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Dear ASIA Family and Friends,

We hope you all had a nice holiday weekend! This e-letter contain information about:
*Current Status of Referrals from China
*Ways to Continue to Help China's Earthquake Victims
*FCC's Waiting Families Meeting about Lifebooks on September 7
*Homeland Tour Informational Meeting on September 20
*Adoption Readiness Workshop Series starting September 23

***CHINA UPDATE***
We wanted to send you an update on the current status of referrals. Referrals began arriving today for families who were logged in with CCAA between January 31st and February 9, 2006. CCAA has reviewed dossiers that were logged in by January 31st, 2007. ASIA keeps this information on the front page of our website for those families who are interested in keeping track. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

***CONTINUE HELPING CHINA'S EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS***
We also wanted to forward you a free way to help out the people in China who have been affected by the continued earthquakes. Please see the information below to find out how to help through Half The Sky:

For a while, it looked as if Half the Sky's Big Tops - the children's recovery centers we're creating in Sichuan refugee camps - were a shoo-in for the top 25. But now, with only 4 days left, our chances aren't looking so good.

PLEASE HELP US TODAY - AND PLEASE, RIGHT NOW, FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO
EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

Anyone with an email address can nominate a project. The more nominations we get, the better our chances are. It's easy and it doesn't cost one penny!

Our project is called, "HELP CHILDREN RECOVER FROM EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA" and if it makes the top 25, it could get enough funding from American Express to build and operate four BigTops for two years. To nominate our project for potential funding, please follow these simple steps:
1. Go to HYPERLINK http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/YBIBMW
2. Click on "NOMINATE THIS PROJECT" button
3. Sign up & log in as a Guest Member or a Card member
4. The button will turn into a sentence that says "You have nominated this project"

If you have any problems, please let us know.
I'll be posting some more photos of our amazing work in Sichuan soon. In the meantime....
Won't you please help us today?
Many thanks -
Jenny Bowen
Executive Director
Half the Sky Foundation
HYPERLINK www.halfthesky.org

Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future.

***FCC MEETING IN PORTLAND, OR***
FCC is very excited about their September meeting! They have Kim Felder, who specializes in creating Lifebooks, coming to speak to the group.
The Lifebook is a book we put together for our adopted child to validate their life from the minute it began, and even before we were in it. As adoptive parents it is another tool in helping our children fill in the blanks of their own personal history.
Feel free to join on:
Date: Sunday, September 7
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Where: Doernbecher Children's Hospital, McVey Conference Room, 11th Floor(there will be signs posted)
Topic: Lifebooks
Also, as your fall calendar is going to begin to fill up. Here are the dates for our fall and December meetings.
Sunday, October 5
Sunday, November 2
Sunday, December 7
Please contact Amy Clark, Waiting Families co-Moderator, with questions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

***HOMELAND TOUR INFORMATIONAL MEETING IN PORTLAND, OR***
When: Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 10am-12pm
Where: ASIA Office in Portland, OR
Cost: FREE! With Snacks!
Presenter: Michael Han of Always and Forever Adoption Homeland Tours

Do you have questions about returning to China on homeland travel? Any adoptive family who is thinking about returning to China is welcome to attend. This meeting will cove many aspects from booking flights to emotional reactions of adoptees. Michael will speak about services and tour programs offered by Always and Forever Adoption Homeland Tours, schedules, routes, Chinese orphanages, and much more.
Please contact Michael at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information

***ADOPTION MOSAIC'S ADOPTION READINESS WORKSHOP SERIES IN OREGON***
Adoption Readiness series
When: 4 Tuesday Evenings, starting September 23, 2008 in Oregon
Time: 6:30- 9:00 PM
Cost: $250 per family (singles may bring a support person)
Instructor: Mina Bacigalupi

This four-session series is designed to cover most recommended pre-adoption education topics and to supplement agency trainings for international or domestic adoption. Our goal is to provide participants with tools and resources for the lifelong adventure of being an adoptive family.

History is important in defining the issues adoptive children face and creating positive outcomes. We believe that successful parenting comes from being fully aware and prepared for potential difficult issues that some families may face. The Adoption Readiness sessions will explore how children come to adoption, the attachment process, the seven core issues of adoption, nature vs. nurture, and transitions in the context of grief and loss. We will also discuss adoptive parenting, bonding and claiming, adoption after infertility and preparing for those first hours and days of parenthood.

Becoming an adoptive family does not end with the signing of legal documents and bringing a child into your home, but is a lifelong experience of growth and discovery. We will begin to explore some of the unique differences of adoptive families and how adoptism, racism and diversity in American culture impact our families. We will discuss creating a support network, communicating honestly with your child, and advocating for your child. Emphasis will be on staying connected with the adoption community as you look ahead to school years, adolescence, and into adulthood and the life-long experience of adoption.

This series is aimed at preparing prospective adoptive parents for international or domestic adoption. The course is designed to meet most recommended pre-adoption educational requirements, or to supplement agency trainings. Our goal is to provide participants with tools and resources for the lifelong adventure of being an adoptive family.

Presenter: Mina Bacigalupi, a co-founder of Adoption Mosaic and a pediatric nurse, has worked and volunteered in the field of adoption for over twelve years. She and her husband adopted their daughter from China and their son domestically.

Pre-Registration is required. $250 per family (singles may bring a support person). To register and for more information visit our website www.adoptionmosaic.org or contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it