Family Ties Parent & Youth Program
Our Family Ties Program takes a holistic approach to serving adoptive, kinship, and foster families through strategies that meet the needs of the family and focus on their strengths. Through participating, parents discover the tools, knowledge, and support system they need to successfully parent their child(ren) and children feel safe, supported, and capable of developing healthy habits. The program includes one-on-one support, monthly groups, educational opportunities, peer network building, normalizing family social activities, information and referral, and personal advocacy.
See our Program Calendar for upcoming events!
One-on-One Support
Support is provided through both Adoption Network Cleveland staff and peer mentoring. Telephone, email, and in-person meetings with staff provide a compassionate ear, referral to community resources, problem-solving, personal advocacy strategies, and reinforcement of positive parenting techniques. Individual parents can also be matched at their request with another parent who understands their journey and can provide support and encouragement. Parents who use social media are also encouraged to connect with other Family Ties parents through our private Family Ties Facebook Group.
Educational Opportunities
Adoption Network Cleveland provides access to conferences, presentations, and workshops by local, state, and national experts on a regular basis. Examples include parent trainings through the OCWTP program and our Monday Evening Speaker Series. For up-to-date information on available opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and check our program calendar regularly.
Complementary Services
Families participating in the Family Ties program are also connected to other Adoption Network Cleveland programs, including our Educational Liaison Services and Parent Trainings.
Support Groups
Join us each month for our Family Ties Gatherings, which provide adoptive, kinship, and foster families an opportunity for fellowship, support, education and fun! The monthly Family Ties Gathering is held on the second Thursday of each month, starting at 6 pm and going until 7:30 pm. We share a meal together, parent support group, activities for children, fun, and community.
Adoption Network Cleveland staff lead a caregiver peer support group, a peer support group for teens, and structured activities for younger children including yoga and mindfulness. Let us know you are coming by registering on our calendar at https://bit.ly/CalendarANC.
Family Social Activities
Creating normalcy and connectedness through typical family activities such as going ice skating, going to the zoo, attending a sporting event, or meeting friends for a group picnic is an important piece of building a social network. Recent research has shown that having a strong social network (friends that understand your situation and support you) improves physical and mental health, resiliency, education, and overall life contentment outcomes for both individuals and families.
See our program calendar for upcoming Family Social Events.
For more information, contact:
Janelle Poskocil, Program Coordinator - Families & Youth
janelle.poskocil@adoptionnetwork.org
(216) 482-2332
