Circle of Friends

NOVEMBER CALENDAR OF ADOPTION-RELATED EVENTS

Adoption Community of New England, Inc. 45 Lyman St., Westborough. Pre-register and RSVP at least 24 hours before events (including free offerings). 508-366-6812. www.AdoptionCommunityofNE.org or E-mail info@AdoptionCommunityo fNE.org.

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

Nov. 10: Adoption Triad Support Group. 10 a.m. - noon. Meet with other adult members of the adoption triad who are not in your immediate triad. Free.

Nov. 10: ACONE's 40th Anniversary Gala. Holiday Inn, Marlborough. 7 - midnight. Dinner, entertainment, cash bar, DJ, dancing, and silent auction. To donate items, call 508-366-6812.

Nov. 17: A Look at Adoption. 2- 5:30 p.m. $25ppNM.

Nov. 17: Support Group for Waiting Parents. 2 - 4 p.m. Discussion on specific issues and open discussion. Free.

Nov. 17: Birth Families Meet to Discuss Adoption. 10 a.m. - noon. Free.

Nov. 28: Adopted Persons Meet for Discussion. 7 - 9 p.m. Free.

Adoptive Family Services Jewish Family Services of MetroWest, 475 Franklin St., Suite 101, Framingham. 508-875-3100, 800-872-5232, or www.jfsmw.org .

Ongoing: Free Adoption Consultation. Scheduled at your convenience in Framingham for current adoption options and emotional, legal, and financial issues. E-mail deldridge@jfsmw.org .

Adoptive Families Together 99 Summer St., Boston. 617-587-1563, www.mspcc.org, or e-mail nofarrell@mspcc.org Parent Groups:

Nov. 14: Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington St., Framingham. 7 - 9 p.m.

Nov. 15: Assabet Valley Area Family Network, 169 Pleasant St., Marlboro. 9:30 - 11 a.m.

Nov. 15: St. John's Episcopal Church, 116 Holden St., Worcester. 7 - 9 p.m.

Nov. 16: Harvest Co-Op, 581 Mass Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. 7 - 9 p.m.

Nov. 25: Billerica Boys & Girls Club, 19 Campbell Rd., Billerica. 7 - 9 p.m.

Adoption Resources 1430 Main St., Waltham. 617-614-1999, e-mail csheingold@jfcsboston.org, and www.adoptionresources.org

Nov. 6: Understanding Attachment: A workshop designed to give parents tools to help them better understand their children so they can help them heal. Pre-register. $10pp.

Nov. 6: Orientation Seminar. First Tuesday monthly. 7 - 9 p.m. Register: 617-332-2218 and ask for Mindi Whitney.

Dec. 11: I Love you Too Much to Tell You (Besides, You Wouldn't Understand). 7 - 9 p.m. Presented by Meg Kearney, Master of Arts in Poetry and author of The Secret of Me. What questions and fears run through the thoughts of a pre-teen or teen about being adopted that might be difficult to discuss, even with the most loving adoptive parents? Kearney will share some of her personal experiences as an adoptee and read from her young-adult novel.

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

Nov. 14: 6th Annual Courage and Curiosity Fundraiser. Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge. 6 - 10 p.m. Contact 617-547-0909 or katherinew@kinnect.org for more information.

Department of Psychology, Clark University Abbie Goldberg, Ph.D: 508-793-7289, www.clarku.edu/faculty/goldberg,or e-mail agoldberg@clarku.edu

Ongoing: The Transition to Adoptive Parenthood Project (TAPP) is aimed at exploring the transition to adoptive parenthood in a diverse group of families. Couples who participate in this project will be interviewed individually either in person or by phone during the pre-adoption period, and then again three months after the adoption. Participants will be paid for their time.

Coastal NH Adoptive Families E-mail jlburke1274@comcast.net or www.groups.yahoo.com/group/CNHAF

Ongoing Events: Events for this active group of 120+ include family-oriented picnics, weekly play dates, book and movie groups for parents with adoption theme.

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

Nov. 21: Adoption Learn & Play. For parents of an adopted a child under age 5. 1 - 3 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Nov. 21: Developing Family Customs, Traditions and Holidays;

Dec. 19: Looking at the 7 Core Issues of Adoption. All are free. $5 parking fee. Children welcome. A supervised activity is held in the adjoining preschool classroom. Register: 978-287-0221.

Korean Adoption Circle Playgroup Nov. 2 & 16: Korean Adoption Circle Playgroup: For families who have adopted from Korea. Korean Presbyterian Church, 2 Main St., Hopkinton. 10 a.m. - noon. Meets first and third Fridays. $1 donation per child. Offers seasonal family outings and Ladies Nights Out. Contact Liz Thissell Turenne at liztt121@yahoo.com .

Lutheran Community Services

Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program 888 Worcester St., Suite 160, Wellesley, 781-997-0863 or Info@LCSSNE.org.

Foster Parents for Adolescent Refugee Youth Wanted. These refugee minors have been welcomed into our country. Separated from their parents and guardians, they are in need of safe homes. A stipend is provided for foster parents, and youth receive medical and dental insurance.

Lutheran Social Services of New England Hamilton St., Worcester. www.adoptlss.org

Nov. 29: Free Adoption Info Meeting. 7 p.m.

MAPS 617-267-2222 or e-mail mapsboston@mapsadopt.org

Nov. 3 and 28: MAPS Boston office, 400 Commonwealth Ave, Boston. Sat., 9:30 a.m. and Wed., 6p.m.

Nov. 29: MAPS Training. 6:30 p.m. Held at the Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St., Natick. MAPS offers full domestic and international adoption services as well as providing home study and post placement services in several states. Reserve a spot: 617-267-2222 or mapsboston@mapsadopt.org .

Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) Boston. 617-54-ADOPT, 800-882-1776. www.mareinc.org Nov. 3: Adoption Party for Latino Children. Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield. 1 - 3:30 p.m. Meet waiting children and their social workers. Play games. Enjoy refreshments.

Nov. 4: MARE's 50th Anniversary Celebration at Jordan's Furniture, Reading. 9 - 11 a.m. 9 a.m. registration for families new to adoption. Also 7 - 10 p.m. Hors d'oeuvers, entertainment, auctions, buffet dinner, and the Grey Goose "MARE-tini" while raising funds for MARE's next ½ century! Sponsorship opportunities are available to help MARE continue its work of finding permanent, adoptive homes for older, harder-to-place children Call MARE at 617-54-ADOPT or e-mail web@mareinc.org .

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

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

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

Nov. 20: Meets 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.

Together in Motion 1 Broadway, Arlington. 781-643-1377. www.togetherinmotion.com .

Mondays: Adoptive Family Mixer: 9:30 - 11 a.m. Offers a sunny play area with a padded floor filled with soft play blocks, stairs and slides, modules, balls, tunnels, and other age appropriate equipment for children up to age 6. There is a separate lounge area filled with comfortable seating and tables for snacks or building block play. $5 per child.

To add your adoption-related event or group to Circle of Friends, E-mail calendar@baystateparent.com. Due to the Holidays there is an early deadline on Wednesday, Nov. 7 by 6 p.m.