Special Events

March 2008

23rd Annual Adoption Options Conference

To be held at Depere College on March 15 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For pre-adoptive, post-adoptive couples and singles.  Visit www.oursthroughadoption.org for information on the keynote speaker and various sessions available.

FRUA's 5th Annual Conference

To be held in St. Louis.  Opportunity for parents to interact and exame in-depth, current issues facing international adoptees and their families.  For more information, please check the FRUA website for updates at www.frua.org.

Livin' Lovin' Luau

A family fun event to be held on March 31 and sponsored by Parent Connection, Appleton.  An annual family event for dads and their kids, ages 0-6 years old.  Play games and navigate the inflatable obstacle course.  To be held from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Appleton YMCa, 218 Lawrence Street.  To register, call Thedacare at 920-830-6877 or sign up online at www.thedacare.org/classes.

April 2008

Celebrate Latino Culture

Visit the Milwaukee Public Musuem on April 25 and 26 to celebrate the Latino culture.  To be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.  There will be music, performance, stories, take home art projecxts, etc.  For more information, visit the musuem website at www.mpm.org.  Free with a museum admission.

Spring Retreat

The Friends of adoption are sponsoring a retreat in Wausau on April 25 and 26.  It will be held at the Lodge at Cedar Creek.  Watch their website for details at www.friendsofadoption.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

Caring For Your New Baby Women and their partners will discuss topics including choosing a doctor for their baby, infant feeding, preparing for the nursery, safety, newborn characteristics and care. Ongoing through Aurora Health Centers: Call 1-888-524-8555 for dates and times in Greater Milwaukee Area, or www.aurorahealthcare.org/calendar for other locations. Cost is $30-$45, depending on membership. Aurora also has ongoing classes of Infant Massage: Bond with your baby, Infant/Child CPR, and “Big Kids and New Babies”, check their website for details. (We would like to note that these classes are appropriate for all new families. Aurora has been very accommodating to adoptive parents and the sensitive subjects of these classes. Should you have concerns regarding the appropriateness of any of the classes, please consult the nurses at the toll free number.)

Communicating with Your Baby Through Touch - Infant Massage You and your baby are invited to attend a class to learn how to communicate through touch. Learn massage strokes that will soothe your baby. Ongoing: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at the Milwaukee Heart Institute, 10am. For more info call 414-219-7400.

Moms and Me Support Group For new moms and their babies up to 12 months. This group will provide new moms and their babies an opportunity to socialize and share challenges and changes that parenting brings. Ongoing: meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month, 9am, at Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha. Call 262-948-5204 or 262-948-5200 for details.

Skills for successful parenting Join group leaders and other parents to learn how to be more effective parents. Topics include discipline, problem solving and communication skills. Two groups are offered. Ongoing: meets the 1st Saturday of every month, 10am, at Milwaukee Psychiatric Hospital in Wauwatosa. Call 414-454-6548 for details.