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POST-ADOPTION RESOURCE CENTER PARC Brochure PARC Lending Library FAMILY RESOURCES on the web Clark County has lacked a comprehensive resource center for adopted children and their families. Significant support from formal systems exists for people during the process of adoption. Typically, after the adoption has been finalized, the support abruptly ends. This reality negatively impacts not only adoptive families, but the entire community as these children and their families sometimes struggle to adjust. Especially impacted are those amazing families who adopt children with special needs such as physical, and/or mental and emotional disabilities ranging from mild to severe in nature. Research has shown that without ongoing post-adoption support services, especially for children with special needs, the risk of the adoption disrupting increases exponentially. Thanks to generous funding from the Gibney Family Foundation, Vancouver Rotary Foundation, 40 ET 8, Windermere Foundation, The Friend’s of Children’s Center and big-hearted community donors, the Post-Adoption Resource Center (PARC) is now a reality! Barbara Fullman is the Coordinator of the PARC which is a free service to adoptive, guardianship, and kinship families. Barbara earned a bachelor degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon in December 2000. She and her husband Randy adopted two children in June 2005, a boy and a girl. The PARC provides information and referral services, linkage to local resources (counseling services, developmental therapies, information on school advocacy, etc.), parent training curriculum, lending library, and a parent support group. As Coordinator of PARC, Barbara will provide supportive listening and encouragement, problem-solving guidance, research of community resources, and lending library recommendations. A computer will be available for parents to do internet searches for on-line resources. The parent training curriculum includes Alcohol-Related Disorders, Drug Exposures and Other Neurological Compromises (“Parenting Your Porcupine” series) presented in an 8 week parent training and support group format. The lending library includes materials for adults and children on topics related to adoption, relative placement, parenting, child development, and special needs. The parent support group called PLAYTIME at the PARC meets the first Thursday of each month (See schedule below) The PARC is located at 1305 Columbia Street in Vancouver. Barbara can be reached by email at barbaraf@thechildrenscenter.org. A message can be left with the Children’s Center at 360-699-2244 and the call will be returned as soon as possible.
Office and lending library hours are Noon to 5:00 p.m. on Monday and Thursday. PARC Lending Library list of available books PLAYTIME at the PARC Parent Support Group Meetings:
Parents Learning About Youth: Training, Informing, Mentoring, Encouraging
(PLAYTIME)
A support
group for Adoptive, Guardianship, and Kinship Parents
Upcoming Meetings:
October 2,
2008, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Speaker: Mary Jadwisiak,
Coordinator of
Topic: Adolescent Stress and
Depression
Location:
November 6,
2008, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Speaker:
Topic: Raising Kids of
Character
Location:
December 4,
2008, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
(Children Welcome)
Topic:
Location:
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Send mail to
jevanw@thechildrenscenter.org with
questions or comments about this web site.
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