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Other Educational Opportunities
As our Course Descriptions indicate, Children and Families First has developed a series of small-group workshops that (in conjunction with the home study process) meet all requirements of the State of Wisconsin. However, there are other Wisconsin agencies and online sites that also offer seminars for pre-adoptive parents. A selection of these classes are listed below.

If you are a client of Children and Families First and want to use one or more of these classes instead of attending CFF seminars, please check with your social worker to confirm how the class(es) fit into the required curriculum.

Also, please note that these classes are NOT free of charge for CFF clients. For details about fees, class content, scheduling, location, and/or how to register, please contact the organization offering the class. Class schedule and fees are subject to change by the sponsoring location; contact them to confirm details.

Organization Topic Date/Time Location Contact Info
Meriter Hospital Community Education
Meriter Hospital Various classes are offered that might be of interest to pre-adoptive families. Some topics include: Please note that these classes have not necessarily been designed with adoptive families in mind, so if you have questions about the applicability of a particular class, please contact Meriter. Dates and Times vary by class; check Meriter's class website for details. Most classes are held at Meriter Hospital in Madison. Register online at Meriter's class website.
The website also lists a contact phone number for each class, in case you have additional questions.
Ray W. Kinney, Waukesha Clinic of Cornerstone Counseling Services
Ray W. Kinney
Waukesha Clinic of Cornerstone Counseling Services 		Attachment and Bonding
Why is this so difficult? Am I doing something wrong?
A workshop for parents who have concerns and questions about their child's attachment.
(More information is available on the workshop link.) 		Saturday, April 19
8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 		Ascension Lutheran Church
1415 Dopp Street
Waukesha, WI 		262-542-3255 ext. 101; leave name & phone number
Cost: $80/person or $105/couple.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities -
Diocese of Madison & Post Adoption Resource Center 		Overview of Adoption in Wisconsin
(Covers core competency #8 for the State of Wisconsin adoption requirements.) 		January 24, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 		Bishop O'Connor Center
702 S. High Point Rd. in Madison 		Amy Steuer at 608-833-4800 x122
or postadoption@tds.net
Cost: $25/class/person
Catholic Charities -
Diocese of Madison & Post Adoption Resource Center 		Adopted Child Development
(Covers core competency #2 for the State of Wisconsin adoption requirements.) 		February 7, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 		Bishop O'Connor Center
702 S. High Point Rd. in Madison 		Amy Steuer at 608-833-4800 x122
or postadoption@tds.net
Cost: $25/class/person
Catholic Charities -
Diocese of Madison & Post Adoption Resource Center 		Impact of Adoption on Parenting and Family Dynamics
(Covers core competency #1 for the State of Wisconsin adoption requirements.) 		February 21, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 		Bishop O'Connor Center
702 S. High Point Rd. in Madison 		Amy Steuer at 608-833-4800 x122
or postadoption@tds.net
Cost: $25/class/person
Catholic Charities -
Diocese of Madison & Post Adoption Resource Center 		Grief and Loss in Adoption
(Covers core competency #3 for the State of Wisconsin adoption requirements.) 		March 6, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 		Bishop O'Connor Center
702 S. High Point Rd. in Madison 		Amy Steuer at 608-833-4800 x122
or postadoption@tds.net
Cost: $25/class/person
Catholic Charities -
Diocese of Madison & Post Adoption Resource Center 		Understanding of Attachment Issues in Adoption
(Covers core competencies #4, 7, 9 for the State of Wisconsin adoption requirements.) 		March 27, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 		Bishop O'Connor Center
702 S. High Point Rd. in Madison 		Amy Steuer at 608-833-4800 x122
or postadoption@tds.net
Cost: $25/class/person
Catholic Charities -
Diocese of Madison & Post Adoption Resource Center 		Transracial and Transcultural Adoption
(Covers core competency #6 for the State of Wisconsin adoption requirements.) 		April 10, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 		Bishop O'Connor Center
702 S. High Point Rd. in Madison 		Amy Steuer at 608-833-4800 x122
or postadoption@tds.net
Cost: $25/class/person
Catholic Charities -
Diocese of Madison & Post Adoption Resource Center 		Adoption Resources and Support
(Covers core competencies #5, 10 for the State of Wisconsin adoption requirements.) 		April 24, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 		Bishop O'Connor Center
702 S. High Point Rd. in Madison 		Amy Steuer at 608-833-4800 x122
or postadoption@tds.net
Cost: $25/class/person
Special Children, Inc.
Special Children, Inc.
Elm Grove, WI 		Abroad & Back Contact agency for details.
Class is 4 hours long. 		Elm Grove, WI Deb Sumiec - (414) 258-3853
Agency # - (262) 821-2125
Special Children, Inc.
Elm Grove, WI 		Practical, Solution-Based Adoptive Parenting Contact agency for details.
Class is 4 hours long. 		Elm Grove, WI Deb Sumiec - (414) 258-3853
Agency # - (262) 821-2125
Special Children, Inc.
Elm Grove, WI 		Transracial/Trancultural Parenting Contact agency for details.
Class is 4 hours long. 		Elm Grove, WI Deb Sumiec - (414) 258-3853
Agency # - (262) 821-2125
Special Children, Inc.
Elm Grove, WI 		Adopting & Parenting Children Beyond Infancy Contact agency for details.
Class is 4 hours long. 		Elm Grove, WI Deb Sumiec - (414) 258-3853
Agency # - (262) 821-2125
Special Children, Inc.
Elm Grove, WI 		Parenting With Inspiration & Balance Contact agency for details.
Class is 4 hours long. 		Elm Grove, WI Deb Sumiec - (414) 258-3853
Agency # - (262) 821-2125
Bethany Christian Services
Bethany Christian Services
N14 W. 23755 Stone Ridge Drive
StoneRidge I, Suite 265
Waukesha, WI 53188 		See Bethany's Website for details on class offerings. Contact agency for details.
Each class costs $50. 		Waukesha, WI www.bethany.org/wisconsin
(262) 547-6557
(800) 551-0505
gchesner@bethany.org
Family Resource Center - Adoption Resources of Wisconsin
Family Resource Center
Adoption Resources of Wisconsin
Milwaukee Area 		See Adoption Resources of Wisconsin for details on various class offerings.
Classes are not necessarily designed to meet Wisconsin's pre-adoptive requirements, but topics like "Parenting With Love & Logic", or "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome" can be very useful for adoptive and pre-adoptive parents. 		Contact the Family Resource Center for details. Milwaukee Adoption Resources of Wisconsin
(414) 475-1246


Online Classes and Lessons on DVD
Organization Topics Offered
Adoption Learning Partners
  • With Eyes Wide Open
  • The Journey of Attachment
  • Finding the Missing Pieces: Helping Adopted Children Cope with Grief and Loss
  • Let's Talk Adoption: A Lifetime of Family Conversations
  • Conspicuous Families
  • Lifebooks: Creating and Telling Your Child's Story
  • Advocating for Your Adopted Child
  • Adopting the Older Child
  • Medical Issues in International Adoption
  • Understanding the Adoption Tax Credit
Heart of the Matter Seminars
  • "Because They Waited" - 4-disc DVD series