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Summer Edition 2008 |
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Features
Adoption Academy Presents Webinar Series With generous support from Abbott Nutrition, we have been able to bring the Columbus-based Adoption Academy to audiences in Akron, Dayton, and Toledo this year. More...
Summer Adoption Law Institute to Offer CLEs Practitioners can choose to attend the entire week-long course or attend an individual day at a cost of $100 per day. More...
Families Gather for 3rd Annual Forever Home Adoption Celebration More than 250 people came together for a fun-filled afternoon at COSI to raise awareness for adoption and support the Center’s work. More…
Congratulations to our 2008 Student Graduates Good luck to all our student staff and volunteers who will be taking bar examinations this summer! More…
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Upcoming NCALP Presentations:
“International Adoption Law” 2008 Legal Services Staff Professional Development Seminar, National Conference of State Legislators September 12, 2008, Columbus OH
“Ohio Abuse and Neglect Laws” & “Ohio Child Welfare Systems Improvement Efforts: CHIPS and Alternative Response” Ohio CASA/GAL Association’s Celebrate Kids Conference October 2-3, 2008, Columbus OH
“Ethics in Child Placement Decisions: Best Interests & Ethical Considerations” Promoting Healthy Attachments, Tri-State Adoption and Foster Placement Conference November 25, 2008, Oglebay WV
Developing the Child Welfare Team: Building a Collaborative Legal Representation Model Workshops Ohio counties: August 19 Summit County, August 21 Hancock County, September 12 Richland County, September 16 Monroe County, September 23 Mahoning County, September 30 Clark County, October 23 Seneca County, October 28 Wayne County, October 30 Trumbull County |
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Maestro: (noun) genius, expert, rare talent, ace, whiz.
NCALP staff endearingly refer to the figure in the Center’s logo as the “maestro.” |
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National Center for Adoption Law & Policy Capital University Law School 303 E Broad St • Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 236-6730 • adoption@law.capital.edu • www.ncalp.org |
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…Because every child deserves a family. |
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Center Staff
Denise St. Clair Executive Director
Angela Upchurch Real Living Academic Director
Carla Carpenter Associate Director
Jenifer Thompson Staff Attorney
Dawn Viggiano Staff Attorney
Anna Lin Financial Projects Coordinator
Christine Morris Assistant Director of Information Services
Jackie Martin Administrative Coordinator
Maureen McCann Administrative Assistant |
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Student staff and volunteers are critical to the success of the Center’s many projects and events. Thank you to all of the graduates who have worked with us at some point in their law school careers – your involvement is truly appreciated!
Keep in touch with NCALP! Email your contact information to adoption@law.capital.edu to receive updates on Center events and programs.
NCALP would like to recognize and extend a special thank you to the following two students who have significantly contributed to the Center’s work:
· Nikki Mesnard – While working at NCALP, Nikki assisted with research for our ongoing work for the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Subcommittee on Responding to Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency. Nikki was an integral member of the NCALP research team that informed the Subcommittee’s work, resulting in a report which recommended key definitional changes to Ohio’s abuse, neglect, and dependency system. Nikki also volunteers to speak at our Adoption Academy for prospective adoptive parents. She currently works as a law clerk to Judge Lawrence Belskis of the Franklin County Probate Court and will transition to a Staff Attorney position there upon passing the bar exam. · Kristen Zatroch – Kristen (a.k.a. Krissy) has contributed to many aspects of NCALP — volunteering for our annual community events, as well as writing news and case summaries for the Center’s weekly bulletins. One of Krissy’s key contributions was research for the Center’s ongoing work for the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Subcommittee on Legal Representation. Krissy helped to identify programs and resources available in other states that Ohio is working to adopt. After the bar exam, Krissy will be working as a prosecutor at the Columbus City Prosecutor’s Office.
Good luck to all of our 2008 graduates! |
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Congratulations to our 2008 Student Graduates |
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Summer Adoption Law Institute to Offer CLEs |
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Since 2002, the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy and Nationwide Children’s Hospital have partnered to bring the Adoption Academy to prospective adoptive parents in Central Ohio. The Adoption Academy helps take the mystery out of the adoption process by presenting objective information concerning legal, medical, cultural, social and emotional considerations for prospective adoptive families.
In addition to our live webinar format, the Spring 2008 Adoption Academy series also was recorded and is now currently available for on-demand viewing. You can access the Adoption Academy online via NCALP’s Adoption & Child Welfare LawSite - Ohio Resources Page.
Participant feedback about the Adoption Academy has affirmed the need for this comprehensive program. Participants stated that the Academy helped them with considerations such as choosing to pursue domestic or intercountry adoption, thinking about openness in adoption, and preparing to become a multiracial family.
As one participant stated, “My wife and I really appreciate all the information we received and are excited to be continuing with the adoption process. The CORE Track was very informative and helped offer us guidance in our journey.” Another individual said, “I loved the program. I felt I could have my questions answered without pressure to contact a specific agency. So much good information.”
We were thrilled to be able to increase the availability of the Adoption Academy via the webinar format. We will continue our live webcast of the Adoption Academy program this fall when we begin our second twelve-week course on Monday, September 8. The fall 2008 Adoption Academy will be offered to Central Ohio families at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Fall host partners are the Adoption Network of Cleveland, Toledo Children’s Hospital, and the Oak Adoptive Health Center at Akron Children’s Hospital. For additional information or to register, please log onto our website here. |
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Adoption Academy Presents Webinar Series |
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Features |
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Save the Date: Friday, October 17, 2008
The Sixth Annual Autumn Wine Celebration
Smith Brothers Hardware Building Downtown Columbus $80 per person
Celebrating 10 years of the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy!
Please contact Anna Lin if you would like to assist with the event this year. |
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Support from generous donors like you helps to ensure the Center’s work on behalf of children in need of safe, loving, and permanent homes. NCALP contributors from July 2006—June 2008 are now posted on our website.
We would like to especially acknowledge two new areas of program support:
· Launched December 2007, the Fellowship Circle supports the scholarship of our Adoption & Child Welfare Law Fellows at Capital University Law School. Thank you to our current Fellowship Circle Members: Crystal Ward Allen, James C. Aranda, Victoria Beale, L’04, Teresa Black, Herbert A. Brail, Judge Eric Brown, Elaine S. Buck, Rosemary Ebner Pomeroy, Susan Stockham, John Strick, Thomas N. Taneff, L’87, and Ellen A. Yarrell. · Established in 2008 by NCALP friend, Nicole Klebieko, we are pleased to announce Fostering Virginia’s Foster Kids, a research and advocacy project funded by PRK Drilling & Blasting of Winchester, Virginia. Learn more about this research project here. |
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Good Search Support NCALP by searching the internet at no cost to you! Powered by Yahoo!, GoodSearch is a search engine that donates a percentage of advertising revenue to the Center every time a person uses its search website. Click here to download the GoodSearch toolbar and get started. |
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Capital University Law School and the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy are pleased to offer attorneys the chance to join law students from across the country in the Summer Adoption Law Institute (SALI), an intensive week-long law school course exploring adoption and related child protection issues.
The class will cover a wide variety of topics such as: the history of American adoption law, parental rights under the U.S. Constitution, assisted reproductive technology, wrongful adoption, race and cultural issues in adoption, and sexual orientation issues in adoption.
This introductory course is designed as a general overview of adoption and is not state specific. However, there will be class exercises providing you with an opportunity to explore the law in the jurisdiction of your choice. The class format includes discussion of issues from academic and practitioner perspectives, and guest lecturers on several key topics.
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Thank you for supporting the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy |
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A recent post-program survey of Academy participants from 2003 to 2008 has shown the following results:
100% of survey respondents indicated that the Adoption Academy helped prepare them for the adoption process.
82% of survey respondents said that the Adoption Academy was helpful in their decision to adopt or not adopt. |
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Families Gather for 3rd Annual Forever Home Adoption Celebration |
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On Saturday, May 17, 2008, NCALP hosted its third annual Forever Home Adoption Celebration where more than 250 people gathered at COSI in Columbus, Ohio for a fun-filled afternoon.
As the only community-wide event in Central Ohio to promote adoption as a family-building option, Forever Home brings together families to celebrate adoption and to share resources with one another. Participants enjoyed a magic show by Stephen Knight, live science demonstrations, activities for families, endless amounts of popcorn and red punch, and all-day admission to COSI. A photo collage is available to view on the event website.
Eighteen adoption agencies and support service providers were present to offer information and services, and 48 businesses and individuals donated raffle prizes.
Thank you to all of our underwriters, guests, exhibitors, and volunteers who joined us in celebrating adoption and supporting the work of the Center! |
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Comment from an adoption exhibitor: “Thank you for providing the opportunity to participate in today's Celebration. This is just the kind of event that fits [our] mission and I was glad to have…the opportunity to interact with so many people who have adopted or fostered, or are interested in doing so. It was great fun to watch all of the little kids having fun and being entertained by the COSI ‘funmasters.’ My table location was perfect and I appreciate the help you provided with set-up. Please keep United Methodist Children's Home in your plans for next year's event…” |
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2008 FOREVER HOME SPONSORS & UNDERWRITERS Homewood Homes Columbus Bar Association Alliance Outlook Weekly Building Blocks Adoption Service Law Offices of Elaine S. Buck Hamilton Law Office |
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Volunteers Sunny Hoque and older sister Ajmeri Hoque help young guests with the “tower building” activity. |
