Encompass adopted and fostered teen program combines elements of a support group with mentoring and meets after our youth program one Saturday per month from 4-6 pm. This group is designed for adoptees and foster youth 14 years old or older. Similar to our youth program, this group is intended to be creative, community minded, and trauma informed. However, the teen group will allow more opportunities for self exploration, individual expression, and conversation. Topics and activities will frequently build on concepts explored in the youth program to encourage discussions between siblings and families at home.

Monthly, sessions will address specific topics relevant to the experience of adoption and foster care and will include group sharing and discussions, individual and group writing prompts, and art projects.

Please see our teen program page- Coming Soon!- or contact us directly for more information.

This Month:

Topic- TBA

3:50 Drop off and Settle in

6:10 Final pick up

Encompass Adoptees’ youth program combines elements of a support group with mentoring. The core program is from 11 am- 2 pm, and we sometimes offer an additional hour class before or after the core program. For our Core program, the first activity is intended to be more quiet, creative, conversational, and reflective. Our after-lunch activity is geared more toward exploration, learning a new art skill, trying something new, and seeing themselves succeed. A mentor is always available to spend time with a youth who is either having a rough day and/or does not prefer the planned activities listed below. Activities are purposefully selected to align with our goals but never required. Please see our youth program page, or contact us directly for more information.

This week:

** Activities today will be outside as much as weather permits- please have youth dress accordingly**

10:50 Arrive & Settle in

11 am Art & Discussion— Read Anh’s Anger and discuss anger, then create a textured paper and fabric collage image of individual interpretations of anger

12:15 Lunch & 20 min outside game (if weather permits)- Please dress warm and bring a coat & hat. This is something we have recently added based on the kid’s request (kids bring a packed meal- microwave available)

1 pm Art Exploration & Learning Activity: Bring a t-shirt, tank, or tote (100% cotton) to tie dye together!

2:00 Clean up & Final pick up

2:20 Mentor Meeting & Debrief

LEARN ABOUT PROGRAM

LEARN ABOUT MENTORS

REGISTER

-Please note- activities offered change each week-

Casual dinner for adult adopted and fostered people to enjoy good food and good conversations together.

RSVP to Maze Felix or Encompass Adoptees

When: July 15, 2021
Time: 7pm
Place: Nile Vegan
1479 Worthington St, Columbus, OH 43201

Masks required for restaurant

This is a casual discussion group meant to support adoptive, kinship, and fostering parents and to build relationships between parents and their adopted children of all ages through the community, conversation, and educational materials. This group offers a safe place to share and ask questions openly and honestly about relinquishment and adoption/foster care related issues.

This is co-facilitated by Julie Richards, a trauma therapist and parent of both adopted and birth children; and by Heather Gonzales, an adult adoptee working on master’s degrees in both clinical counseling and art therapy. Both are committed to increasing their understanding through the insight and perspective of other triad members. Each month we discuss a chapter in a book or a podcast. We do this in an attempt to cover a variety of related topics, to increase our knowledge and awareness of the information that is out there, and maximize our resources for the future. There is no requirement to come to all discussions or to have read the chapter beforehand, so please join us and feel free to choose the chapter topics that interest you!

• Meets every 2nd Thursday of the month (except holidays)

• 7-9 pm via Zoom- contact us to receive the link to join

For 2021 we are exploring the difficulties and benefits of vulnerability with Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly.

Join us! These meetings are designed for adult adoptees, kinship alum & foster alum, facilitated by adult adoptees, to support one another and offer a safe place to share, discuss, and gain words for better understanding &/or expressing our adoption experiences.

Each week we will discuss topics from the book. Time is given for individual sharing, but no one is required to do so- We encourage each person to participate, or just listen, however they wish.

• Hosted by Encompass Adoptees

• 7-9 pm, Every 1st Thursday of the month

• At 122 S Terrace Ave, Unit 1, Columbus (on the corner of Terrace and Olive)

• Parking is available on the street on Terrace and along the side of the building on Olive.