Circle of Friends

Adoption Choices of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest 475 Franklin St., Suite 101, Framingham. 800-872-5232.

Nov. 27: Adoptive Parents Group. 7:30-9:45 p.m. Meets the 4th Monday of each month. Pre-adoptive families are encouraged to attend all sessions in a series for topics on birth parents, life books, grief and loss, openness in adoption, and more. RSVP 508-875-3100.

Adoptive Families Together/MSPCC 99 Summer St. Boston. 617-587-1563. mspcc.org. E-mail nofarrell@mspcc.org. Parent Group: Parent-run, confidential groups to share personal concerns and needs around adoptive parenting. Provides education, advocacy, support, and more.

Nov. 1: Wellesley Library, 530 Washington St., Wellesley. 7-8:30 p.m.

Nov. 8: New Location: Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington St., Framingham. 7-9 p.m.

Nov. 14: Assabet Valley Area Family Network, 169 Pleasant St., Marlboro. New time: 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Nov. 16: St. John's Episcopal Church, 116 Holden St., Worcester. 7-9 p.m.

Nov. 26: Boys & Girls Club, 19 Campbell Rd., Billerica. 7-9 p.m.

Adoption Resources 1430 Main St., Waltham. 781-647-5327. All Workshops are $10pp. Register with Carol Sheingold at 617-614-1999 or e-mail her at csheingold@jfcsboston.org.

Nov. 14: Attachment Disorder: It's All About Fear. Join Peg Kirby, the co-director of the Attachment Institute of New England to help understand attachment issues.

Dec. 5: Transracial Families: The Racial Identity Development of White Parents.

Nov. 14: Monthly Orientation Meetings. 7-9 p.m. First Tuesday every month. Provides information about all adoption programs. Free. Call 617-332-2218 or email mwhitney@jfcsboston.org.

Alliance for Single Adopted Parents Sherry 617-536-0586 or Betsy at maspace@aol.com

Nov. 4: 2006 Conference on Issues of Single Parent Adoption. The Hampton Inn, Natick. 20+ workshops and discussion groups, child care, exhibit area, time to meet and network with attendees from across the U.S. and beyond, etc. E-mail or call to register.

Center For Family Connections 350 Cambridge St., Cambridge. 617-547-0909. kinnect.org. E-mail: cffc@kinnect.org

Nov. 7, 14, 21, & 28: Integrating Cultures Group (for Teens): Led by Marilyn T. Pritikin, LMFT and Rachelle Camille, MFT Intern.Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. For teens, ages 15-18, affected by transracial adoption. Activities and group discussions.

Nov. 8: 5th Annual Courage and Curiosity Fundraiser. Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge. 6-10 p.m. Silent and live auctions, live music, Courage and Curiosity Awards, food/drink. For information, e-mail katherinew@kinnect.org.

Family Connections Training (FaCT) Institute Held monthly, on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon. $55pp. To register: 617-547-0909 or e-mail cffc@kinnect.org.

Nov. 29: Culture, Ethnicity, Race, Class and Religion: Presenters: Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao and guests to be announced.Awareness and discussion about how ethnicity, race, class, and religion affects adoption.

Jan. 24: Post Adoption Issues and Concerns: Presented by Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao. Discuss ways to approach the issues and concerns that arise in families created by adoption and foster care.

Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoptions fruanewengland.org.

Nov. 4: Eastern European Culture Camp. Marlborough. 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Ages 5+. A cultural and educational experience for adoptive families with children from Eastern Europe. Traditional dance & music performances, workshops & activities for children & teens, information, cultural vendors, etc. To register: visit www.whfc.org/events/ or call 781-419-0362.

Korean Adoption Circle Playgroup Nov. 3 & 17: Korean Adoption Circle Playgroup: For families who have adopted from Korea. Korean Presbyterian Church, 2 Main St., Hopkinton. 10 a.m. to noon. $1 donation per child appreciated. Meets the 1st and 3rd Fridays. Offers seasonal family outings and Ladies Nights Out.

Lutheran Social Services of New England 20 Hamilton St., 2nd Floor, Worcester. 508-791-4488. adoptlss.org.

Nov. 2: Adoption Classes. 6 to 8 p.m. Learn about domestic and international options. Free. 24-hour advance reservation required.

Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) Boston. 617-54-ADOPT, 1-800-882-1776. mareinc.org.

Nov. 4: Family Connections 2006: Focusing on Finding Permanent Families for Latino Children. Ludlow Community Center, 91 Claudia's Way, Ludlow. 1 to 3:30 p.m. Learn about foster care, and meet waiting children and their social workers. Indoor games and activities for the whole family. Dress casually. Pizza and drinks provided.

Nov. 8: Waiting Family Matching Night: DSS Metro Regional Office, 30 Mystic St. 2nd Floor, Arlington. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Stephanie Frankel at DSS: 781-641-8276.

Nov. 9: Informational Meeting: Amesbury Public Library, 149 Main St, Amesbury. 7 p.m. Representatives from MARE and the Department of Social Services will be presenting information on the process of adopting a child from foster care. 978-388-8148 x 2.

MAPS International 400 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. RSVP to 617-267- 2222. E-mail: cynthiab@mapsadopt.org. Meetings are free and open to the public. Information available on adopting from China, Russia, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, India, Nepal, Peru and the US.

Nov. 16: Informational Meeting. MAPS Boston office. 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 12: Info Meeting on International/Domestic Adoption at Morse Institute Library,14 East Central St., Natick. 7 p.m. Learn about the adoption process and have your questions answered by the Director.

Adoption Community of New England, Inc. 1750 Washington St., Holliston. Pre-register and RSVP at least 24 hours before events (including free offerings). 508-429-4260.odsacone.org.

Nov. 4: Baby Care for Pre-Adoptive First-Time Parents. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 11: Adoption Triad Group. 10 a.m. to noon. Share your experiences with and receive support from other adult members of the adoption triad who are not in your immediate triad. Free. Nov. 12: A Support Group for Waiting Parents. 4 - 6 p.m. Nov. 15: Adopted Persons Meet for Discussion. 7 - 9 p.m. Join with other adoptees for an informal discussion led by an adoptee experienced in group facilitation.

Nov. 18: A Look at Adoption.2 - 5:30 p.m. Covers all of the beginning information you need to make educated decisions about adoption. $25pp (NM).

SPACE

ADOPTION BAYSTATE LUTHERAN CONTACT AD SIZE: (Single Parents of Adoptive Children Everywhere) 508-429-4260 or 800-93-ADOPT. E-mail info@ odascone.org.

Nov. 17: Adults Only Dinner. The Chateau Restaurant, Rte. 1 North, Norwood. 7 p.m. 781-762-5335. chateaurestaurant.com. RSVP with name, home phone, and cell phone to cozette@rcn.com.

Dec. 2: Christmas Festival of Lights. Edaville Railroad, South Carver, 3:30 p.m. edaville.com.

St. Mary's Adoptive and Pre-Adoptive Parents and Foster Care Providers Support Group St. Mary's Pastoral Center, 20 Summer St., Shrewsbury.

Ongoing: 7:30-9 p.m. All welcome. Generally meets the 3rd. Thursday monthly. RSVP to Donna 508-842-2529.

The Rainbow Connection Playgroup St. Joseph Parish Center, 145 Holliston St., Medway. 508-533-5820.

Nov. 21: Meets the 3rd Tuesday monthly. 9:15-10:45 a.m. For parents and their children looking to make meaningful connections with others raising minority children in the suburbs.

The Home for Little Wanderers 271 Huntington Ave., Boston.

Nov. 15: International Adoption Informational Meeting. 6-8 p.m. Free and open to the public. Programs in China, Russia, Guatemala, Columbia, India, Ethiopia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Kazakstan will be discussed. Refreshments served. Reservations: 617-927-0675 by 10 a.m. that morning.

Westwood Connections Connecting Adoptive Families in Westwood. E-mail Carol Craig-O'Brien at cobrien@westwood.k.12. ma.us or 781-461-9548.

Nov. 18: Celebrate Families of Adoption. Westwood Public Library Meeting Room 668 High St., Westwood. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Meet and network with families in the Westwood area; resource information, children's activities, puppet show by Ann Davidson of Blue Moon Puppets. All welcome. Register: 781-461-9548.

Wide Horizons For Children 38 Edge Hill Rd., 2nd. Floor, Waltham.781-894-5330. whfc.org. All programs are free. Register by phone or Online. Live Online Presentations require a computer with Internet access and a phone separate from your Internet connection. Ask questions of the program staff and hear questions raised by other families. Fee: the cost of the toll call. Contact: 781-419-0323 or e-mail rstillman@whfc.org.

Nov. 7 & 9: Live Online - Adopting From Ethiopia. 7 p.m. on the 7th & noon on the 9th.

Nov. 9 & 14: Live Online-Adopting from Russia. 7 p.m.on the 9th and noon on the 14th.

Nov. 11: Live Online-The Mirror, The Moods, and the Mall/Keeping your Sanity while Parenting your Teen. 7-8 p.m.

Nov. 13 & 16: Live Online-Waiting Children Program. Noon on the 13th and 7 p.m. on the 16th.

Nov. 14 & 16: Live Online-Adopting from Guatemala. 7 p.m. on the 14th and noon on the 16th.

*** The following programs are held at 460 Totten Pond Rd. in Waltham from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 1: Adopting from Korea. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 4: Adoption Information Meeting at the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 413-448-8367.

Nov. 4: Eastern European Culture Camp. Marlborough High School 431 Bolton St., Marlborough. 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Ages kindergarten+. Encourages self esteem, pride in heritage & understanding of adoption. Countries of focus: Russia, Ukraine, Moldova & Lithuania. Nov. 9 & 28: Adoption Info Meeting. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 13: Adopting from Russia and Kazakhstan.

6:30-8:30 p.m. Register: Noelle Crosby

781-894-5330.

ISSUE NOV 2006

Nov. 18: Parade of Nations: A Multicultural Fair. PARENT MAGAZINE Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library,

1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Country

booths with cultural crafts and activities for kids of

SOCIAL SERVICES OF NEW ENGLAND

all ages, cultural performances, potluck lunch, and

PENNY PHILLIPS 860-712-6980 parade of nations. 413-448-8367.

To add your adoption-related event or group to

Circle of Friends, e-mail 2.375 x 5.9375

calendar@baystateparent.com.

There is an early deadline for the December issue

due to the holidays. Submit listings through

Nov. 8th by 6 p.m.