Circle of Friends

Adoption Associates 1163 Walnut St., Newton Highlands. 617-965-9369. adoptionassociates.org. e-mail adoptionassociates@yahoo.com. Announcing Two New Parenting Groups: Adoptive Parents of Elementary School Age Children & Adoptive Parents of Adolescents. Call or e-mail for more information.

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.

Feb. 3: Talking about Adoption with your Children, Family, & Friends. 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. For adoptive parents of children up to age 12. Pre-adoptive parents are also invited. $15pp NM.

Feb. 3 & March 3: Baby Care for Pre-Adoptive First-Time Parents. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. $60ppNM.

Feb. 10: A Look At Adoption. 2 - 5:30 p.m. An unbiased introduction to all aspects of adoption. $25ppNM

Feb. 11: A Support Group for Waiting Parents. 4 - 6 p.m. Free.

Feb. 17: Birth Families Meet to Discuss Adoption. 10 a.m. - noon. Each meeting will have a focus with plenty of time for a frank and open discussion. Free.

Feb. 20: Adoption Triad Group. 10 a.m. - noon. Meet with other adult members of the adoption triad who are not in your imediate triad. Share your experience and receive support as an adoptive parent, adoptee, birth mother, birth father or other family member. Free.

Feb. 24: Adjustment of Internationally Adopted Children. 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. $15pp NM.

Feb. 24: Financial Planning for Your Family. 10 a.m. - noon. Discuss planning for college education, retirement, protection, and estate. In addition, there will be discussion on the cost of raising a child and pre-adoption expenses. Free.

Adoption Resources 1430 Main St., Waltham. 781-647-5327. Ongoing Feb. 6: Monthly Orientation Meetings. 7-9 p.m. Meet first Tuesday monthly. Provides information about all adoption programs. Free. Call 617-332- 2218 or e-mail mwhitney@jfcsboston.org.

March 20: Using Ceremonies to Help Children with the Challenges of Adoption. 7 - 9 p.m. Learn how to put together a ceremony that will let your child know that his/her feelings are being understood and validated. Ways of celebrating adoption from infancy to teen-age years will be presented. Registration req. $10pp. 617-614-1999 or e-mail csheingold@jfcsboston.org.

May 22: Therapy: It does not Mean you are not Doing a Good Job. 7 - 9 p.m. Presented by three experienced professionals who specialize in adoption. Learn how they conceptualize adoption related issues, and might work with you, your child, and your family. Registration req. $10pp. 617-614-1999 or e-mail csheingold@jfcsboston.org.

June 12: How Children Experience Growing Up Adopted. 7 - 9 p.m. Highlights how it feels to grow up adopted with a special focus on how adoptees feel about themselves and their families, and how they deal with relationships. Questions by participants will be a key part of the presentation. Registration req. $10pp. 617-614-1999 or e-mail csheingold@jfcsboston.org.

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

Feb. 19 -21: Adoption Connections Training Institute -- 3rd International Conference on Post Adoption Policy and Practice. Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge. Discuss what we are doing well, what we can share, what we could do better for the families, and most of all, the children in adoption. E-mail katherinew@kinnect.org for information on fees and registration. Family Connections Training Institute (FaCT) Pre-payment and pre-registration required. Training is for parents (birth and adoptive), adopted adults, professionals, and any other interested adults. $55pp.

Feb. 28: Contact: Opening Closed Adoptions and Making Open Adoption Agreements. 9 a.m. - noon.

March 21: Various Methods and Techniques Used at CFFC for Child Wellbeing. 9 a.m. - noon. Covers Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and other techniques that make a difference in the lives of children who have experienced loss and trauma and the adults who raise them.

Children's Light Russian Hosting Program 978-352-9622

Feb. 10: Information Session. 10 a.m. - noon. Topsfield Town Library, Topsfield. Learn how you can bring older orphaned children, ages 8 - 12, to the MA/NH area for a 5-week summer vacation as host families, adoptive families, translators, and advocates.

First Connections Emerson Hospital, Rte. 2, Concord. 978-287-0221 or e-mail mrowlinson@jri.org.

Feb. 21: Adoption Learn and Play Program: 3-month session for parents and their adopted children under age 5. Look at adoption-related books you can read to young children. Children are welcome to stay with parents or play in the supervised, adjacent playroom. Theme: Let's Talk about Birth Parents. $25 per program. Registration is necessary. Upcoming meeting: March 21 ("Baby Sign Workshop").

Korean Adoption Circle Playgroup Feb. 2 & 16: Korean Adoption Circle Playgroup: For families who have adopted from Korea. Korean Presbyterian Church, 2 Main St., Hopkinton. 10 a.m. - noon. $1 donation per child appreciated. Meets the first & third Fridays. Offers seasonal family outings and Ladies Nights Out. Contact Liz Thissell Turenne at ltt@charter.net.

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

Feb. 22 & March 29: Adoption Classes. 6-8 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

Feb. 9: Youth with Mood Disorders and ADHD: A Social Skills Tookit. Boston University Corporate Education Center, 72 Tyng Rd., Tyngsboro. Community Program Innovations 978-283-2727 or communityprogaminnovations.com.

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. Feb. 28: Adoption Info Meeting. Natick. 6:30 p.m.

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 third Thursday monthly. RSVP to Donna 508-842-2529.

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

Feb. 20: Meets the third 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.

Wide Horizons For Children 38 Edge Hill Rd., 2nd Floor, Waltham. 781-894-5330. whfc.org. Free Adoption Information Meetings. Register online or with Hillary Mauro at 781-419-4922 Feb. 6 & 22: Waltham, 6:30-8:30 p.m

To add your adoption-related event or

group to Circle of Friends, e-mail

calendar@baystateparent.com. The deadline for the March issue is

Friday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m.