Our professional trainings cover essential aspects of adoption awareness, family dynamics, and strategies to support children’s unique needs. Sessions can be tailored to address the challenges students may face academically, socially, or emotionally, equipping staff with actionable insights and effective communication techniques. To accommodate diverse schedules and needs, we offer both virtual and in-person options. These sessions empower you to foster a school environment where adopted students feel seen, understood, and valued.
This training provides foundational knowledge on the unique experiences of adopted children and their families. It includes strategies for understanding adoption-related challenges, reducing stigma, and fostering an inclusive school environment that respects diverse family structures.
This session focuses on the effects of early separation, trauma, and loss on adopted children. We explore practical ways to apply trauma-informed practices in the classroom and support emotional resilience, ensuring students feel safe and supported.
This training equips professionals with the tools to use inclusive and respectful language that acknowledges and celebrates various family dynamics. By fostering an understanding of diverse family structures, participants learn to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for all families.
Our facilitator brings a wealth of experience and expertise in adoption competency, ensuring you receive thoughtful, informed guidance to better support adopted students and their families.
Christine Tangel | LCSW
Christine Tangel is a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience supporting children, families, and professionals in understanding the unique needs of adopted individuals. Specializing in attachment, trauma, and family dynamics, she provides tailored therapeutic interventions and professional trainings that promote adoption competency in schools and beyond. Christine is committed to equipping educators and caregivers with the tools to create supportive environments where adopted children can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
Jessica M. Luciere
Jessica M. Luciere is a transracial adoptee, born in Bogotá, Colombia and raised on Long Island, New York, with over 20 years of experience advocating for adoptees and their families. As a dedicated mentor, community organizer, and adoptee advocate, she specializes in creating supportive spaces where adoptee voices are amplified and celebrated. Jessica’s passion for fostering connection and representation within the adoptee community drives her work, ensuring adoptees and their families feel seen, heard, and supported.
Spence-Chapin provides adoptive families with programming for every life stage to help them thrive. From toddler playgroups to identity workshops to mentorship programs, our team of dedicated and caring professionals is there to help guide families and connect them to a supportive community.
For updates on all of our programming and upcoming events, sign up for our newsletter or visit our events calendar!
Bagels & Blox is a beloved Spence-Chapin community building event that has been around for 7 years, providing a space for young adoptees ages 0-5 years old and their parents to meet with other families, have fun, and make new connections! Kids play under the watchful eyes of our volunteers, who are also adoptees. Our staff are on hand for your parenting/adoption questions, and we provide helpful resources such as books & articles.
Play Café is a one-hour play group for children ages 6-9 years in which a social worker facilitates an adoption-focused activity to explore adoption identity. This program runs in conjunction with Bagels & Blox, allowing the children the opportunity to enjoy a half hour of unstructured play time before and after the official program. Their parents mingle with the Bagels & Blox families, enjoying social time with the adoption community.
Lifebook is open to adoptees 7-10 years old who are joined by their parents/guardians at the Spence-Chapin offices. Kids create their “Lifebook” which tells the story of their lives!
Using art materials, photographs, letters and other memorabilia, kids create a physical book that represents themselves, the important people, places, and things in their life in their own words. With help from parents, kids may include how they joined their family, photos and letters from birth family, things about their birth culture/place, their hobbies, favorite foods, music, activities, just to name a few.
Hosted by Spence-Chapin staff and fellow adoptees, Lifebook is a great event where kids get to meet peers, share their stories and have a fun creative afternoon!
To sign up for our next Lifebook, head to our events calendar!
Junior Mentorship welcomes adoptees ages 10-12 years old to join in monthly events throughout New York City from September to June. This adoptee-led program was created specifically to give our pre-teens a space to make new friends, meet older adoptees and talk about the topics that are important to them.
Our mentees have adult adoptee mentors age 21+, who lead the group in conversation, creative activities, games, and team-building events. Designed as a precursor to our Teen Mentoring Programs, Junior Mentorship often gives mentees their first opportunity to have mentors and make friends who share this deep connection of being adopted.
Founded in 2005, the adoptee-led NYC Teen Mentorship Program welcomes adoptees 13-18 years old to join in monthly events throughout New York City from September to June. This program functions as a group mentoring program connecting young adoptees with adult adoptee mentors 21+, creating spaces for fun activities and thoughtful conversations, all while creating new friendships and community.
Discussion-based days center around the adoptee experience, identity formation, how to talk about difficult topics and how adoptees navigate new spaces as we get older. Registration is offered to families per semester, or per year.
Teen Voices of Adoption (VOA) is a virtual event held for adoptees ages 13- 17 that meets throughout the year. In this virtual space, adoptees from all around the world are welcome to join in an evening of conversation, while hearing from others who have a deep shared experience. Teen VOA is hosted by Jessica M. Luciere, a Colombian adoptee and Adoptee Advocate; she is the Manager of Community Engagement at Spence-Chapin, overseeing all programs that support adoptees and their families.
Teen Voices of Adoption is a community-based group and does not offer clinical support. If you or your family are in need of additional support please visit Post-Adoption Counseling | Spence-Chapin to see if our counseling services are right for you.
Registration for Teen VOA is free to all adoptees 13-17 years old.
Licensed and authorized in New York, New Jersey & Arizona
©2025 SPENCE-CHAPIN SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN A REGISTERED 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH EIN 13-1834590
English 
Spanish 
Chinese