Adoption Connection

Jewish Family Services of Greenwich is a licensed child placing agency for the State of Connecticut. Our Adoption Connection provides a wide range of services and support to those whose lives are touched by adoption. Our Mission is to help aspiring parents of all religions and ethnic backgrounds find the right child‚ or children‚ to complete their family. It is our goal to make the adoptive process an informed‚ positive‚ rewarding experience. Steve Baranowski‚ LMSW‚ the Adoption Connection Director‚ is available to help guide prospective parents through each step of this challenging and rewarding experience.  The adoption services provided by JFS of Greenwich include: Pre-Adoption Planning which provides information about adoption practices‚ relevant issues‚ choices to consider‚ and an opportunity to review your options and plan a course of action. See our Calendar of Events for the next upcoming meeting. Adoption Home Studies‚ which are required by the state‚ are conducted to ensure that applicants meet state requirements. This service will help to prepare all necessary documentation that may be needed to complete your adoption. Our social worker will support aspiring parents through this process. Domestic and International Adoptions offer a wide range of adoption choices for prospective parents. JFS has a network of agencies that place infants‚ pre-schoolers and school-age children from the U.S. as well as from Eastern European‚ Asian and Latino countries. Post-Placement Services are also a requirement of the adoption process. JFS will perform post-placement home studies with face-to-face contact with the child in the family′s home. JFS also makes sure that all paperwork is completed for the finalization of the adoption. Ongoing Support and Education Services Our adoption staff offers personalized workshops and one-on-one support to anyone who may need direction beyond what was discussed and addressed in the home study interviews. Each meeting will be tailored to your unique and individual needs. Here is a current list of services available: Making the Right Connection- Domestic Adoption Option Guidance Moving closer to making an adoptive placement reality Creating a Portfolio- put your best foot forward Evaluating Birthparent Situations & Identifying Red Flags in Domestic Adoption Communicating with Birthparents International Adoption- dossier, travel and parent preparation Creating Rituals in the Adoptive Family Adoption and the Schools- workshop for parents and educators Children’s Books and the Stories of Adoption- for parents We are available throughout the process to help prospective parents cope with the often complex and sensitive issues surrounding adoption. These services are geared to help maintain healthy relationships within the family. Individual and group counseling services are available. In addition, we provide counseling for birth parents as well as for adopters. Adoption Informational Breakfast Meeting  January 21, 2007 at 10:00 am.   Co-hosted by Jewish Family Services of Danbury and held at their offices - 69 Kenosia Ave, Danbury, Connecticut.  For more information please call Steve Baranowski at 203 622-1881.   Identifying and Addressing School Related Issues for Internationally Adopted Children Thursday, February 8th, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm,  Jewish Family Services of Greenwich will be hosting a program for parents and school personnel on identifying and addressing school-related issues for internationally adopted children.  Some of the questions which we will specifically address are:   How an orphanage experience relates to your child's school performance What pre-adoption documentation is significant for school progress What are the questions to ask and arrangements to make in a pre-adoption school visit How to determine "school readiness" for a newly adopted child How to make the school experience most productive and least traumatic for a child What parents should know about the types of school related assessments, tests, and clinical procedures are used to evaluate internationally adopted children   This program will be facilitated by Dr. Boris Gindis, a licensed school psychologist who specializes in clinical work and research in the field of international adoption.  Dr. Gindis has written over 40 scientific articles and book chapters and has served as a guest editor for many psychology journals.  He has been the keynote speaker at national and international conferences and is widely recognized in the field.  To learn more about Dr. Gindis and his clinical service and research in the field of international adoption, please visit www.bgcetner.com.    This program is offered to the community at no charge.  Please call 203-622-1881 or email sbaranowski@jfsgreenwich.org for required registration and for more information.  The program will be held at Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, One Holly Hill Lane.  Adoption Applications