WISAPSP Spring Conference featuring Lori Holden: Pewaukee

Presented in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Children & Families and the Jockey Being Family Foundation, WISAPSP invites adoptive, guardianship, and foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and professionals to join us for a very special in-person conference with nationally known author, speaker, and podcast host Lori Holden. Lori specializes in topics related to open adoption and is passionate about honoring adoptees.

From Fear to Fearless: Becoming the Parent Your Child Needs You to Be

Conference Schedule

9:30 – 10:00 Registration and Coffee/Tea/Pastries

10:00 – 12:00 Presentation (Speaker)

12:00 – 12:45 Lunch

12:45 – 3:00 Presentation (Speaker)

3:00 -3:30 Door Prizes and Wrap up

Conference Description

Does the concept of “open adoption” bring a tightening to your chest? Do you wonder if you’re up to all the complexity it brings? Are you tempted to wish for a simple closed adoption? All that is super normal! Unfortunately, it’s also not helpful in the monumental task of adoptive parenting.

Come learn what open adoption is and isn’t – and it may not be what you think. For example, did you know that even if your child’s birth parents are not available to you, you can still have an open adoption? Through the Inclusive Family Support Model, you’ll not only understand the differences between contact and openness, you’ll be able to use that understanding to get others in your life to stop second-guessing your parenting choices around open adoption.

Adoption is ever evolving, and you’ll learn the ways we, ourselves, need to keep evolving to be the parents our adoptees need us to be. In this interactive workshop, we’ll cover how to set healthy boundaries, and you’ll know how to transform reactions into responses in 6 common tricky adoption situations. Lastly, you’ll hear from a panel of adoptees and birth parents who share their lived experiences of closed and open adoptions, discovering all along the way what really benefits adoptees, and what strengthens their relationships with us, their adoptive parents.

Certificates of Attendance (4.25 hours) will be provided.

Questions? Please contact Jessica@wisapsp.org.

Hotel Information

Wisconsin Adoption & Permanency Support is partnering with Jockey Being Family to be able to provide a limited number of families attending the conference with reimbursement for ONE hotel night (1 room for 1 night per selected applicant family). More information on applying for this reimbursement can be found in the event confirmation email attendees receive after registering for the conference.

If you choose to bring along your family to enjoy the waterpark, please plan ahead to bring an adult caregiver along to supervise children during the day, as no childcare is provided through the conference.