sense of regret.
In her final year at WSSU (2024), Dr. Zubov developed and implemented the Preliminary Exploration into Adoption Reunion Survey. The survey was initially designed to uncover commonalities that may lead to long-term “successful” mother-child reunions and identify common pitfalls. However, during the survey’s development, the survey expanded to include a wide variety of topics that explored the adoption experience from the perspective of adoptees, first mothers, and first fathers.
When the Phase One survey data was collected on July 1st, over 1,300 individuals participated. The data is currently in the analysis stage. However, a cursive look at the data suggests that the long-term separation of mother and child significantly impacts the mental health of both adoptees and first mothers. Furthermore, this negative impact occurs regardless of the type of adoption (open, closed, kinship, termination of rights, or NPE).
In addition to the data regarding mental health issues, Dr. Zubov will also discuss her findings various other topics such as who is more likely to initiate the search, reasons for searching, how adoptees and first mothers refer to each other versus how they would like to refer each other and how they would like to be referred to, emotions around the adoptees’ birthdays, first mothers’ feeling of control at the time of placement, and sense of regret.
Quarterly Educational Meetings
For thirty years, AKA has hosted hundreds of experts, thought-leaders, reformers, and advocates as presenters at our Educational Meetings. We bring all members of the adoption community and beyond together for the hard, insightful conversations. The result is often healing and new perspectives gained by participants, as well as attendees being activated to create positive change.
For Texas social workers, therapists, and qualifying professionals, CEUs and/or certificates of attendance will be awarded for this programming upon request. For virtual events, email [email protected] for documentation.
For Texas social workers, therapists, and qualifying professionals, CEUs and/or certificates of attendance will be awarded for this programming upon request. For virtual events, email [email protected] for documentation.
May 8, 2024 - A conversation with Beth Syverson
February 7, 2024 - Claiming Belonging and Intersectionality Within Adoption with Tony Hynes
September 27, 2023 - Overcoming Shame with Dr. Abagail Hasberry
May 16, 2023 - A conversation with Eve Wiley, a donor conceived victim of fertility fraud
March 1, 2023 - A Conversation with with Marla Star of Support Texas Adoptee Rights
September 10, 2022 - Past, Present and Future: A 32-Year Road Trip with Patrick McMahon
June 22, 2022 - Michele Kriegman
March 27, 2022 - A Conversation with Patricia Martinez Dorner
September 23, 2021 - "Book Club" meeting with Author Marcie Keithley
May 19, 2021 - An Evening of Connection and Conversation with April Dinwoodie: A collaborative AKA & STAR event.
To see previous Quarterly Educational Meeting topics, please open this document.
February 7, 2024 - Claiming Belonging and Intersectionality Within Adoption with Tony Hynes
September 27, 2023 - Overcoming Shame with Dr. Abagail Hasberry
May 16, 2023 - A conversation with Eve Wiley, a donor conceived victim of fertility fraud
March 1, 2023 - A Conversation with with Marla Star of Support Texas Adoptee Rights
September 10, 2022 - Past, Present and Future: A 32-Year Road Trip with Patrick McMahon
June 22, 2022 - Michele Kriegman
March 27, 2022 - A Conversation with Patricia Martinez Dorner
September 23, 2021 - "Book Club" meeting with Author Marcie Keithley
May 19, 2021 - An Evening of Connection and Conversation with April Dinwoodie: A collaborative AKA & STAR event.
To see previous Quarterly Educational Meeting topics, please open this document.