Resources for Families Adopting

from VietNam

 

Support Groups and Organizations

Families with Children from VietNam -  Washington State Chapter
Lea Ann
http://kaplanfamily.net/FCV.htm
An adoption support group for families who have adopted from Vietnam or are in the process of adopting from Vietnam or individuals with interest in Vietnam and adoption.  The group's purpose is to meet other adoptive families, share adoption and travel experiences, and learn about Vietnamese culture.  The group meets about 5 times per year. 

Adoptive Friends and Families of Greater Seattle
206-903-9664
www.affgs.org
AFFGS is a non-profit support and educational group that includes both families touched by adoption and families waiting to adopt.  They welcome all ethnic and racial backgrounds as well as all types of adoption.  AWAIT is their monthly support group for waiting families. 

Advocates of Single Adoptive Parents/Northwest (ASAP/NW)
(425) 485-6770 Joyce Hamack
A support group for single prospective and adopting parents. Meetings are held the third Friday evening of each month, in Seattle. This group places emphasis on providing support to prospective single applicants and promotes outreach to others interested in adopting.

Friends in Adoption Support Group
(206) 264-5136
A non-profit group made up of families who have adopted and families who want to adopt. Members include one and two parent homes, families who have children from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, families with special needs children and children available through the state foster/adopt program. Monthly meetings with programs as well as an informal time of sharing. Support a variety of social events in addition to our meetings, including a "waiting families" group and a monthly newsletter.

Greater Seattle VietNam Association
206-322-1178
www.seattlevietnam.org
GSVA is committed to promoting positive relationships and mutual understanding between the people of Greater Seattle and the people of Viet Nam.  They will accomplish this by promoting contact and cooperation in the areas of education, humanitarian work, trade and the arts. 

Children's Home Society of Washington - Adoption Resource Center
206-524-6020

Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington
aaawashington@hotmail.com
425-649-9851
Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington is a resource that provides mentoring, fellowship and educational opportunities for adoptees of Asian descent and the community.

 

Classes

Americans Adopting Orphans
206-524-5437
www.orphans.com/class.htm
Offers adoption related classes, seminars and support groups for their clients, the clients of other adoption agencies, and the general public.

Nancy Kaplan, MSSW
425-836-4458
Nan4Adopt@aol.com
Offers adoption classes and support services.  The classes are geared for families who are adopting internationally and domestically.  They are appropriate for families who are waiting as well as families who are currently parenting adopted children.   Classes and groups will be offered in Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond.

 

Health Services

UW Medical Center, Pediatric Care Center, Center for Adoption Medicine
Director, Dr. Julie Bledsoe
4245 Roosevelt Way NE; Seattle
206-598-3000

Speech, Language and Learning Services
626 120th Ave NE, Suite B201
Bellevue, WA 98005-3038
425-556-6330
Program for internationally adopted children

 

Community Events

Tet in Seattle
www.tetinseattle.org
(206) 706 - 2658
info@tetinseattle.org
Tet celebration at Seattle Center each year in January or February

 

Vietnamese Language Classes

Van Lang Vietnamese Culture Association
Mrs. Hieu Phung - hieuphung@hotmail.com
Mr. Loc Le - huule@foxinternet.net
Sessions run April - September

Catholic Vietnamese Church
Hien Lam - dhlam@email.com
Sessions run May - October

 

Books

After Sorrow Comes Joy by Cherie Clark; story of Cherie Clark's work in Vietnam, including her part in "Operation Babylift" in 1975

This Must Be My Brother by LeAnn Thieman; recounts her 1975 adventure in the Vietnam Orphan Airlift when she helped rescue 300 babies.   www.leannthieman.com 

When You Were Born in Vietnam, A Memory Book for Children Adopted from Vietnam, by Therese Bartlett; projected publication date: February 2001. Speaking directly to adopted children, this book offers a clear and straightforward explanation of how children in Vietnam are placed for adoption. www.catalystfoundation.org/Adoption%20Book.htm  

Good Morning, Vietnam, Good Afternoon, USA by Anna Emily Hudson; about a child's experience of being adopted from Vietnam. Written in the first person, the book is presented in the form of a hand-written journal, narrating the adoption process on both sides of the globe. The story is illustrated throughout with maps, color photos of Vietnam, and special layout designs. There are 28 color pages. Can be ordered directly from author for $15; 14 Cromwell Court, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Hitchhiking Vietnam by Karin Muller; describes her 7 month journey traveling throughout Vietnam off the typical tourist path.

Vietnam; Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit Travel guide with overview of history, geography and customs.

Happy Adoption Day! by John McCutcheon; about a Caucasian couple who adopted an Asian child

Our Own, Adopting and Parenting the Older Child by Trish Maskew; covers both domestic and international adoption of children from preschool age through puberty.  Dozens of adoptive families "tell it like it is" about the joys and challenges of adopting an older child.  Their stories are backed up by the author's thorough research, interviews with professionals and opinions from adults who were adopted as children.  www.snowpress.com/adoptbooks.htm  

A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain: Stories, by Robert Olen Butler.  In a collection of bittersweet stories about Vietnamese expatriates living in the American South, Butler blends Vietnamese folklore and American realities, lyric, dreamlike passages and comic turns, to create a panoramic tapestry of a people struggling to find a balance between their hearts and their hopes.

The Women Carry River Water, poems by Nguyen Quang Thieu

 

Magazines

Chao Ban Newsletter
Chao Ban is a quarterly print newsletter for families with children adopted from Viet Nam. This fun and informative newsletter includes articles and news on adoption, parenting and Vietnamese culture; recipes; and children's activities. www.chaobannewsletter.com

Adoption Today
www.adoptinfo.net
970-663-1185
The February/March 2000 back-issue has a focus on adoption from Vietnam.

Adoptive Families
www.adoptivefamiliesmagazine.com
1-800-372-3300

Roots and Wings
www.rootsandwingsmagazine.com
908-813-8252

 

Catalogs and Online Stores

Asia for Kidswww.asiaforkids.com,1-800-765-5885; books and videos about Asia, bilingual children's books.

Celebrate the Child - www.celebratethechild.com, 1-888-223-5278; cultural items, music, books and dolls

IMH Store - www.imh-vn.org/gifts.htm; Vietnamese crafts and clothes, purchases benefit the work of IMH-VN

Yeong & Yeong Book Company - www.yeongandyeong.com; an independent publisher specializing in books on the topic of Asian adoption

Tapestry Books - www.tapestrybooks.com,  800-765-2367; large selection of books about adoption and infertility

 

Web Sites

AdoptVietnam - www.adoptvietnam.org; resources and information about adoption from Vietnam, as well as travel, parenting issues, culture, adoption stories, and much more

Families with Children from Viet Namwww.fcvn.org; includes a Photo Gallery, Email Referral database, agency information, and information about local FCV chapters

Adoptive Parents of Vietnam (APV) Email List - www.adoptvietnam.org/apv.htm; information about the mailing list for adoption from Vietnam

Rainbow Kids - www.rainbowkids.com; online magazine, general information about international adoption, many great articles

Lonely Planet - www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/sea/vietnam.htm; information about Vietnam

Destination Vietnamwww.destinationvietnam.com; more information about Vietnam, Vietnamese items for sale

 

Vietnamese Heritage Camps

Vietnamese Heritage Camp
http://www.heritagecamps.org
303-388-3930
Held at Snow Mountain Ranch, Colorado. Developed for and by adoptive families, designed to enhance your family's understanding and appreciation of Vietnam's rich and beautiful culture, while providing information and support related to adoption and family issues. There are many fun activities and workshops for children and adults. They also have adult adoptees from Vietnam working as camp counselors. The next camp is August 9th - 11th, 2001.

Catalyst Foundation Vietnam Culture Camp
http://www.catalystfoundation.org/Culture_Camp.htm
952-707-9437
Held at Camp Courage - Maple Lake, MN. A family camp held annually in Minnesota. A true community of adopted Vietnamese children, parents, siblings, and extended families come to celebrate and share Vietnamese heritage and culture, meet old and new friends, and have lots of fun! Next camp is September 7-9, 2001.

 

 

Compiled November 2000

 


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