This is a casual discussion group meant to support adoptive, fostering, & kinship parents and to build relationships between parents and their adopted/fostered children of all ages through community, conversation, and educational materials.
Both groups are co-facilitated by Heather Gonzales, an adult adoptee, and the Founder and Director at Encompass. She is currently doing her internship to become a licensed therapist at Chrysalis Family Solutions and specializes in working with adoptees and their families. An adoptive parent helps co-facilitate each group- Deborah Miller-Gnann co-facilitates the in-person group. She is an adoptive parent of two intercounty, transracial adoptees and the director of COFAF, which offers monthly webinars topics geared toward the needs of adoptive and foster families. And Olivia Hamilton will be co-facilitating the online group. She is a foster and adoptive parent and pastor of The Brood, a ministry for foster, adoptive, and kinship families. (Please Note - This space is designed to be inclusive of all people regardless of your faith/spiritual tradition or lack thereof. All are welcome!)
All facilitators are committed to increasing their learning and understanding through the insight and perspective of other triad members, This group offers a safe place to share and ask questions openly and honestly about relinquishment and adoption-related issues. Both groups will be discussing the same topics and you are free to join either or switch back and forth as needed.
Each month we discuss part of a book or topic. We do this in an attempt to cover a larger variety of related issues, to increase our knowledge and awareness of the information that is out there, and to maximize our resources for the future. Although not required, sharing personal experiences and asking questions are encouraged. 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!
-NOTE- Encompass Adoptees encourages critical thinking that takes into account all triad members in regards to all books and resources. Book discussions or reading lists in no way imply agreement with all portions of a book, nor does it indicate any endorsement of the author/s, their programs, techniques, etc. Individual opinions and personal experiences with these items can be shared and discussed during the group meetings, and questions are encouraged.
Meets every 2nd Thursday of the month (except Dec for the holidays)
Online/ Zoom group -Please email us or pre-register in order to get the zoom link. After you have come once, and the group is able to verify new members are adoptive parents( to ensure a safe space for all attending), you can request to be added to the email list that receives the new link and password each month.
Currently reading: Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biology Becomes Your Biography, and How You Can Heal.
This Program is Hosted, Developed, and Facilitated by Encompass Adoptees and is currently Funded and Sponsored by Ohio KAN
