News & Events
Read about LSSI's Pregnancy Counseling and Adoption Services!
See "The Best Choice for Their Families" in the Spring 2012 issue of Eye on LSSI.
Story summary: LSSI’s Pregnancy Counseling program supports birthmothers as they decide whether to parent or pursue adoption and connects them with families who are waiting to adopt.
News
CHANGE TO ILLINOIS ADOPTION LAW:
ADOPTED PERSONS ALLOWED ACCESS TO THEIR ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES
A new law allows adopted adults who are born in Illinois to request non-certified copies of their original birth certificates.
- Adopted adults born before January 1, 1946, may now obtain non-certified copies of their original birth certificates upon written request.
- Adopted adults born after January 1, 1946, (now older than age 21) will be able to request copies of their original birth certificates beginning November 15, 2011.
- Requests for an original birth certificate may be made by filing a form with the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange.
- Birth parents of adopted persons who were born after January 1, 1946, may request that their names be removed from copies of the original birth certificate during their lifetime by filling out a form with the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange.
- All birth parents may share background information or indicate a desire for contact though the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange.
For more details or to download application forms, go to www.newillinoisadoptionlaw.com or www.idph.state.il/us/vitalrecords/adoptioninfo.htm, or call 877/323-5299 (toll free).
For Foster and Adoptive Families and Foster Care and Adoption Professionals:
Putting the Pieces Together: Lifebook Work with Children |
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| What: | Lifebook Training DVD for foster and adoptive parents and child welfare professionals. |
| Description: | Lifebooks are like scrapbooks (contain pictures, artwork and memorabilia), but they also include therapeutic elements to help children understand their life histories and make sense of loss, trauma and change. Lifebooks also celebrate a child’s strengths, dreams and plans for the future. This training DVD includes interviews with foster care youth, foster/adoptive parents and child welfare professionals and teaches how to do Lifebook work with children using a teamwork approach. |
| Who: | The DVD was developed by LSSI and the Center for Adoption Studies at Illinois State University. |
| More information: | Learn more at http://www.lssi.org/Support/MyAwesomeLife.aspx |
| Cost: | $25 |
| Contact: | Call 847/635-4692 or e-mail CCS@LSSI.org |
Events
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) sponsors several support groups for adoptive families and families preparing to adopt, and one group for birth families.
For Adoptive Families And Families Preparing To Adopt:
| Chicago Area: | |
Promises & Possibilities -- Preparing for International Adoption |
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| Description: | This training is designed to provide pre-adoption training for prospective adoptive parents and introduce them to key issues related to international adoption. The training consists of ten contact hours of instruction and meets the requirements as set by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Service and the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. |
| Where: | LSSI Office 10 West 35th Street, 15th Floor Chicago, IL 60616 |
| When: | The training meet for two days. Friday 9:30-3:30 and Saturday 9:00-1:00 May 20 and 21 July 22 and 23 September 23 and 24 November 18 and 19 |
| Cost: | The fee is included in the home study fee for families working with LSSI. The fee is $150 per couple for families completing a home study with another agency. |
| Contact: | Elizabeth Thomas-Colwell 312/949-4811 Elizabeth.Thomas-Colwell@LSSI.org |
| . | |
| Chicago Area | |
Infant Adoption Seminar -- Preparing for Domestic Adoption |
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| Description: | This training is designed to provide pre-adoption training for prospective adoptive parents and introduce them to key issues related to domestic adoption. The training consists of six contact hours of instruction and meets the requirements as set by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Service. |
| Where: | LSSI Office 1001 East Touhy Avenue, Suite 50 Des Plaines, IL 60018 |
| When: | June 3, 9:30-3:30 |
| Cost: | The fee is included in the home study fee for families working with LSSI. The fee is $100 per couple for families completing a home study with another agency. |
| Contact: | Elizabeth Thomas-Colwell 312/949-4811 Elizabeth.Thomas-Colwell@LSSI.org |
| . | |
| Rockford Area: | |
Adoptive Parent Support Group (Adoptive Families Together) |
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| Description: | Open to all adoptive families and those preparing to adopt |
| Where: | LSSI Office 321 W. State St, 4th Floor Rockford, IL |
| When: | 3rd Thursday of every month, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. |
| Cost: | 2nd Thursday of each month, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. |
| Contact: | Jocelyn.McMahan@LSSI.org |
| . | |
| Rock Island Area: | |
Adoptive Parent Support Group and Family Activities |
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| Description: | Open to all adoptive families and those preparing to adopt |
| Where: | St John’s Lutheran Church 4501 7th Avenue Rock Island, IL |
| When: | 3rd Thursday of every month, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. |
| Cost: | Free. Child care provided if reserved in advance. |
| Contact: | Susan Goble at 309/786-6400 or Susan.Goble@LSSI.org |
| . | |
| Galesburg Area: | |
Adoptive Parent Support Group and Family Activities |
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| Description: | Open to all adoptive families and those preparing to adopt |
| Where: | First Church of the Nazarene 1501 Webster Street Galesburg, IL |
| When: | Saturdays in May, August & November (call or e-mail for specific dates) |
| Cost: | Free. |
| Contact: | Susan Goble at 309/786-6400 or Susan.Goble@LSSI.org |
Events For Birth Families:
| Peoria Area: | |
Healing Birth Family Support Group |
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| Where: | LSSI Office 3000 W. Rohmann W. Peoria, IL |
| When: | Third Thursday of every month, 6:00 p.m. |
| Cost: | Free. |
| Contact: | Mary Wake at 309/671-0300 or Mary.Wake@LSSI.org |
