Many parents who built their families through international adoption assume that the ongoing role of their child’s birth family would be limited to non-existent. Some may have even thought that was a good thing.

But things change. Not only is being a parent different than almost anyone ever expects, but children grow up. The world changes.

Now you’re parenting a teen or tween who is curious about her birth family. She talks about finding them. And she’s tech-savvy. There’s the Internet—and DNA testing.

Is it even possible for her to find her birth mom from China? Korea? Ethiopia? What are the possible ways to address this curiosity?

Join speakers Susan Soonkeum Cox of Holt International and Joy Lieberthal, LCSW and co-founder of I Am Adoptee, as they discuss:

• Specific examples about how internationally adopted people can reconnect with their birth families.
• Ideas for parents on how to maintain connections for the child, should they choose to reconnect later in life.
• Typical ages when adoptees can start searching and how parents can help without pushing.
• How parents can cope with their own feelings about their child wanting to reconnect.

Credit Hours: 1.0