Every year, MLJ Adoptions hosts several events in order to encourage our families to build relationships with one another, and with the greater adoption community. Since MLJ Adoptions was formed, we have witnessed the many benefits families experience when they are in community with one another. International adoption can introduce complex challenges into a family’s life: transracial parenting, attachment and bonding, helping a child develop his or her identity, and dealing with sensory-seeking behaviors and learning delays. Having friends who understand these experiences can do so much to strengthen a family’s support system.
Adoption events are also an excellent opportunity for prospective adoptive parents to meet families who have already been through the adoption process. While no two adoptions are exactly the same, the roller coaster of emotions and the difficulty of the waiting time are universal stresses. Having the chance to speak with others allows prospective adoptive families to better understand what they may experience throughout their adoption journey.
Adoption Picnic
Our Adoption Picnic is our largest event of the year! Families travel from near and far to spend time with one another. Past client families, families in the adoption process, prospective adoptive parents and orphan care advocates are all invited to attend the picnic. It’s a great way to connect with others who are currently in the process of adoption, meet families to add to your adoption support network, and just have an overall great time with some great people!
The picnic will be held on September 11th at Forest Park in Noblesville, Indiana.
Eastern European Adoption Celebration
In international adoption, the countries your family thinks about adopting from can feel so far away. The people and the cultures can feel so far from your everyday life, and it can feel overwhelming to try and wrap your head around them. This is a great event to help you learn more about adoption from Eastern Europe, and be better able to connect with the culture. Most of the families in attendance have adopted from Bulgaria or Ukraine. If you are a family considering international adoption, this is one of the best adoption events to attend because the families in attendance are open about their adoption journeys and eager to share!
The Eastern European Adoption Celebration will be held on October 22nd at the MLJ Adoptions (617 E. North Street). Light refreshments will be provided.
Africa Party
On November 12th, MLJ Adoptions will host our annual Africa Party! This is a great opportunity to meet families in our Congo and Burkina Faso programs, and connect with other adoptive families about their experiences with transracial parenting.
The event will be held at MLJ Adoptions (617 E. North Street). A main dish will be provided, and we ask families to bring a side dish or dessert to share.
You can RSVP for any of these events here. Check out photos from our events on our Facebook page.
Iris Dauterman
Iris Dauterman works as MLJ Adoptions’ Administrative Assistant. She is thrilled to help facilitate the day-to-day operations at MLJ to ensure that the rest of the staff have everything they need in order to serve our families.
Iris Dauterman
Iris Dauterman works as MLJ Adoptions’ Administrative Assistant. She is thrilled to help facilitate the day-to-day operations at MLJ to ensure that the rest of the staff have everything they need in order to serve our families.