Gay & Lesbian Adoptive and Foster Families

Adoption Services, Children, Non Profit: LGBT-Identified

45 Main St Suite 1A Winooski, Vermont 05404 USA
Phone: 802-655-6688
Email: mjoyceREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@caseyfamilyservices.org
http://www.vtadoption.org

Gay and Lesbian Adoptive and Foster Families:

An emotional, educational support group for Gay and Lesbian foster and adoptive parents who are caring for children that joined their families through foster care or adoption.

ABOUT GLAFF

The GLAFF group provides support, education, resources, and strategies to help maintain and strengthen gay and lesbian foster and adoptive families in Northwestern Vermont. Support group meetings began in October 2005 and meet once a month at Casey Family Services, in Winooski, Vermont.

The group is open to all gay and lesbian fostering or adoptive parents who have identified a need for additional support for their family and relationships, and are interested in this networking opportunity.

Pre-registration is requested. Group size averages 15 -25 adult participants. The children of GLAFF parents range from infancy to adolescent. Food, sign language interpretation, childcare, and age specific activities for the children are all provided with each monthly meeting.

GOALS OF THE GLAFF SUPPORT GROUP

Through participation in the group we hope participants will:
Feel more supported, and better informed with handling the unique challenges of gay and lesbian foster and adoptive parenting.
Establish networks of support with others who face similar parenting situations.
Have opportunities to share information, resources, and strategies.
Be able to meet the complex developmental and emotional needs of children and thus avoid adoption dissolution or foster care placement change.
Develop increasing confidence in parenting children effectively.
Hear guest speakers invited on selected topics for more in depth group discussion.
The group meetings also serve as a gathering place to coordinate other future family fun outings.

CO-FACILITATORS

Andrea Van Liew and Michael Joyce facilitate the group. Both have participated in a variety of efforts to train the local community on issues related to adoption, foster care, and attachment, as well as best practices when working with GLBTQ youth in foster care and GLBTQ foster and adoptive parents.

Andrea Van Liew earned a Master's Degree in Education from Saint Michael’s College with a focus on Adult Education. She was a Training Coordinator for the UVM/DCF Child Welfare Training Partnership. She offered training to foster, kinship and adoptive parents in Chittenden County, Vermont for five years through the UVM/DCF Partnership. Andrea is a lesbian adoptive parent. She and her ex-partner became foster parents in 1997 and adopted two children through foster care.

Andrea currently works as the Training Director for the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services.

Michael Joyce is a licensed clinical social worker from Casey Family Services. Michael has worked as a post-adoption social worker for the past eleven years and currently works out of the Winooski, Vermont office. Michael has facilitated several groups for adoptive families and has presented locally and nationally on a variety of adoption related issues. Michael has participated in ongoing training, and peer supervision in didactic developmental psychotherapy—a therapy that recognizes the impact of trauma on attachment and seeks to promote parenting strategies that encourage bonding and attachment.

TO JOIN

If you are interested in learning more about this support group, please contact us at:
Casey Family Services
Michael Joyce, LICSW
802.655.6688 ext. 4709
1.800.244.1408 ext. 4709
Fax - 802.655.9444
mjoyce@caseyfamilyservices.org

Regions Served

Burlington Area

Locations

45 Main St
Suite 1A Winooski, VT 05404 USA