Beyond Borders Session Information

Registration and Continental Breakfast

Registration and Exhibits with Welcoming Remarks by Snow Wu

MORNING KEYNOTE Speaker: 8:00AM - 9:00AM

Speaker: Dr. Jane Aronson, MD
Director of International Pediatric Health Services, New York

Dr. Aronson has been a pediatrician since 1986. She operates a solo pediatric practice in Manhattan specializing in adoption medicine and has evaluated well over 9,000 adopted children. She has traveled to orphanages in Haiti, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, China, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Latin America while on medical missions.

Dr. Aronson is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Columbia University. Since 1997, she has provided direct services to orphaned children through her foundation, Worldwide Orphans (WWO). WWO began its work by creating a “peace corps” for orphanages by commissioning university students and healthcare professionals, who are called “Orphan Rangers”, to support orphans. Since 1997, Dr. Aronson has funded over 120 Orphan Rangers in a dozen countries.

Over the past six years, WWO has created HIV/AIDS programs for orphans in Ethiopia and Vietnam as well as for schools, camps, sports programs and early intervention programs. WWO has partnerships with governments and prominent organizations like AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Clinton Foundation, UNICEF, Hole in the Wall Camps and A Child’s Right. Dr. Jane Aronson was recently honored by Glamour magazine in 2009, as one of 10 Women of the Year. She is a parent through adoption and has two sons, Benjamin, 9 years old from Vietnam and Desalegn, 11 years old from Ethiopia.

SESSION 1: 9:25AM - 10:25AM

1A. China's Waiting Children: Finding the Child Meant for Your Family
Speakers: Martha Osborne, Rainbow Kids; Stephanie Crouch, Waiting Child Manager Great Wall China Adoption

What is the China Waiting Child program? How are waiting children matched with parents? Learn about Great Wall’s Waiting Child program and how you can adopt a child with special needs. This session will provide program information, details on who is eligible to adopt a waiting child, and the types of children available. This session will include a panel of waiting child experts.

1B. Making Your Child's Culture a Part of Your Life
Speakers: Cheri Riddle and Melissa Lybrand, Regional Office Directors Great Wall China Adoption

Experts agree that incorporating your child’s homeland culture into life in America is important to your child’s development and growth. Hear local Chinese adoptive families talk about how they incorporated culture, language, and cuisine into their daily lives.

Read Ms. Riddle's Bio

Read Ms. Lybrand's Bio

1C. The Older Child
Speakers: Dr. JoAnn Ponder, Licensed Psychologist

Adopting an older child brings unique experiences and concerns. This session will address specific issues in behavior and attachment that older adoptees deal with. A child behavior expert will provide information on how you can deal with these specific issues. An older adoptee will also share their unique experience of being adopted as an older child. This session is ideal for anyone interested in adopting from our CAN countries.

Read Dr. Ponder's Bio

*CEU Accredited*

1D. Adoption Travel: Let's Go!
Speakers: Great Wall China Adoption / Children of All Nations Staff

You’re preparing for "Gotcha Day" and full of excitement. Most likely, you have many questions on travel preparation. Hear from our travel experts at Great Wall as they share tips with you how to make sure you’re ready for the adoption adventure!

SESSION 2: 10:35AM - 11:35AM

2A. Adoption Snapshot: How Photo Listings Can Help You Find Your Child
Speaker: Martha Osborne, Rainbow Kids

How can photo matching help you in your adoption journey? Experts will explain the process so that you can learn how it can be an asset for your adoption.

2A. The Journey to Me: A Waiting Child Story
Speaker: Melissa Lybrand, Regional Office Director Great Wall China Adoption; Tsang Family, adoptive parents; Jamie Jennings, adoptive mother

Parents who have adopted a waiting child will say it’s the best choice they ever made. A panel of parents will share what made them choose to be a part of the China Waiting Child program. Hear the inspirational journey of parents finding their waiting child.

Read Ms. Lybrand's Bio

Read Ms. Jennings's Bio

2B. Barriers to Bonding: Understanding Your Child's Grief and Loss
Speaker: Mara Hudock, Licensed Social Worker

Although it’s normal that your adopted child will experience grief and loss, it doesn’t make it easier. What can you do as a parent to help your child? This session will show you how to help your child through the grieving process so you can guide them into transitioning and bonding with their new family. Learn how to fulfill the attachment process from an expert in child psychology.

Read Ms. Hudock's Bio

*CEU Accredited*

2C. Single and Adopting
Speaker: Dr. Rebecca Freer, adoptive mother; Dr. Deborah Focarile, adoptive mother; Great Wall China Adoption / Children of All Nations Representative

Get information in our roundtable session for singles interested in adopting. CAN representatives will share with you about programs available for singles and the specific issues concerning singles adoption. This session will address issues like financial planning and emotional support for singles. Hear from single adoptive parents on their experience, ask questions, and make connections with a community of singles.

Read Dr. Focarile's Bio

Read Dr. Freer's Bio

LUNCH KEYNOTE Speaker: 11:50AM - 12:50PM

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Bartholet, Harvard Professor of Law

Prof. Bartholet will address the current crisis in international adoption, which has dropped by half since 2004, and the politics and policies responsible for this crisis. She will discuss why she believes that international adoption serves the human rights of unparented children, the politics that cause restrictions on such adoption, and policies for the future that would better serve children's needs.

SESSION 3: 1:15PM - 2:15PM

3A. Affording Adoption: Understanding Grants and Tax Credit
Speaker: Frank Arnold

There are many resources available to help you afford adoption but they can be overwhelming and hard to understand. Financial experts are here to break down tax credit, grants and financial planning so that you can find the right resources for your family. Plus, it's never too early to start planning for your child's future. Our financial expert will give you tips on how to plan for college and other milestones down the road.

Read Mr. Arnold's Bio

3B. Attachment: Myths and Facts
Speaker: Dr. Patrick Bordnick, Professor of Social Work, University of Houston and adoptive parent

Attachment issues are common in adoptive children but how can you tell what’s normal and what’s not? Hear from a behavioral expert on the myths and facts of attachment, mental health, and the behavior of your adopted child.

Read Dr. Bordnick's Bio

*CEU Accredited*

3C. Asia: Inside the Orphanage
Speakers: Great Wall China Adoption / Children of All Nations Staff; Orphanage directors

What does an orphanage in China or the Philippines look like? Orphanage directors from China and the Philippines will share about daily life inside an orphanage. You will also learn fascinating information about these countries, what kinds of children are available for adoption, and who is eligible to adopt.

SESSION 4: 2:25PM - 3:25PM

4A. Health and The Waiting Child
Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Montgomery

Waiting children deal with specific medical conditions ranging from mild to severe. This session will focus on some of the medical conditions unique to waiting children. Experts will share with you how to deal with the unexpected issues and tell you what medical resources are available for your waiting child.

Read Dr. Montgomery's Bio

*CEU Accredited*

4B. Africa & Latin America: Inside the Orphanage
Speakers: Children of All Nations Staff; Orphanage Directors

What does an orphanage in Latin America look like? Orphanage directors from Latin America will share about daily life inside an orphanage. You will also learn fascinating information about adoption from Africa and Latin America, what kinds of children are available for adoption, and who is eligible to adopt.

4C. We're Home, Now What?
Speakers: Melody Royall, Adoption Attorney

You’ve finally brought your child home. Now what comes next? Great Wall and CAN experts will address post-adoption issues like how to obtain a birth certificate and social security numbers. Law experts will also provide information on the re-adoption process for those interested in adopting again.

Read Ms. Royall's Bio

4D. Adoption in the Classroom
Speaker: Christina Navarro, Include Adoption

How can parents bring adoption into the classroom and community? This session will address the importance of bridging adoption into school and community. Learn what adoption resources are there available for you and your child’s school. Plus, are you having to deal with tran-sracial issues in your community? This session will give you the tools you need to help community benefit your adoptive family.

Read Ms. Navarro's Bio

*CEU Accredited*

SESSION 5: 3:40PM - 4:40PM

Special Insight: CCAA Q&A

We have invited representatives from the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), giving families the opportunity to ask questions. Hear from a panel of experts on Chinese adoption as they address your questions and concerns. At past conferences, this event has been rated one of the most valuable experiences by attendees.

*CEU Accredited*

Please note all sessions are subject to change without notice.

CAN Overview: Present and Future

CAN is proud to offer international adoption programs in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Committed to doing everything we can for children in need, we constantly expand our adoption services to countries around the world.

Sunday Sessions

Meet and Greet Foreign Dignitaries

Guests Include: Kim Harmon, For His Glory Adoption Outreach; Pierre Alexis, Haitian Orphanage Director; representatives from foreign adoption authorities and orphanages

This is your opportunity to meet our foreign guests on a personal level. Listen as they share their unique insight into their country's adoption programs, ask questions, and connect.

Read Ms. Harmon's Bio

Read Mr. Alexis's Bio

Trends in International Adoption: Expert Panel

Panelists: Charles Johnson, COO National Council for Adoption; Patricia Hickey, Department of State; State Department's Office of Children's Issues on Adoption representatives

Representatives from the National Council for Adoption and the Office of Children’s Issues will address current trends in international adoption and what the future looks like for the adoption world. Learn how you can get involved in legislation to help improve international adoption and the welfare of orphans around the world.

Read Mr. Johnson's Bio

Read Ms. Hickey's Bio

*CEU Accredited*

A Healthy Child: Medical Information Session

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Montgomery

As an adoptive parent, you have specific questions and concerns about the health of your child. In this session, Dr. Elizabeth Montgomery will share with you how you can address medical issues your child might have and how you can make sure they’re healthy and happy.

Read Dr. Montgomery's Bio

*CEU Accredited*

Closing Remarks and Door Prizes

Speaker: Snow Wu, President/CEO Great Wall China Adoption / Children of All Nations

Please Note: **The host reserves the right to change any session without prior notice. For the comfort of attendees and children, please no children under 2 at the sessions.

Refund Policy: Refunds will not be provided, but it is possible to substitute another person before August 31, 2010. As of September 1, 2010, transfers will not be allowed.

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