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Every family needs support. But families who choose adoption often realize that the specialized support needed to meet their unique needs can be hard to find. C.A.S.E. is here to help. Adoption issues are lifelong issues. No matter how you are connected to adoption – a biological /birth parent, a foster or

adoptive parent, an adult adoptee, a foster or adopted child – the Center for Adoption Support and Education offers sensitive, specialized, and effective services. We’re one of the few non-profit organizations in the country that uses an adoption-centered therapeutic approach to enhance the well-being of children, teens, adults and families.

www.adoptionsupport.org C.A.S.E. thanks the Dave Thomas Foundation and TD Bank for their generous support of this signature event. As a non-profit public charity, the Dave Thomas Foundation is dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 150,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, who was adopted, the Foundation works to fulfill its mission by implementing result-driven national signature programs, awareness initiatives and advocacy efforts. The Foundation is committed to Dave’s simple value: “Do what’s best for the child.”

www.davethomasfoundation.org TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the United States and provides customers with a full range of financial products and services at thousands of convenient locations.

www.tdbank.com

PART DPART DPART D

FEES: Please note the number of participants in each box.

Child/Teen $55 x =

Parent $55 x =

Adult attending without a child $55 x =

Child Care $30 x =

TOTAL FEE ENCLOSED: $ Credit Card # Exp: Signature:

Cancellations received prior to November 8th will receive a 75% refund. Please register on-line, mail or fax this registration form with payment to: C.A.S.E. 4000 Blackburn Lane, Suite 260 Burtonsville, Maryland 20866 301-476-8525 Fax: 301-476-8526 www.adoptionsupport.org

This year’s Conference will be held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. Directions to the event in Chevy

Chase and confirmation of your registration will be sent upon receipt of payment.

PART APART APART A Parent Name (s): Address: City, State & Zip: Phone #: Email Address:

PART BPART BPART B SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS ONLYSCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS ONLYSCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS ONLY Which public child welfare system (department of social services) assisted in your adoption?

PART CPART CPART C CHILD CARE ONLYCHILD CARE ONLYCHILD CARE ONLY Limited child care is available for children between the ages of 3 and 6 years. Child’s Name: Age:

Names of Child(ren) and/or Teen(s) GRADE

Children’s Theatre of Annapolis was established in 1959 by a small group of volunteers who wanted to provide professional level theatrical opportunities for children ages 8 to 18. Second Stage is the all-youth performing arts travelling troupe and their brand new show, Second Stage Goes to the Movies will be performed by a talented group of teens. They will twirl and croon to a variety of popular Silver Screen tunes, including classic numbers from “Guys and Dolls,” “South Pacific,” and “West Side Story,” “Carousel,” “Footloose,” and “The Wizard of Oz,” along with animated favorites from “Toy Story,” “Shrek,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” and “An American Tale.”

The world’s understanding of adoption is often impacted by stories portrayed in the media. Whether news stories or in best-selling novels, popular television shows and movies, these stories influence how adoptive and birth families are viewed. The messages they convey can either foster acceptance and understanding or create confusion and misconceptions. The theme of our 17th Annual Kids’ Adoption Network Conference centers on Hollywood, and the power of movies to both entertain and inform. As we recognize the myths and misperceptions about adoption that may be portrayed in a storyline, we will empower the children and teens to convey positive, accurate messages about adoption to educate others. Adopted children in 1st-7th and teens in 8th-12th grades along with their parents, are invited to participate in a day of learning and fun!

Scholarships Scholarships are available to any family who adopted through the public child welfare system. These scholarships provide free registration for the entire family and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Please complete section B of the registration form. If you have any questions about eligibility, contact Valerie at (301) 476-8525 or kunsman@adoptionsupport.org.

9:30-10:00 a.m. Registration 10:00-10:30 a.m. Opening in Auditorium 10:30-11:30 a.m. Entertainment: Second Stage Goes to the Movies

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Workshop The Script 12:30-1:00 p.m. Lunch Take 5 1:00-3:30 p.m. Workshop Fx 3:30-4:00 p.m. Closing Ceremony Action! 4:00-5:00 p.m. Family Carnival

Children and teens in 1st-12th grades will use their “star” qualities to create the REEL Experiences of Adoption. Grouped in teams by grade level, kids will engage in theatrical activities that will provide them with an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings about adoption. Additionally, the workshops will focus on dispelling myths about adoption through creative ways to convey positive and accurate messages about adoption.

IDENTITY MATTERS: The Quest for the “Authentic” Self

Since 1998, hundreds of your children have taught us that “identity matters” and that figuring out “Who Am I?” is the heartbeat of their journey. It may be hard for us as adoptive parents to understand the internal conflicts with which they are struggling. What must it be like to face the challenge of integrating the values, beliefs, personality traits, racial heritage and cultural background of two sets of families, who may be very different?

We invite you to join us in for a thought-provoking, crucial, in-depth conversation of the complexities and challenges your children face in their quest to form a “cohesive, authentic” identity. To address the specific needs of our same-race and transracial adoptive families, we are honored to have our esteemed colleagues, Amanda Baden, Ph.D. and Rebecca Jones-Gaston, LCSW-C join C.A.S.E. CEO, Debbie Riley in providing insights and answers around how you can assist in your children’s identity formation.

Amanda Baden is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Leadership at Montclair State University in New Jersey. She is an adult adoptee from Hong Kong and her experiences have led her to focus her research and clinical practice on adoption triad members, racial and cultural identity, and multicultural counseling competence. She is a licensed psychologist with a clinical practice in Manhattan.

Rebecca Jones Gaston brings with her a wealth of personal experience as an adult adoptee and expertise as a skilled facilitator, trainer and social worker. She has followed her passion for improving child welfare systems and supporting vulnerable children and families. She currently is a Director with Casey Family Programs.