Adoption Classes

The Illinois DCFS requires families to participate in six hours of education and training prior to issuing a Foster Family Home license (FFH) and a total of 16 hours for each licensed parent over the four-year duration of the license. FRC requires new participants in our Traditional Adoption Program to attend a structured curriculum of FRC courses, offered several times a year, which examine critical issues in domestic adoption.

Training for International Adoptions - Regulations for adoptive parent training respective to the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, requires 10 hours of training before a family can have any contact with the child. Families shall not travel to the child's country of origin to "view" or "select" a child until they have completed 10 hours of training. 

Note to all individuals planning on attending FRC classes.

You must pre-register to attend any class. We are asking you to do this for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to any of the following:  inclement weather, low enrollment, or difficulties that the instructor may have.

Therefore, please provide detailed contact information including day-of-class contact information (cell phone, e-mail, work phone, etc.). Without pre-registration, FRC will not be able to notify you if a class is cancelled.

If a class is cancelled, we will promptly notify you via all contact information provided, and every effort will be made to reschedule the training. If you do not register and you show up at a class that is cancelled FRC will regret not having been able to inform you and cannot be held responsible.

Also, unless otherwise noted, classes presented at FRC are designed for an adult audience.  Please be advised that the office is not set up for children to accompany parents to classes, or to sit in our waiting room while classes are in progress.  In order to ensure that all participants are able to concentrate on the presentation, we ask that parents arrange for childcare in advance of the class.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this matter.

Upcoming Adoption Classes

Medical Issues in International Adoption with Todd Ochs, M.D.

Dr. Ochs will discuss the unique needs and issues of children who have been adopted internationally. He will discuss typical medical needs, preparations for medical care while traveling to the child’s foreign country and follow-up services that should be obtained once the child arrives in the U.S.

Thursday, August 5, 2010  07:00 PM - 09:00 PM  Register Today

Race and Adoption

Many Caucasian families either have adopted a child or are considering adopting a child who is some part African-American.  When taking into account the role of race in our society this invariably raises questions and concerns.  Many adoptive families begin this journey without the benefit of having had an opportunity to hear individuals (adult adoptees and adoptive parents) talk about their experience with trans-racial adoption.  This presentation is comprised of a panel which includes individuals who were adopted into Caucasian or part-Caucasian families and adoptive parents who have adopted African-American children.  Panelists will share individual insights and experiences and respond to questions from the audience.  Particular attention will be focused on assisting with understanding the kinds of cross-cultural issues that sometimes arise in these kinds of adoptions and things that parents can do to help themselves and their children in functioning at their best.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010  07:00 PM - 09:00 PM  Register Today

Understanding Grief and Loss with Richard Pearlman, Executive Director

Adoption is said to begin with loss and frequently some degree of associated grief.  The literature suggests that the experience of adoption brings with it amplified and recurring expression of grief and loss throughout people’s lives. What is grief and loss?  How is it expressed by children?  How does it show up in adoptive families?  What can parents do to support their children?  It is important to understand some of the feelings and thoughts children have about adoption. It is also important to learn how to help a child express and deal with those feelings. Recognizing the expression of grief and strategies for helping children give words to their feeling can be very useful, along with identifying resources to help children, and knowing when to seek professional assistance.

Sunday, September 19, 2010  01:30 PM - 03:30 PM  Register Today

FRC Adoption Courses are presented by FRC staff and outside experts.  Some additional seminar topics include:

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