Ethical Adoption Practices for Healthcare Workers and other Professionals
2026-05-08 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Parents facing an unplanned pregnancy may feel overwhelmed when making decisions about their parenting options. Professionals who support them play an important role in ensuring that they receive accurate, unbiased information and ethical, non-directive support when deciding what path may be best for them. This training provides the opportunity for those working in the community to be educated about current ethical considerations in adoption practice. Attendees will gain understanding into current adoption process, learn how to recognize personal biases, and gain the skills needed to better support individuals considering adoption as one of their options.
Date: May 8th 10am – 11:30am
Location: Virtual
Cost: FREE
CEU’s: 1.5 CAT I Ethics CEU’s
About the Trainer:
This training will be provided by Barker’s Adoption Counselor and Clinical Support Specialist, Lara Jones, LMSW. Lara supports expectant parents, as well as individuals who are already parenting, who are considering making an adoption plan for their child/ren. She believes strongly in the ethics that surround decision-making and enjoys being an advocate for children and families.
Register Now!

2026 Pre Adoption Training (NTDC) May
2026-05-09 09:00 - 15:00
The National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program that prepares you for the lifelong journey of adoption. Required for all prospective Barker adoptive parents, the course covers core adoption concepts, trauma and loss, and strategies for supporting children from diverse backgrounds. Led by professionals and adoptive parents. Participants must be able to join all three sessions in their cohort.
May NTDC Sessions will run:
5/9/2026 5/16/2026 5/30/2026
Time: 9 AM–3 PM ET
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Sat, May 9, 2026 9:00 AM ET
Organizer: Tenisha Lusane, (301) 664-9664, tlusane@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Parents of Adopted Young Adults Monthly Discussion Group (May 2026)
2026-05-12 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for an evening of discussion and support! This discussion group is targeted to the needs of parents of young adults who are beyond high school age 18+ and will focus on issues related to young adulthood. The group is facilitated by a Barker staff social worker.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Tue, May 12, 2026 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Organizer: Elana Lindner, elindner@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

PWNL/Older Child Discussion Group (May)
2026-05-13 19:00 - 20:15
This group is open to any parent that has adopted a child ages 5 and up, or who has been matched/placed through Project Wait No Longer (PWNL).
To learn more or register, please contact Michelle Valdivia – mvaldivia@barkerfoundation.org

International Adoption Information Meeting (May)
2026-05-13 20:00 - 21:00
During this informative session, our experienced adoption professionals will cover various topics, including:
The international adoption process.

Barker’s country programs.
The eligibility criteria.
The necessary paperwork involved.
Barker’s home study and post-placement services

You will also get the chance to hear from a family who has successfully adopted a child internationally.
Whether you’re just beginning your adoption journey or have already started the process, this meeting will provide you with valuable resources and support.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Wed, May 13, 2026 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Organizer: Kelli Olive, (301) 664-9664, kolive@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Older Child Adoption from Foster Care Information Meeting (May)
2026-05-14 18:30 - 19:30
Attend Barker’s free information meeting and panel presentation lead by our older child adoption from foster care program team – Project Wait No Longer.
Hear directly from those with lived experience and be inspired by the stories of perseverance that will be shared by individuals touched by adoption! If you want to learn more about how you can become a family for a waiting child, this session is for you.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Thu, May 14, 2026 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Organizer: Marilyn Rippetoe, mrippetoe@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Birth Parent Monthly Discussion Group (May 2026)
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:30
This Group is open to anyone who has placed a child for adoption or is considering making an adoption plan. The purpose of the group is to provide a place where birth parents can talk about their experiences, and share their feelings and thoughts with others who have made the same decision. The group is facilitated by a Barker staff social worker.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Thu, May 14, 2026 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Organizer: Elana Lindner, (301) 664-9664, elindner@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

2026 Barker's International Family Potluck
2026-05-16 11:30 - 15:00 | Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
We’re bringing the world to the table!
Join families from all stages of the international adoption journey for an afternoon of culture, connection, and community. Celebrate your child’s culture of origin while making new memories with others who share similar experiences.
Enjoy good food, participate in hands-on cultural crafts unique to each country, and connect with other families!
Have a teen 14+?
They’re invited to volunteer and help younger children at craft stations. Let us know if they’re interested!
Location: The Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Rd, 1st floor, Bethesda, MD 20814
Date and time: Sat, May 16, 2026 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Organizer: Cynthia Cubbage, info@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

The Barker Adoption Foundation’s 2026 Annual Meeting
2026-05-20 18:00 - 20:30 | Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Join us for The Barker Adoption Foundation’s 2026 Annual Meeting the evening of May 20, 2026. This annual gathering brings together Barker supporters, and advocates to hear updates from leadership, celebrate the year’s accomplishments, and elect new members to our Board of Trustees and Friends of Barker Board. Whether you attend in person or online, this is a chance to come together, share in our mission, and be inspired by the impact of our community. Your presence and voice matter.
Location: The Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Rd, 1st floor, Bethesda, MD 20814
Date and time: Wed, May 20, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM ET
Organizer: Sue Hollar, (301) 664-9664, info@barkerfoundation.org

In-Person – Join us at 7979 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, MD. Registration begins at 5:45 PM, then stay for dinner and our Annual Meeting from 6:30–8:30 PM.

Virtual – Attend from anywhere virtually via Zoom. The meeting begins at 6:30 PM ET, and the Zoom link will be emailed to you after registration.
Register Now!

Adult Adoptee Discussion Group (May 2026)
2026-05-20 19:30 - 21:00
This discussion group is open to adoptees 18 years of age and older. The purpose of the group is to give adoptees an opportunity to discuss their feelings, concerns, and questions about being adopted.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Wed May 20, 2026 – 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Organizer: Victoria Alves, (301) 664-9664, valves@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Time, Energy and Attention Management for Non-Profit Employees
2026-05-21 11:30 - 13:00 | Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
You are invited to join executive coach Alan Heymann for a hands-on, practical session on managing time, energy, and attention for success. Learn how to better manage your relationship with time and optimize your energy and focus for long-term effectiveness as a non-profit employee. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies, a personal energy map, and insights to share with colleagues. This session blends Alan’s two decades of leadership experience with real-world examples, offering valuable tools to try for enhanced leadership impact.
About Our Speaker:
Alan Heymann, JD, PCC (he/him), an adoptive parent and Barker board member, specializes in coaching introverted leaders and guiding clients through transitions. With experience coaching leaders from 32 countries across corporations, nonprofits, and governments, Alan brings a warm, energetic approach to coaching. He is the author of Don’t Just Have the Soup and Embrace Your Inner Peaches and founded his company Peaceful Direction in 2019. Alan has over two decades of experience in public, government, and nonprofit communications, leading teams of all sizes.
Date: Thursday May 21st, 2026
Time: 11:30am – 1pm
Location: In-Person Training! Barker Bethesda Office, 7979 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
Cost: $35
CEU’s: 1.5 CAT I CEU’s
Register Now!

PWNL Waiting Parent Meeting (May)
2026-05-28 18:30 - 19:30
This group is open to Barker approved prospective adoptive parents. Topics related to older child adoption are discussed.
To learn more or register, please contact Caitlin Alfaro – calfaro@barkerfoundation.org

General Adoption Information Meeting (June)
2026-06-06 09:00 - 11:00
Exploring adoption? This is the right place to start. Join us for a free, virtual General Adoption Information Meeting. Agency staff will describe each of our programs: – Domestic Infant Program – Older Child Adoption from Foster Care Program (Project Wait No Longer) – Domestic Dual Program – International Program – Post-Adoption Support and Services You will also hear from a family, who has completed the process speak about their experiences and answer questions.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Sat, Jun 6, 2026 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Register Now!

Parents of Adopted Young Adults Monthly Discussion Group (June 2026)
2026-06-09 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for an evening of discussion and support! This discussion group is targeted to the needs of parents of young adults who are beyond high school age 18+ and will focus on issues related to young adulthood. The group is facilitated by a Barker staff social worker.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Tue, Jun 9, 2026 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Organizer: Elana Lindner, elindner@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Domestic Infant/International Waiting Parent Meetings (June)
2026-06-10 | Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
This group is open to Barker approved prospective adoptive parents. Current topics related to domestic and international adoption are discussed.
To learn more or register, please contact Caitlin Alfaro – calfaro@barkerfoundation.org

PWNL/Older Child Discussion Group (Jun)
2026-06-10 19:00 - 20:15

Birth Parent Monthly Discussion Group (June 2026)
2026-06-11 19:00 - 20:30
This Group is open to anyone who has placed a child for adoption or is considering making an adoption plan. The purpose of the group is to provide a place where birth parents can talk about their experiences, and share their feelings and thoughts with others who have made the same decision. The group is facilitated by a Barker staff social worker.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Thu, Jun 11, 2026 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Organizer: Elana Lindner, (301) 664-9664, elindner@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Considerations in Transracial Adoption Training
2026-06-13 10:00 - 16:30
During this workshop, pre-adoptive parents considering transracial adoption or parents already parenting transracially will be provided with the necessary tools to begin thinking about the obligations they have, as parents, to their transracially adopted children.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Sat, Jun 13, 2026 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Organizer: Virginia Downes, (301) 664-9664, vdownes@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Sundays at Barker: Meet-Up for Parents with Young Children (Infant to 6) (June 2026)
2026-06-14 09:30 - 11:00 | Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Sundays at Barker is a special monthly gathering for adoptive parents and their children (infants to age 6). It’s a chance to enjoy playful activities, build connections with other families, and feel supported by the Barker community. This free program is open to all adoptive families—no prior connection with Barker is needed. Please feel free to share this event with friends or family who may benefit from attending.
Location: The Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Rd, 1st floor, Bethesda, MD 20814
Date and time: Sun, Jun 14, 2026 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Organizer: Cynthia Cubbage, ccubbage@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Adult Adoptee Discussion Group (June 2026)
2026-06-17 19:30 - 21:00
This discussion group is open to adoptees 18 years of age and older. The purpose of the group is to give adoptees an opportunity to discuss their feelings, concerns, and questions about being adopted.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Wed Jun 17, 2026 – 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Organizer: Victoria Alves, (301) 664-9664, valves@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

General Adoption Information Meeting (July)
2026-07-06 18:30 - 20:30
Exploring adoption? This is the right place to start. Join us for a free, virtual General Adoption Information Meeting. Agency staff will describe each of our programs: – Domestic Infant Program – Older Child Adoption from Foster Care Program (Project Wait No Longer) – Domestic Dual Program – International Program – Post-Adoption Support and Services You will also hear from a family, who has completed the process speak about their experiences and answer questions.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Mon, Jul 6, 2026 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Register Now!

PWNL/Older Child Discussion Group (July)
2026-07-08 19:00 - 20:15

Birth Parent Monthly Discussion Group (July 2026)
2026-07-09 19:00 - 20:30
This Group is open to anyone who has placed a child for adoption or is considering making an adoption plan. The purpose of the group is to provide a place where birth parents can talk about their experiences, and share their feelings and thoughts with others who have made the same decision. The group is facilitated by a Barker staff social worker.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Thu, Jul 9, 2026 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Organizer: Elana Lindner, (301) 664-9664, elindner@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Parents of Adopted Young Adults Monthly Discussion Group (July 2026)
2026-07-14 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for an evening of discussion and support! This discussion group is targeted to the needs of parents of young adults who are beyond high school age 18+ and will focus on issues related to young adulthood. The group is facilitated by a Barker staff social worker.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Tue, Jul 14, 2026 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Organizer: Elana Lindner, elindner@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

When the Waiting Ends: The Real Work of Becoming a Family
2026-07-15 13:00 - 16:15 | Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
Back by popular demand from our annual conference!
The time leading up to a child joining a family can be filled with excitement as parents envision life with this new family member. While they may be excited, parents can still often find themselves unprepared for the realities of life after placement and the intentional work required to truly become a family. This workshop, led by Debbie Schugg who is an adoption professional and mother of eight (seven of whom were adopted from foster care), will explore what families may experience after their children come home. Participants will gain ideas and specific strategies that can help make the transition from “waiting” parent to “parenting” parent much easier.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Wed, Jul 15, 2026 1:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Organizer: The Barker Adoption Foundation, (301) 664-9664, vdownes@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Adult Adoptee Discussion Group (July 2026)
2026-07-15 19:30 - 21:00
This discussion group is open to adoptees 18 years of age and older. The purpose of the group is to give adoptees an opportunity to discuss their feelings, concerns, and questions about being adopted.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Wed Jul 15, 2026 – 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Organizer: Victoria Alves, (301) 664-9664, valves@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

Older Child Adoption from Foster Care Information Meeting (July)
2026-07-16 18:30 - 19:30
Attend Barker’s free information meeting and panel presentation lead by our older child adoption from foster care program team – Project Wait No Longer. Hear directly from those with lived experience and be inspired by the stories of perseverance that will be shared by individuals touched by adoption! If you want to learn more about how you can become a family for a waiting child, this session is for you.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Thu, Jul 16, 2026 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Organizer: Marilyn Rippetoe, mrippetoe@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

International Adoption Information Meeting (July)
2026-07-16 20:00 - 21:00
During this informative session, our experienced adoption professionals will cover various topics, including: – The international adoption process. – Barker’s country programs. – The eligibility criteria. – The necessary paperwork involved. – Barker’s home study and post-placement services You will also get the chance to hear from a family who has successfully adopted a child internationally. Whether you’re just beginning your adoption journey or have already started the process, this meeting will provide you with valuable resources and support.
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Thu, Jul 16, 2026 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Organizer: Kelli Olive, (301) 664-9664, kolive@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

2026 Pre Adoption Training (NTDC) July
2026-07-18 09:00 - 15:00
The National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program that prepares you for the lifelong journey of adoption. Required for all prospective Barker adoptive parents, the course covers core adoption concepts, trauma and loss, and strategies for supporting children from diverse backgrounds. Led by professionals and adoptive parents. Participants must be able to join all three sessions in their cohort.
July NTDC Sessions will run:

July 18
July 25
Aug 1

Time: 9 AM–3 PM ET
Location: Virtual event
Date and time: Sat, Jul 18, 2026 9:00 AM ET
Organizer: Tenisha Lusane, (301) 664-9664, tlusane@barkerfoundation.org
Register Now!

PWNL Waiting Parent Meeting (July)
2026-07-23 18:30 - 19:30
