Center for Psychological Services and Clinical Studies - Adoption Conference 2004

October 16, 2004 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Manhattan Campus

The Center for Psychological Services and Clinical Studies along with their co-sponsors the Department of Psychology, the Committee on Latin America and Carribbean Studies, Graduate Division of Arts and Sciences, Office of Alumni Relations, and Montclair State University College of Education and Human Services are pleased to present the third, biannual adoption conference at St. John's University.

The Dynamics of Adoption: A Three-Way Mirror: Adoptees, Birthparents, and Adoptive Parents

A special thanks to the Korean National Tourism Organization for their financial sponsorship and support.

We are pleased to be able to host our third, biannual adoption conference at St. John's University. Four years ago, our first conference, entitled "The Adoption Journey: Psychological, Socio-Political, and Legal Challenges," addressed the psychological, sociological, socioeconomic, and legal implications of adoption for the adoption triad (adopted persons, birth families and adoptive families.) Through that conference, mental health and human service providers began to dialogue about the specific needs of adoption triad members and the implications of those needs for these providers. We continued the dialogue two years ago with our second conference, entitled "The Lifelong Adoption Journey: Through the Eyes of the Adopted," where the lifespan adoption issues and concerns of adopted persons were examined based on the experiences of four panels of adopted persons who were also psychologists, social workers, business people, adoption advocates, journalists and filmmakers.

Building upon the two previous conferences, we have developed another opportunity for professionals, scholars, students, and those touched by adoption to learn more about yet another aspect of the adoption experience. Representatives of the adoption triad will begin to explore the overt and the covert dialogue that occurs between adoptive parents and birthparents throughout adoptees' lives. This dialogue will allow conference attendees to hear directly from adoptive parents, birthparents, and adoptees as well as from therapists with expertise in adoption which will assist in better understanding the dynamics that occur within adoption triads.

As a prelude to the conference and to set the tone for Saturday's program, we will be showing two illuminating adoption films on Friday evening followed by a discussion of the films. Pre-registration is also available at this time.

Date and Time
Friday, October 15, 2004, 6 - 9 p.m.
Saturday, October 16, 2004, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Location
St. John's University
Manhattan Campus
101 Murray Street
New York, NY 10007
(212) 815-9232

Continuing Education Credit
This program is sponsored by the Center for Psychological Services and Clinical Studies (CPSCS). The Center is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists and maintains responsibility for the program.  We are offering 6 continuing education credits, at a cost of $15 dollars. A separate check payable to St. John's University is required.  Continuing education credits for the legal professions are also available through the St. John's University School of Law.

Participants

  • Johanna Aeschliman, MAT, Med
    Associate Director of Studies and Teacher Training, The Chestnut Hill School, Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Barbara L. Aeschliman, MD
    Medical Director Department of Behavioral Health, Neponset Health Center, Boston, MA; Adoptive Mother
  • Amanda Baden, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor, Montclair State University; Board Member Families with Children From China; Therapist in Private Practice; Adoptee
  • Frank Biafora, Ph.D.
    Associate Dean of Graduate Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John's University
  • Jane Brown, MSW
    Adoptove Parent, Adoption Advocate, Member of the Arizona Legislative Committee on Foster Care and Adoption; Director of Adoption Playshops
  • Jen Budz 
    Probation officer for Children-in-Court Team, Morris County; Birthmother
  • Alina Camacho-Gingerich, Ph.D.
    Chair, Committee on Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Professor, Languages and Literatures, St. John's University
  • Joseph Crumbley, D.S.W.
    Author, Transracial Adoptions and Foster Care, Private Practice, Adoption Consultant
  • Betsy Forrest, LSW 
    Children's Aid and Family Services, Paramus, NJ; Adoptee
  • Madelyn Freundlich, MSW, MPH, JD
    Author, Wrongful Adoption; Children's Rights Inc.
  • Sarah Gerstenzang, MSW
    Policy Analyst, Children's Rights Inc.; Adoptive Mother
  • Susan Glazer, MSW
    Therapist in Private Practice; Adoption Consultant; Adoptive Parent
  • Bernie Michael Glintz, LCSW/BCD
    Therapist in Private Practice; Adoption Consultant; Adjunct Professor at NYU; Queens Chapter President, New York State Society for Clinical Social Work; Adoptee
  • Pamela Hasegawa
    Photographer, Adoptees' Advocate; NJCARE; American Adoption Congress; Adoptee
  • Leanne Jaffe, M.A.
    Adapting to Adoption, Adoptee
  • Rafael Art. Javier, Ph.D., ABPP
    Director, Center for Psychological Services and Clinical Studies; Clinical Professor of Psychology, St. John's University
  • Christian Langworthy, MFA
    Poet published in From Both Sides Now; Adoptee
  • Lisa LoRusso
    Controller for Columbus Citizens Foundation; Birthmother
  • Lorayne B. Losch, MSW, CSW
    Therapist in Private Practice, Adoptive Parent
  • Andrew Majkowicz
    Facility Technician, Verizon Communications; Assistant Fire Chief, Saddlebrook Fire Department; Veteran, US Marine Corps; Adoptee
  • Brenda Mirly, LCSW, MBA
    Spence-Chaplin Adoption Services, Programmer Manager, New Jersey; Family Therapist in Private Practice
  • David Nast, Ph.D.
    Director, CASE [Academic Support] and HORIZON [Learning Disabilities]; County College of Morris, NJ; Adoptee
  • Jane Nast, MA
    Past President American Adoption Congress; NJCARE; Adoptive Parent
  • Penny Partridge, MSW
    Co-Founder of Adoption Forum, author, Pandora's Hope: Poems and Prose About Being Adopted; Adoptee and Adoptive Parent
  • Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D., LCSW
    Founder, Pre- and Post Adoption Consulting Team; author, The Family of Adoption; Adoptee)
  • Jane Platt, Ph.D.
    Research Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, Member Families with Children from China; Adoptive Mother
  • Tyantha Randall, MSW, LGSW
    Social Worker for the State of Maryland, Foster Care and Adoption; Birthmother
  • Julia A. Upton, R.S.M., Ph.D.
    Provost, Professor of Theology, St. John's University

Schedule of Events
Friday Evening Program, October 15, 2004
6 p.m.
Registration - An Evening of Film Screenings
Light refreshments will be served.

7 p.m.
Lost and Found by Debra Baker

7:30 p.m.
Perspectives on Adoption by Alisa Baum

8 - 9 p.m.
Discussion of Films

Saturday Morning Program, October 16, 2004
October 16, 2004
8:30 - 9 a.m.
Registration

9 - 9:30 a.m.
Welcome - Opening Remarks
Julia A. Upton, R.S.M., Ph.D., Provost
Jeffrey Fagan, Ph.D., Dean, St. John's College of Liberal Arts &Sciences
Rafael Art Javier, Ph.D., ABPP, Conference chair and Master of Ceremony    
      
9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Introduction of Speaker
Amanda L. Baden, Ph.D., Conference Co-chair

Keynote Speaker
Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D., LCSW
Penny Partridge, MSW         
Poetic Reflections on the Adoption Journey

10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
Triad Panel Session 1
Exploring the Dialogue: Spoken and Unspoken Messages Between Birth and Adoptive Families
Madelyn Freundlich, MSW, MPH, JD, Moderator
           
Panelists
Andrew Majkowicz, Adopted person
Lisa LoRusso, Birthmother
David Nast, Ph.D., Adopted person
Jane Nast, M.Ed., Adoptive mother
Brenda Mirly, LCSW, MBA, Therapist
Bernie Michael Glintz, LCSW, BCD, Therapist

11:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Break

11:30 a.m.
Break Out Sessions (Choose one for 11:30 a.m. and one for 3 p.m.)

  • Fantasies, Fears and Hopes: The Unknown Birthparent
    Amanda L. Baden, Ph.D., Brenda Mirly, LCSW, MBA, and Pamela Hasegawa
  • Ramifications of Opening a Closed Adoption: Risks, Realities, & Rewards Jane Brown, MSW, and Betsy Forrest, MSW
  • Structuring an Open Adoption
    Lorayne B. Losch, MSW, CSW and Tyantha Randall, MSW, LGSW
  • Sibling Issues in Adoption
    Leanne Jaffe, MA, MSW, and Sarah Gerstenzang, MSW
  • The Therapeutic Process as It relates to Adoption
    Bernie Michael Glitz, LCSW, BCD
    Birth and Adoptive Parents: Understanding Each Other's Perspective Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D., LCSW

12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Lunch Break (Lunch on your own - a list of area restaurants will be provided)

Saturday Afternoon Program, October 16, 2004
1:45 - 2 p.m.
Remarks from our Sponsors
Christian Langworthy
Poetic Reflections on the Adoption Dialogue

2 - 3:30 p.m.
Triad Panel Session 2
"Expanding the Dialogue: Spoken and  Unspoken Messages Between and Beyond Birth and Adoptive Families"
Madelyn Freundlich, MSW, MPH, JD, Moderator
         
Panelists
Johanna Aeschiman, MAT, Med, Adopted person
Barbara L. Aeschiman, MD, Adoptive mother
Jen Budz, Birthmother
Tyantha Randall, MSW, LGCSW, Birthmother
Jane Brown, MSW, Therapist and Adoptive mother
Amanda L. Baden, Ph.D., Therapist and transracially adopted person

3 - 4 p.m.
Break Out Sessions (Choose one session listed from 11:30 a.m.)

4 - 4:15 p.m.
Break

4:15 - 5 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
Joseph Crumbley, Ph.D.

5 - 5:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Frank Biafora, Ph.D.,, Associate Dean, Graduate Division, St John's College of Arts and Sciences
Penny Partridge, MSW
"Poetic Reflections on the Adoption Journey"

5:30 p.m.
Wine and Cheese Reception and Meeting the Authors
Remarks by Alina Camacho-Gingerich, Ph.D.
Authors: Penny Partridge, MSW; Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D., LCSW; Joseph Crumley, DSW; Madelyn Freundlich, MSW, MPH, JD

Registration Fees
TypeBefore Oct 1At the Door
General Admission$85$110
Student (with ID)$25$40
Nassau County Psychological Association$65$85
St. John's Alumni$65$85

Refund/Cancellation Policy
Refunds prior to October 1, 2004 are subject to a $15 administrative fee. No refunds granted after October 1, 2004.

More Information and Registration
Center for Psychological Services and Clinical Studies
St. John's University
Bent Hall
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, New York 11439
(718) 990-1900
psychcenter@stjohns.edu