International Conference News: Service Project

Hospitals play an important part of Adoption Outreach. Placements can be made whether through referrals by doctors, nurses, social workers, as well as newborn intensive care units, and safe haven laws. Recognizing the impact of local hospitals on the adoption process, National Families Supporting Adoption has chosen to support an area hospital for this year's service project. Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) is emerging as one of the Utah state's premiere hospitals. IMC has a Women and Newborn Center that is home to labor and delivery services, physician offices including obstetrics and pediatric care, and a newborn intensive care unit. Significant service at this hospital will have a great impact in adoption advocacy. Please consider donating generously at this year's National Families Supporting Adoption Conference.



NEW Items requested for donation include:
New pajamas, "sleep and play" outfits - size preemie and newborn, cotton receiving blankets, knit caps - size preemie and newborn (pastel colors), fleece blankets - all sizes including bassinet, cradle, and crib, fleece receiving blankets, scrapbook supplies including paper, stickers, punches, templates, etc.





**Cash donation submitted at registration**

Spotlight: Valerie Mechling

My name is Valerie Mechling and I am currently serving as the Vice Chair over Birth Parent Services. I have been a part of the FSA National Board since early 2009, and I have truly enjoyed being an advocate for adoption in this position.

I placed my son for adoption in 2006 while I was a student at Southern Utah University. When we found out I was pregnant, my boyfriend and I considered getting married, but that plan did not last long, and soon I was left with the enormous decision of what to do with my unplanned pregnancy. It did not remain a question very long!

I am adopted myself. I was almost 19 when I got pregnant, and with all the questions my pregnancy had raised, I decided it was time to seek out my own birth parents. I searched several online registries, and eventually found an entry that matched mine--perfectly. I emailed the poster, a birth father who was looking for his daughter. We exchanged several emails, and at some point, he told me of a letter that he had written to his daughter. I was disappointed, because I didn't have any such letter. I told my parents about it, and my dad went to the safe and came back with a letter my birth father had written! My parents had wanted to find the "right time" to give me the letter, and I suspect they'd forgotten about it. But here it was, a beautiful letter expressing my birth father's love for me. A few weeks later, I was reunited with my birth parents. I have remained close with my birth father and his family ever since.

My experience with my birth family strongly influenced my decision to place my son for adoption. As my pregnancy progressed, I looked at profiles of adoptive couples through LDS Family Services. They were wonderful, but I didn't feel any special connection to them. I was introduced to a couple through mutual friends. We quickly developed a friendship, exchanging "novels", as we called our frequent (and lengthy) emails back and forth. With time and fervent prayer, I decided that this was the family my baby was meant to be with forever. Since placement, we've had an open adoption. They live on the other side of the country, so I don't see them very often, but we have maintained open communication through email, blogs, occasional phone calls and video chats. Adoption has become a very natural part of my life.

Since placement, my life has been incredibly blessed. I graduated from college and moved to northern Utah. For the last two years I have been an instructor at a local Taekwondo studio. I love working with children and teens, and I get to use the excuse "I'm a ninja" for nearly everything I do. It also gives me the opportunity to write, and last summer my book was signed on by a small publishing house, and will soon be released, which is incredibly exciting.

I have absolutely loved being involved with Families Supporting Adoption. It has been interesting for me to watch the growth of our organization as birth parents and birth grandparents have become more involved. I firmly believe that Heavenly Father is watching over us, and that this organization is intended for us all. I hope to see birth families and adoptive families working together in every chapter of FSA. Together we can strengthen the cause of adoption and the cause of eternal families throughout the world.

Celebrating National Professional Social Worker’s Month

The Colorado FSA Chapter made a special effort to honor social workers in March by preparing and distributing gift baskets to local hospitals. Corrine Christian, regional FSA chair says, "The whole idea behind this is that hospital social workers make a lot of decisions regarding babies left at hospitals or women who decide not to parent upon having the baby there. As well, they work hand in hand with OUR Adoption Managers when the circumstance allows. Social workers in any regard are most under-appreciated and making them a basket of treats and thanks is the least we can do! Also, The social workers are KEY to making sure the Nursing Staff is supportive of a birth parent's decision to place! Many hospitals have some sort of programs that help inform staff on what to do when you have a placement at your hospital but, surprisingly- Many do NOT! Pure education and support in these areas help alleviate the situation much more because staff knows how to handle things better. FSA members can do an education presentation to staff if they do not have one in place. This too is a great way to help FSA and LDSFS be recognized when situations come up! There is such a need for us to build every bridge possible to advocate for adoption and inform every person that LDSFS is here and ready to help build eternal families!"

Look here to see the Colorado blog post about the baskets. For additional information, see the Central Region blog post! Thanks for the great idea!!

International Conference News: Saturday Keynote Speaker, Dr. Karyn Purvis

Dr. Karyn Purvis earned her doctorate in developmental psychology, specializing in serving at-risk children, and she has spent the last ten years developing research-based interventions for those children. She is a former foster mother with a personal and professional calling to create a welcoming, loving environment for children who come from “hard places.” She serves as an expert witness in court cases of child abuse, testifies for state and national legislation, and speaks frequently to national and international groups. Recent trips have taken her to varied national groups from trainings for judges and CPS workers, to training international parents and professionals in England, Iceland, Scotland, Romania, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. She has eight grand children, two of which are adopted.

Dr. Purvis received her undergraduate degree at TCU and continued on to receive her masters and doctorate in Developmental Psychology from TCU as well. During her time at TCU, Dr. Purvis developed and directed (1999 – present) the Hope Connection, a research and intervention summer day camp for adopted children. She continued her work with this population as the director of the Adoption Project from 2003 -2006. Work from these projects has been featured in NBC Dateline, Fort Worth Weekly, Newsweek, Parents Magazine, and other popular parent magazines. She and her colleague, Dr. David Cross, write for scientific journals, parents magazines, and have co-authored a feature book for McGraw-Hill titled, The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to your Adoptive Family, which was released Spring 2007. Within six months of publication, The Connected Child earned rank as a best-seller in adoption books. She and her colleague, Dr. David Cross were recently honored with the Dallas business journal Heroes of Healthcare Award. Dr. Purvis was awarded the T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. Infant Mental Health Advocacy Award, a state-wide award for child advocacy. She was also awarded the title of Distinguished Fellow in Adoption and Child Development by the National Council for Adoption. Dr. Purvis was appointed Presiding Officer of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Committee on Licensing Standards by Governor Rick Perry.