Adoption Community of New England has been around for forty years. According to their website, their purpose is "to provide education, information, advocacy and support for all who are touched by adoption and foster care." They provide numerous educational and support programs for the adoption community to help achieve this purpose.

One of the most impressive features about Adoption Community of New England is the amount of adoption workshops they offer the community. For example, those adopting an infant and who are first time parents may benefit from Baby Care for Pre-Adoptive First-Time Parents. Those adopting internationally may wish to attend "Introduction to China" (if adopting from China) or "Adjustment to Intercountry Adoption." Extended family can even benefit from a workshop titled: "For the Extended Adoptive Family: Your Special Role."

There is literally something for everyone is a part of the adoption process, or those considering adoption. According to their website, their workshops are designed for:

1. Adoptive families
   
   
2. Adopted persons
   
   
3. Birth families
   
   
4. Foster parents
   
   
5. Adoption professionals
   
   
6. People considering starting the adoption process
   
   
7. People in the process of adoption

Members of this organization have access to a lending library, featuring books, audiotapes, DVDs and CDs. Some of the topics contained in the lending library include:

• Attachment
  
  
• Developmental stages
  
  
• Grief and loss
  
  
• Juvenile and young adults
  
  
• Open adoption
  
  
• Parenting
  
  
• Transracial adoptions
  
  
• Family issues
  
  
• School issues
  
  
• Special need support
  
  
• Advocacy
  
  
• Research

On Saturday, April 17th, 2010, Adoption Community of New England will hold their 2010 adoption conference in Bellingham Massachusetts. The conference is titled:Identity in Adoption: Glimpses Beneath the Masks.

Debbie Riley, author of “Beneath the Mask" is the keynote speaker of the conference.

For more information on Adoption Community of New England and their 2010 conference, please visit their website at adoptioncommunityofne.org.