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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Barker Adoption Foundation
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260302T183000
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DTSTAMP:20260421T173432
CREATED:20251110T192653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T192653Z
UID:10000388-1772476200-1772483400@barkeradoptionfoundation.org
SUMMARY:General Adoption Information Meeting (March)
DESCRIPTION:Exploring adoption? This is the right place to start. Join us for a free\, virtual General Adoption Information Meeting.  \nAgency staff will describe each of our programs: \n Domestic Infant Program  \n\nOlder Child Adoption from Foster Care Program (Project Wait No Longer) \nDomestic Dual Program \nInternational Program \nPost-Adoption Support and Services \n\nYou will also hear from a family\, who has completed the process speak about their experiences and answer questions. \nLocation: Virtual event \nDate and time: Mon\, Mar 2\, 2026 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM \nRegister Now!
URL:https://barkeradoptionfoundation.org/events-calendar/general-adoption-information-meeting-march/
LOCATION:MD
CATEGORIES:General Adoption Information Meeting,Prospective Parent Domestic Adoption,Prospective Parent International Adoption,Prospective Parent Project Wait No Longer-Older Child Adoption from Foster Care
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260307T081500
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CREATED:20251211T014857Z
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UID:10000427-1772871300-1772901000@barkeradoptionfoundation.org
SUMMARY:The Barker Adoption Foundation Annual Adoption & Foster Care Conference
DESCRIPTION:The Barker Adoption Foundation Annual Adoption & Foster Care Conference:\nWhere Every Story Matters and Every Voice Belongs.\nCentered on the theme “Where Every Story Matters & Every Voice Belongs”\, this full-day\, educational event brings together adoptees of all ages\, adoptive and foster parents\, prospective parents\, birth parents\, and professionals interested in a deeper dive into the nuance of adoption and foster care. Attendees will enjoy expert-led workshops\, practical tools\, and meaningful connection. \nA concurrent Teen Connections program for youth ages 13–17 offers a guided\, adoptee-competent space while parents attend the main conference.  \nBreakfast and lunch provided. 5.5 Cat I CEU credits available. \nLocation: The Universities at Shady Grove\, 9630 Gudelsky Dr.\, Rockville\, MD 20850 \nDate and time: Sat\, Mar 7\, 2026 8:15 AM – 4:30 PM \nOrganizer: The Barker Adoption Foundation\, (301) 664-9664\, info@barkerfoundation.org \n					\n									Register Now!\n					\n																\n															 \nSpeakers and Sessions\n																														 \nKeynote Speaker:\nBEN ALI\nAuthor | Speaker | Coach | Mentor | Entrepreneur\n						View Ben Ali’s Bio \nKamal Ben Ali is the son of a Trinidadian immigrant father and a mother from rural Virginia\, a richly diverse heritage that has shaped his identity and worldview. He is also a proud Barker parent of two children by adoption\, a role that deeply shapes his commitment to family\, legacy\, and community\, including his service on the Board of Directors of The Friends of Barker. Rooted in decades of mentoring and late-night conversations over chili fries\, Ben knows firsthand what it means to carry—and confront—the weight of trauma\, violence\, and loss that so many endure. \nTogether with his family\, he helped transform his family’s legendary Ben’s Chili Bowl into a symbol of community\, resilience\, and hope in Washington\, D.C. Rooted in decades of mentoring and late-night conversations over chili fries\, Ben knows firsthand what it means to carry and confront the weight of trauma\, violence\, and loss that so many Black men endure. \nIn his recently published book\, Ascend: The Black Man’s Guide to Elevation\, Success\, and Purpose\, Ben cuts through the noise to deliver the unfiltered tools he has lived and taught. While written through the lens of Black male experience\, Ben’s message speaks to people of all backgrounds\, offering universal insights about identity\, healing\, resilience\, and purpose. His work holds particular relevance for the adoption community\, where themes of loss\, belonging\, self-definition\, and breaking generational cycles resonate deeply. With candid insight\, Ben shows readers how to own their stories\, confront pain\, and build a life blueprint that no street corner\, circumstance\, or setback can take away. \nFrom the mustard-seed faith that carried him from a challenging childhood in a historic Black neighborhood to leading one of the most iconic community institutions in the nation’s capital\, Ben speaks as an older brother—honest about setbacks and unwavering in his belief that gratitude\, affirmation\, and community can turn pain into power. Ascend offers hard-earned wisdom and invaluable lessons to guide the next generation—and all who seek growth—toward greatness. \nToday\, Ben’s mission is to uplift and empower young people through job training\, mentorship\, and community engagement. Widely respected as a grassroots leader\, he continues to create real change in the lives of those around him. In Ascend\, Ben challenges readers—whether sixteen or thirty-six—to dream boldly\, break generational cycles\, and build a legacy that speaks louder than any eulogy. This is your spark. It is up to you to ignite the flame. \nBenAliMotivation.com \nTheAscendBook.com \nben@benalimotivation.com \nIG | X | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok >> @benalimotivation \nSession One:\n1A. Connections Matter: Understanding Identity\, Belonging\, and Attachment Across an Adoptee’s Lifetime\nWorkshop Leader: Tony Hynes\, Ph.D.\, Adoptee\, Author \n						View Workshop Details \nConnections—both present and absent—play a powerful role in shaping an adoptee’s sense of identity\, belonging\, and attachment across the lifespan. In this workshop\, participants will explore the many types of connections and disconnections that adoptees experience\, including relationships to birth family\, adoptive family\, culture\, community\, and self. Drawing on lived experience and reflective dialogue\, the session will examine how these connections evolve over time and influence emotional well-being and relationships. Participants will gain insight into how parents\, professionals\, and communities can foster meaningful\, affirming connections that support adoptees throughout their lives. \n1B. “That’s So Gay!” – Navigating Identity and Belonging for Adopted Children in LGBTQIA+ Families\nWorkshop Leaders: Tom Tracy\, LCSW\, Adoptive Parent and Author\, and Schai Schairer\, LMSW\, Interracial & International Adoptee\, and Social Justice Consultant\nModerated by Cynthia Cubbage\, LCSW-C\, Adoptive Parent\, Barker’s Director of Post Adoption and Family Services at Barker\n						View Workshop Details\nAdopted children navigate complex emotions surrounding identity\, belonging\, and connection to their biological heritage. For those raised in LGBTQIA+ families\, additional challenges may arise—from societal bias to confronting discrimination from peers and community members. Facilitated by members of the adoption and LGBTQIA+ communities\, this workshop offers an honest\, compassionate space to explore the hurdles adopted children may face and the ways LGBTQIA+ adoptive parents can equip them to build resilience and pride. This workshop will provide a safe space for guided discussions and personal sharing\, with the goal of collectively developing strategies to support their child’s journey with empathy\, confidence\, and hope.\n \nTom Tracy\nAdoptive Parent and Author \n \nSchai Schairer\, LMSW\nInterracial & International Adoptee\, and Social Justice Consultant \n1C. When the Waiting Ends: The Real Work of Becoming a Family\nWorkshop leader\, Debbie Schugg  \n						View Workshop Details\n							The time leading up to a child joining our family can be filled with excitement as we envision life with this new family member. It seldom prepares us\, though\, for the realities of life after placement and the intentional work of becoming a family. This workshop\, led by 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 make the adjustments from being a “waiting” parent to “parenting” parent much easier. The session is recommended for those considering and/or already parenting children adopted at an older age. \n \nDebbie SchuggWorkshop leader \nSession Two:\n2A. Understanding and Supporting the Dysregulated Child\nWorkshop Leader: Debbie Schugg \n						View Workshop Details\n							Children who struggle with regulation often communicate their needs through big feelings and challenging behaviors—and the adults around them play an essential role in helping them feel safe. This workshop creates a compassionate space for parents\, caregivers\, educators\, and professionals to better understand the roots of dysregulation and respond with empathy and consistency. Together\, we’ll explore practical strategies for calming\, connecting\, and guiding children\, as well as ways to partner with and support parents. Join us to build confidence\, deepen understanding\, and strengthen every child’s circle of care. \n \nDebbie SchuggWorkshop leader \n2B. It’s Not “Just Parenting:” Honoring the Special Responsibilities of Transracial Parenting. \nPresenter: Nabina Liebow\, Ph.D.\n						View Workshop Details\nTransracial parenting calls families to a deeper level of awareness\, intention\, and advocacy. In this inspiring workshop\, ethicist and international transracial adoptee Nabina Liebow\, Ph.D.\, invites parents to reflect on the unique responsibilities that accompany raising a child across race and culture. Grounded in values of dignity\, belonging\, and lifelong learning\, the session explores how parents can thoughtfully support identity development\, navigate difficult questions with honesty and care\, and respond to experiences of isolation with connection and courage. Participants will leave with meaningful insights and practical considerations—before and after adoption—that support children in growing up seen\, affirmed\, and empowered within their families and communities.\n \nNabina Liebow\, Ph.D. \n2C. Navigating the Journey: Adoption and Parenting a Child with Special Needs\nPanel of Adoptive Parents facilitated by Kellie Olive\, LMSW\, Barker’s International Case Manager & Family Support Specialist\n						View Workshop Details\nWelcoming a child with special needs through adoption is a meaningful journey marked by love\, learning\, and resilience. This workshop offers supportive space for prospective and current adoptive parents\, along with the professionals who support them. Through the lived experiences of adoptive parents\, participants will explore the emotional and practical realities of caring for children with physical\, learning\, or emotional disabilities. The session will address preparation\, realistic expectations\, attachment\, everyday parenting strategies\, self-care\, and building inclusive\, connected families grounded in community and hope.\n \nKellie Olive\, LMSWBarker’s International Case Manager & Family Support Specialist \nSession Three:\n3A. The Reconnection Journey: Adoptee and Birth Parent Perspectives\nPanel Moderated by Lara Jones\, Barker’s Adoption Counselor and Clinical Support Specialist\n						View Workshop Details\nReconnecting with first or birth family can be a powerful\, emotional\, and deeply personal experience for adoptees. This workshop offers a space to explore that journey through the voices of those who know it best—adult adoptees and birth parents. Our panel will share their diverse stories of reconnection\, including the hopes\, challenges\, unexpected emotions\, and the importance of setting healthy boundaries. Together\, we will reflect on what healing can look like in its many forms and how to find support along the way.\n \nLara Jones\nBarker’s Adoption Counselor and Clinical Support Specialist \n3B. Therapeutic Writing for the Adoption Constellation\nWorkshop leader: Schai Schairer\, LMSW\, Interracial & International Adoptee\, and Social Justice Consultant\nModerated by Emily Marshall\, LICSW\, LCSW-C\, Barker’s Foster Care Adoption Consortium Director \n						View Workshop Details\nBeing a member of the adoption constellation as an adoptee\, birth parent\, or adoptive parent can be difficult to fully understand both intellectually and emotionally. Finding language for complex and often unspoken thoughts and feelings related to adoption can be challenging. In this integrated\, trauma informed workshop\, participants will explore their internal experiences through guided writing prompts and facilitated discussion. Writing exercises may include letters or poems to oneself\, to a birth parent\, or to an adoptee in one’s life\, as well as reflections on reunion\, return\, or identity. Sharing is always optional and participants are never required to submit their writing or read aloud. This space offers an opportunity to reflect alongside others in the constellation and to learn from the varied experiences\, perspectives\, and wisdom in the room.\n \nEmily Marshall\, LICSW\, LCSW-C\nBarker’s Foster Care Adoption Consortium Director \n3C. From Foster Care to Adoption: The Big Transition in Older Child Adoption\nPanel facilitated by Sami Albert\, LCSW-C\, LICSW\, Barker’s Senior Search and Match Specialist\n						View Workshop Details\nThis session offers a powerful\, first-hand look into the experiences of young adults who were adopted from foster care\, exploring the profound and unique challenges of transitioning to a permanent family later in childhood. A panel of young adults will share their personal journeys\, offering authentic perspectives on the realities of older child adoption and the factors that contributed to their post-adoption well-being and resilience. Ideal for adoptive parents\, prospective adoptive parents\, social workers\, and adoption professionals\, this session provides practical tools and perspectives to successfully support older children transitioning from foster care into a permanent\, loving home.\n \nSami Albert\, LCSW-C\, LICSW\nBarker’s Senior Search and Match Specialist \nTeen Connections 2026\nEver get questions or comments about your adoption that make you stop and think?  \nThis is your space to dive into your experiences\, express yourself the way you want\, and connect with other teens who get it. Whether you’re serious\, funny\, or somewhere in between\, you’ll have the chance to share your story on your own terms.\nThis isn’t just about talking\, it’s about connecting.\nMeet peers\, swap stories\, and be part of a community where every voice matters and every story counts. By the end\, you’ll leave feeling inspired\, understood\, and ready to share your journey however you want. \n\nTeen Speaker: Lilly Trone\n\nLilly Trone is a transracial adoptee from Bogotá\, Colombia. She when she was four months old and grew up in Arlington\, Virginia. She has stayed close to BARKER and adoption community her whole life\, connecting with others. Lilly worked in Arlington Public Schools for a couple years before deciding to pursue her education at George Mason University. She is a certified Jazzercise instructor\, true to her love for exercise and dancing. In her free time\, Lilly likes to spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys cooking\, listening to music and attending live performances\, watching and playing sports. She is passionate about helping others\, learning\, sharing her story\, and trying new things! \n\n					\n									Register Now!\n					 \nSchedule:\n\n\n\nTime\nActivity\n\n\n\n\n8:15 – 8:50 AM\nRegistration and Resource Fair\n\n\n8:50 – 10:15 AM\nMain Conference Room with Parent/Guardian\n\n\n10:15 – 10:30 AM\n⭐ Transition to Teen Connections Room ⭐\n\n\n10:30 – 11:00 AM\nIcebreakers\n\n\n11:00 – 12:00 PM\nLilly Trone – Guest Speaker\n\n\n12:00 – 1:00 PM\nLunch\n\n\n1:00 – 2:00 PM\nLilly Trone – Guest Speaker\n\n\n2:00 – 3:00 PM\nOutside Game Time\n\n\n3:00 – 3:30 PM\n⭐ Transition Back to Main Room ⭐\n\n\n3:30 – 4:30 PM\nClosing / Raffle\n\n\n\nInterested in sponsoring the conference?\nExplore sponsorship packages and additional ways to support the 2026 Adoption & Foster Care Conference. \nQuestions? Contact Michele Mazzei at mmazzei@barkerfoundation.org. \n					\n									View Sponsorship Packages\n					\n																\n															 \nCommunity Resource & Vendor Tables\nConnect with families\, professionals\, and community partners during the 2026 Adoption & Foster Care Conference\, a full day event centered on adoption and foster care. \nKey Details at a Glance \n\nDate: Saturday\, March 7\, 2026\nTime: 8:15 AM – 4:30 PM\nLocation: The Universities at Shady Grove\, Rockville\, MD\nAudience: Adoptive & prospective parents\, adult adoptees\, birth parents\, social workers\, and allied professionals\n\n					\n									Learn More!\n					\n																														 \nThank You to Our Sponsors\nCommunity Builder Sponsors\n																\n															\n																\n															 \nConnection Sponsor\n																\n															 \nLegacy Sponsor\n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															 \nSupporter Sponsor\n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															\n																\n															 \nConference Scholarship Fund
URL:https://barkeradoptionfoundation.org/events-calendar/2026-barkers-annual-adoption-and-foster-care-conference/
LOCATION:The Universities at Shady Grove\, Rockville\, MD\, 9630 Gudelsky Dr\, Rockville\, MD\, 20850\, United States
CATEGORIES:Adoptive Parent,Adult Adoptee,Annual Conference,Birth Parent,Continuing Education Units (CEUs),Professional,Prospective Parent Domestic Adoption,Prospective Parent International Adoption,Prospective Parent Project Wait No Longer-Older Child Adoption from Foster Care
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://barkeradoptionfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-Annual-Conference-Flyer-home-scaled.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Barker Adoption Foundation":MAILTO:info@barkeradoptionfoundation.org
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