OBG film screening at OSU- Adopted: For the Life of Me

May 5, 2012 Ohio Birthparents No comments

Did you know that most states in the U.S. (including Ohio) restrict or forbid adopted adults from gaining access to their original birth certificates and adoption records? Join OBG for a free film screening and discussion of Adopted: For the Life of Me, a documentary exploring the effects of sealed records laws on older adoptees and their families.

This is event is free and open to the public. Film screening starts at 7pm at The Ohio State University, Psychology Building Room 0010, 1835 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210.

Events

Upcoming OBG Events- Spring 2012

April 20, 2012 Ohio Birthparents No comments

Uncategorized

General Adoption Support returns on April 15th!

April 4, 2012 Ohio Birthparents No comments

General Adoption Support Meeting

Sunday, April 15th 4:30pm-6:30pm
Gahanna Public Library Community Room
310 Granville St. Columbus OH 43230

Building Relationships Across Boundaries

Adoption fundamentally challenges static notions of family, community and nation. For everyone involved in an adoption, new forms of relationship are created and existing relationships are transformed. Often, we must learn to negotiate these shifting relationships across many different kinds of boundaries. In our second General Adoption Support & Discussion Meeting, we will explore the challenges of building relationships across boundaries.

  • How do we understand the boundaries of ‘family”? Who ‘counts’ as a part of our family?
  • What kinds of boundaries influence our relationships through adoption?
  • What boundaries have been positive? What boundaries have been limiting?
  • How have we negotiated boundaries within our relationships?

Designed to create open dialogue across the spectrum of experiences with adoption, this support group is open to anyone who is touched by adoption or simply interested in learning more about adoption issues. Adult adoptees, adoptive parents, birthparents, prospective adoptive parents, spouses, partners and extended family members are especially encouraged to attend. Learn more…

Logistical Note

April’s General Meeting (4:30-6:30pm) will immediately follow our April Birthparent Meeting (2-4pm). Both meetings will be held in the Community Room. The General meeting is open to anyone, but our Birthparent Meeting is for birthparents only. If you arrive exceptionally early for the General Meeting, please wait in the lobby so as not to disturb our Birthparent Meeting.

Events, Monthly Meeting, Uncategorized

Open Meeting Recap (or, this is what post-adoption support looks like)

January 29, 2012 Ohio Birthparents No comments

Through our monthly birthparent meetings, OBG has been incredibly successful in establishing a strong, dedicated community of birthparents from across Ohio who are invested in supporting each other. However, our mission is only partly achieved by creating safe spaces for birthparents to meet and share their experiences. Supporting the life-long needs of birthparents also means that we critically engage the larger community in re-thinking- and ultimately transforming- a culture of adoption that has traditionally obscured the experiences of birthparents. This month, OBG took an amazing step toward that goal by opening our doors to the public and holding our first General Adoption Support & Discussion Group !

Co-sponsored by Adoption Network Cleveland, this post-adoption support meeting is open to anyone interested in learning about life-long adoption issues and becoming a part of a wider public dialogue on adoption. We were thrilled to host 27 people for our first meeting in Columbus, a group that included adult adoptees, adoptive parents, birthparents, extended family members- and a few curious onlookers! The group represented a wide range of experiences with adoption: open, closed, domestic, transracial, and intercountry adoptions; individuals searching for loved ones and those in reunion; and multiple generations of adoption connections. We were especially excited to welcome an adoptive parent in an open adoption with one of our own OBG members!

Facilitated by adoptive mother Dawn Friedman and OBG birth mother Kate Livingston, this first meeting explored themes of connection and disconnection in adoption. Through guided exercises and open discussion we explored the myths and realities in adoption that keep us disconnected from each other- and workshopped ways to negotiate the connections we all share. It was a powerful and moving conversation that we look forward to continuing when we meet again!

We invite anyone interested in adoption issues to join us for our next General Adoption Support & Discussion Meeting now scheduled for Sunday April 15th at the Gahanna Public Library in Columbus, OH. Those with a personal connection to adoption are especially encouraged to attend. Please note that this meeting will be held immediately following our April birthparent meeting. Details and directions are available on our Calendar.

Events

NEW for 2012! General Support and Discussion Meeting

December 13, 2011 Ohio Birthparents No comments

Throughout 2011, we have received many inquiries from adoptees, adoptive parents, extended birth family members and others interested in developing an open dialogue across the spectrum of experiences with adoption. In response to this critical need, Ohio Birthparent Group is partnering with Adoption Network Cleveland to bring a new General Support and Discussion Meeting to Central Ohio in 2012. This quarterly general meeting is open to anyone who is touched by adoption or interested in life-long adoption issues. Our first General Meeting will be held on January 22, 2012 from 2-4pm at the Gahanna Public Library. Read more…

Events, Uncategorized

Looking Back: 2011 Highlights

December 13, 2011 Ohio Birthparents No comments

As Ohio Birthparent Group’s inaugural year comes to a close, we want to share with you some of our incredible accomplishments and invite you to join us in 2012 as we continue to support the life-long needs of birthparents throughout Ohio.

OBG Highlights 2011

  • Over 60 birthparents have contacted Ohio Birthparent Group this year in search of support, resources and community.
  • 33 birthparents attended at least one support meeting in 2011, with regular participants driving from as far away as Cleveland, Cambridge, and Cincinnati.
  • We developed and facilitated our first public educational event, “Living Adoption: Life-Long Issues in the Birthparent Experience” on November 13, 2011  in Columbus, OH. Guest speaker Brenda Romanchik, a nationally recognized author and adoption therapist, spoke to an audience of more than 50 adoption professionals, social workers and other community members interested in learning about the experiences of birthparents. 9 participants received Social Work CEU. This event drew participants from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and New York.
  • Founding member Kate Livingston was recognized as 2011 Adoption Triad Advocate of the Year by Adoption Network Cleveland.
  • Our meetings and events were featured 3 times in the Columbus Dispatch.
  • 501(c)(3) incorporation in progress with representation by Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP.
  • Members of our group have been featured speakers at national and local adoption events, including: National Center for Adoption Law and Policy Adoption Academy; Summer Adoption Law Institute at Capital Law School; Creating a Family radio show with Dawn Davenport; Ohio Adoption Law Roundtable; Pittsburgh Consortium for Adoption Studies film symposium; Journeys of Adoption Symposium at Central Ohio Regional Training Center, among many others others.

Most critically, OBG has provided safe and open spaces for birthparents to engage in a powerful form of peer support- one that builds from birthparents own experiences and allows them to be the agenda-setters in their own post-adoption support. As we begin our second year, we are excited to continue this important work and look forward to expanding our community to reach more birthparents across Ohio.

 

 

Uncategorized

Living Adoption: Life-Long Issues in the Birthparent Experience

October 4, 2011 Ohio Birthparents No comments

Join us for two special programs with guest facilitator and birthmother
Brenda Romanchik celebrating OBG’s 1st Anniversary.

Sunday, November 13th, 2011
Camp Mary Orton
Indoor Activity and Conference Center
7925 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43235

CLICK HERE TO RSVP!

 

Morning Program – For Birthparents Only

“Different Journeys on the Same Path”
Birth Parent Support Meeting with Brenda Romanchik

9:00am-12:30pm

Description: Join birth parents from across the State of Ohio for an extended support group meeting that explores both the connections and differences in our experiences with adoption. This support meeting is for birthparents only and will feature guided discussion lead by guest facilitator and birthmother, Brenda Romanchik.

Event Details: This morning program is free and open to birthparents of all ages. Registration and light breakfast begins at 9am and the program will begin at 9:30am. Birthparents are encouraged (not required) to RSVP by Nov 7th, 2011.

Afternoon Program – Social Work CEU Available

“A Journey through Placement and Beyond”
Educational Workshop for Professionals
and Community Members

2pm-4pm

Description: Placing a child for adoption is only the beginning of a lifelong journey that not only affects the adoptee, the adoptive parents and the birthparents, but all those they know and love as well. Adoption creates new roles, new connections and new family configurations that evolve well beyond the moment of placement. Guest speaker Brenda Romanchik leads this public workshop on how families and professionals can help nurture these important connections. Participants will also learn more about the work of Ohio Birthparent Group and other post-adoption resources for birthparents in Ohio.

Event Details: This event is open to all professionals and community members interested in learning more about life-long adoption issues. This event is free to the general public (except CEU participants), but please consider a donation in support of Ohio Birthparent Group. Light refreshments will be provided.

For participants seeking Social Work CEU credit: Select the Social Work CEU Registration ticket option for a discounted pre-registration rate of $20.00 through November 4th, 2011. $25.00 registration fee thereafter. On-site registration begins at 1:30pm on the day of event.

Click image to download PDF of the event flyer

 

We regret that the venue for this event is not wheelchair accessible. Please contact Kate Livingston at ohiobirthparents@gmail.com for questions about accessibility.

Events , ,

Next up: October Monthly Meeting

October 2, 2011 Ohio Birthparents No comments

Our next monthly meeting will be on October 16th, 2011. The location has changed to Cup O’Joe, 2418 E. Main St. Bexley, OH 43209.

Link to Directions

 

Events, Monthly Meeting

We’re Slowly Launching!

July 4, 2011 Ohio Birthparents No comments

It’s been slow going, but our website is slowly coming to fruition. We’re working on our book list, links to great blogs and a resource page for those needing local help. As this is all volunteer and we all seem to have multiple day jobs, the slow-going is understood. If you have anything you would love to add to the site, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

As always, don’t forget to check out our Facebook page to connect with other members. While you’re at it, follow us on twitter (@OhioBirthparent) so you can keep up-to-date with blog postings and other important information.

While we continue to get the site ready for mass consumption and group blogging, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ohiobirthparents@gmail.com. We’re looking forward to what the rest of the year has in store for us!

Site Updates