One of the main mission goals of Families Like Ours is breaking down the barriers that often delay or stop a family from moving forward with the adopt-foster process. Often these are the same barriers that delay or stop a child from having a successful, supported placement. We believe this starts with education. Since October 2000 we have been providing individual and group education to the professional team. Topics have included, but are not limited to:

• Working with gay and lesbian adoptive and foster families
• Is your home study process a mine field of discrimination?
• Taking the “un” out of un-adoptable
• Building a better transition plan
• Placing and advocating GLBT&Q foster youth
• P.R.I.D.E family preparation training
• Adoption 101
• Common sense parenting (based in part on Love and Logic(r))
• Cultural Competence 101
• Advocating for special needs youth
• Legal issues for gay and lesbian families

In addition to these and other topics, our team is also available to ...

• Speak to your local group
• Coordinate and participate in round tables, forums, panels, local, regional and national action teams
• We are also able to develop customized training programs that fit your individual needs

Please contact Families Like Ours for more information about these and other educational programs for the professional team, or your agency.