Name: The Language of Adoption: Practical Communication Skills to Better Support Clients
Start: 2026-12-02T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-12-02T14:00:00-05:00

December 2, 2026
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

A Continuing Education Workshop in Collaboration with Rutgers School of Social Work

Learning to speak a new language is a skill that takes time and practice. When working with patients considering adoption or families formed by adoption, the words we use make a difference. Utilizing the principles of Object Relations Theory, this virtual workshop hosted by Spence-Chapin in collaboration with Rutgers School of Social Work is designed to provide effective strategies and tangible skills for perinatal health professionals and social workers who may work with women or couples touched by or exploring adoption. Participants will gain an understanding of adoption centered language and will demonstrate their enhanced ability to effectively connect with those involved in the adoption constellation.

Additional topics covered will include the use of accurate terms, assisting birth families and adoptive families with navigating open adoption, and techniques on how to support a patient who is considering adoption or making an adoption plan for their baby. Participants will learn when and how to make a referral to Spence-Chapin, the free services and support we provide to our clients, and how we assist professionals working with this population.

The Rutgers School of Social Work will provide 3 CE hours for Arizona, New York & New Jersey social workers

This event is not yet open for registration. Questions? Please contact Talia Oren at [email protected]

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone

State

Please contact me by...(Required)

Phone

Text

I am...(Required)

Pregnant and unsure about parenting

Considering adoption for my baby

A healthcare professional or provider looking for resources for my client

Let us know how we can help.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Elizabeth L. Smith

Mentorship Facilitator

Elizabeth L. Smith, LMSW (she/her) is a compassionate, trauma-informed, and adoption-competent therapist. In her Adoptee Support Sessions, she provides non-clinical support services to adopted people. Her clinical training, narrative work, and living experience as an adopted person inform her perspective and practice. Elizabeth possesses deep awareness, empathy, and understanding of the shifting complexities of adoption, reunion, search, and the importance of being together in community.

Waiting Children Profiles

Thank you for your interest in adopting through Spence-Chapin! We are able to share the profiles of children who are considered to be the most in need and are waiting internationally to be matched with an adoptive family. The children featured on this page have been waiting for the longest to find families and consist of children who are older, part of a sibling group, or children with a diagnosed medical condition. In order to respect the privacy of these children, this page has been password protected.

Spence-Chapin takes the privacy rights of the children that we are seeking to place very seriously, and share the profile with you under the following conditions:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PASSWORD ACCESS
That you acknowledge and understand that

1. Misuse of the content, and/or linking to any sites that reflect practices that involve the sale, abduction, exploitation, or trafficking of children is strictly prohibited.

2. You have been given limited access to confidential information in the form of images that you will not disclose to any person or in any manner that is inconsistent with applicable policies and procedures of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.

3. The confidentiality obligation shall continue indefinitely, including at all times after my association with Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.

4. You are not permitted to release, copy, distribute, or sell any of these images to third parties in any form.

5. Impermissible disclosure of the images may result in legal actions being taken against you, by or on behalf of that person.

6. You are doing this freely, voluntarily and with a full understanding of what you are agreeing to by entering/accessing this blog.

7. Thank you for your interest in providing a loving home for a waiting child! We look forward to connecting with you soon to continue discussing adoption paths at Spence-Chapin. We hope that you like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, and keep up with our families through our adoption blog!

Warm regards,
The Adoption Team at Spence-Chapin

Phone: 212-400-8150
Email: [email protected]

Name(Required)

First Last

Which State do you live in?(Required)

Email(Required)

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.