Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive

Oriana Carey is the Chief Executive Officer for the Coalition for Children, Youth & Families. She is driven to ensure that the Coalition creates programs and services that ensure all children have a champion and that those champions have support.

Oriana earned a Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1991 and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1995. She is currently licensed as a clinical social worker in the State of Wisconsin. Before coming to the Coalition, Oriana held a variety of supervisory and managerial positions within child and family-serving agencies. She began her tenure at the Coalition in 2005, as a project manager, where she helped to successfully launch the Wisconsin Foster Care and Adoption Resource Center. She has served as the CEO since 2014.

Connect with Oriana at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/oriana-carey-bb385913/

Here's an introduction to the Coalition for Children, Youth & Families from their website:

Every Child Needs A Champion. Every Champion Needs Support.

Our fundamental purpose is to strengthen foster and adoptive families, equipping them with the tools and resources they need to continually move toward resilience and stability. Families who use the Coalition services have:

Increased access to and use of resources

A stronger network of support

Improved confidence in their ability to be a “no matter what” family

We believe that, because of our work, foster and adoptive families are strong and resilient—they are flexible, accepting, able to celebrate each victory, and endure lifelong.

For more about the Coalition and to connect with them on social media:

https://coalitionforcyf.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CoalitionforCYF/

https://www.instagram.com/coalitionforcyf/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Voce (vō-chāy) means voice.

Here's what Voce share on their website

"We use our voice, and empower you to use yours, to create positive, lasting change in people's lives. We use our voice because we believe every person should belong and be empowered to thrive.

Our agency (previously known as Family Design Resources) began in 1999 by pioneering a model that is nationally recognized for expediting adoptions and supporting families.

Today, we provide consultation and training to agencies throughout the country in the areas of trauma and loss, adoption and permanency, diversity and inclusion, and individual and family well-being."

https://vocetogether.org/

https://www.facebook.com/VoceTogether

https://twitter.com/VoceTogether

https://www.instagram.com/vocetogether/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Here's an excerpt from Sheila's website:

"My story starts with my husband and I’s journey to become parents in 2008.  I grew up in a seemingly uncomplicated and non-dramatic country home in the plains of South Dakota where struggles were few and far between. Not until this moment in my life had I experienced a setback of this magnitude.

Going through infertility, and subsequently adoption, pushed me beyond limits I didn’t know I had. I learned more about myself than I could have possibly imagined. I learned that my lifelong anxiety may have been depression the whole time, causing more problems along the way. I now look at this ongoing experience as the gifts of infertility.

I share the process of fertility treatments, the adoption process, becoming a mother, and the challenge of staying married in the middle of it all. I share our personal heartaches and miracles that continue to this day.

On this site I share authentically and unapologetically, my journey with my biggest nemesis, my thoughts about how things were supposed to be.

Reality wins big."

More at 

https://www.sheilakchester.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/essentiallyathome/

https://twitter.com/sheilakchester?lang=en

https://www.instagram.com/sheilakchester/?hl=en-gb

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Natalie Lohneis is Diagrama's Head of Adoption & Fostering Services.

The registered social worker has over 18 years of post-qualification experience in work with children and families. This ranges from family support and safeguarding services to adoption and fostering.  Natalie has extensive rounded experience through Local Authority work, and with charities and private organisations. The last 11 years of Natalie's career have been focused on family placement services, at a managerial/ consultancy level and in improvement work.

Natalie says: "I find honesty, creativity and dedication to be the most valuable qualities for success in leading any service. My greatest passion is securing the best outcomes for the children and young people that we work with. This means well informed, well trained, insightful staff, foster carers and adopters who receive high-quality support and are able to share their learning with others."

In addition to her professional background Natalie, mother to two teenagers, has personal experience of welcoming in a sibling from foster care who was adopted by her family when she was a young adult. 

To connect with Natalie visit:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/attachadoption/

https://www.instagram.com/attachconsultancy/

https://twitter.com/attachconsult

Diagrama Adoption is an independent, voluntary adoption agency rated GOOD by Ofsted. Our friendly and professional team members are dedicated to finding loving and nurturing families for vulnerable children waiting to be adopted.

For more about Diagrama Adoption visit

https://www.diagramaadoption.org.uk/

https://twitter.com/diagramaukkids

https://www.youtube.com/user/DiagramaFoundation

https://www.facebook.com/Diagramafosteringadoption/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Joy has her own podcast too so check it out at:

https://feeds.captivate.fm/adoption-arena-podcast

Connect with Joy at

https://www.joycarter.co.uk/

https://www.adoptionarena.com/

https://twitter.com/joycartershow

https://www.facebook.com/joycartershow/

https://www.instagram.com/Joycartershow/

https://www.youtube.com/user/JoyCarterComedian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-carter-485ab434/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Maggie joined the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies in November 2018. Previously, she was Chief Executive of Foundation, an organisation dedicated to ending social exclusion which works with over 4000 of the most disadvantaged adults, young people and families across the North of England, providing resources and opportunities for everyone to achieve and belong no matter their personal circumstances.

Before Foundation, Maggie was Chief Executive of Children England, the umbrella body for children’s charities. She has over 25 years’ experience within the statutory and voluntary sectors, including as Assistant Programme Director for England at Save the Children, where she led work on children’s rights and participation; establishing the Leeds Health For All (Healthy City) Partnership to tackle poverty, environmental and health inequalities; and working for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation where she led research and practice development work on governance, children and young people’s services and the future of the voluntary sector.

Maggie is Vice Chair of the National Lottery Community Fund’s England Committee and is Chair of the Youth Association; Growing Yorkshire’s Future.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-jones-341ab616/

CVAA is first and foremost a membership organisation. Their membership is made up of 27 voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) across the four nations of the UK, along with 2 associate members (adoption support agencies) and a number of subscribers.

They represent our members and advocate for them in national forums. They bring member agencies together to collaborate, and we support them to work in partnership with local authorities (LAs) and regional adoption agencies (RAAs). They draw on our members’ vast experience of adoption to facilitate the sharing of best practice across the adoption system. They create space for professionals in the voluntary adoption sector to network and learn from one another.

Here are the links that Maggie refers to in the interview:

www.youcanadopt.co.uk here you can find contact details for all adoption agencies in England, and they can help with access to the Adoption Support Fund

www.cvaa.org.uk for details of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish voluntary adoption agencies, as well as English ones

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adoption-support-fund-asf for details about the fund, eligibility and evaluation reports

https://childrenssocialcare.independent-review.uk/ site for the Care review taking place in England. There will be opportunities to comment on papers and feed into discussions as the review progresses

ASGLB: https://coram-i.org.uk/asglb/ this is the site for the Adoption and Special Guardian leadership Board, which brings together all the national organistions with an interest in adoption. They have  reference groups of adopters and special guardians.

https://appgap.info/strengthening-families-inquiry. This is the link for the current enquiry into aspects of adoption being undertaken by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Adoption and Permanence.

https://twitter.com/CVAA_UK

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Ereka Howard is a speaker, an entrepreneur, Adoptee, and Mental Health Advocate. She has dedicated her life to the upliftment and empowerment of others. She is a fresh voice for a new generation. Ereka is a graduate of Texas State University with a BS in Exercise and Sports Science and a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counselling. Ereka is also a licensed Chemical Dependency Counsellor- Intern.

After overcoming many hurdles throughout her life, Ereka now shares her life experiences. 

To connect with her check out:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ms-ereka-howard-0b500a7b/

https://www.facebook.com/ereka.howard

https://www.instagram.com/msmotivational/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/erekahowardmotivationalspeaker/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Estella brings a lifetime of experience both personal and professional to help you. She's the biological mom of one and adoptive mom of 2 kids from the foster care system.  

Her story will inspire you and her insights will empower you so listen up, you're in for a treat.

To connect with Estella check out:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/estella-swain-652b0aa5/

To find out more about where she works:

https://cyfd.org

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Here's  a little about Natalie:

"My name is Natalie Vecchione. I’m a homeschool mom of two and we built our family through adoption. Our son, who is almost 19, lives with an FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). He has graduated from homeschool and he is working part time as a carpentry apprentice. Our typically developing daughter is almost 6 and we have a much different adoption journey with her, as we’re very close with her birth mom.

In October 2020, my husband and I co-founded “FASD Hope” - a podcast, website and a place for awareness, information and inspiration for those people whose lives have been touched by an FASD.  The podcast series is through the lens of parents advocates with over 18 years of lived experience. FASD Hope Podcast is available anywhere you find your podcasts. I am also the co-author of the new book "Blazing New Homeschool Trails: Educating and Launching Teens with Developmental Disabilities":

You can get the book at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=natalie+vecchione&ref=nb_sb_noss

https://www.amazon.com/Blazing-New-Homeschool-Trails-Developmental-ebook/dp/B096L4DBBM/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=natalie+vecchione&qid=1624349891&sr=8-2

You can find out more about FASD Hope and listen to Natalie's podcast at:

https://www.fasdhope.com/

You can connect with Natalie on social media at:

https://www.facebook.com/fasdhope1

https://www.instagram.com/fasdhope/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-vecchione-17212160/

Clubhouse- @natalievecc   

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Here's an introduction from Sheryl - the first birth mom to guest on Thriving Adoptees. 

"I have been connected to Adoption Options since 1990, as I first came to the agency as a client dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Working with a professional social worker who provided a safe and non-judgmental environment for me to make a plan for my son and myself was incredibly impactful. I became a social worker and initially worked in Child Welfare as a case manager. In 2003, I was thrilled to join the AO team. My husband Steve and I have a beautiful little girl and an amazing relationship with my birthson and his family. I believe adoption is not for everyone, but a positive option to be considered.  What I value most about Adoption Options is the incredible team of colleagues that I have the privilege of working with every day. They are dedicated to providing professional and caring services to every person who walks through our doors. "

Connect with Sheryl here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-proulx-b7559092/

https://www.instagram.com/sheryladoptionoptions/

Adoption Options was created in 1985 when founder, Marilyn Shinyei recognized a need for and desire by women to have more choice and increased control when placing their children for adoption. Thanks to Marilyn and a small group of passionate and compassionate women, open adoption in Alberta was realized for the very first time. Adoption Options is often referred to as the Pioneer of Open Adoption in Canada.

Find out more about the agency here:

https://www.adoptionoptions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/adoptionoptionsalberta

https://twitter.com/AOAlberta

https://www.instagram.com/adoption.options/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.