March Support Group

Please join us next week for our Adoptive Parents' Support Group.

When:  Thursday, March 8th, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Where:  Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families, Inc.

             716 S. Oakwood Avenue, Brandon FL  33511

The topic for the evening will be "Parenting in the age of theTexting, Internet and Social Media"

The scheduled speaker is Mac Hassan, LCSW and adoption competent therapist who has worked with

many of our adoptive and foster families.  

To RSVP, simply reply to this email with your family information.  Childcare is provided, but space is limited. 

 If you will be bringing children, please include each child's name, age, gender and any special needs so that we

 may prepare for their care.  You may also call our center to RSVP, providing the same information;  813-651-3150  813-651-3150 .

Light refreshments will be served.  

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you next week

PEP Talk

Good Afternoon Parents,

Last week was our very first Parents Empowering Parents - PEP Talk, Adoptive Parent's Support Group.  Thank you to those parents who were able to attend.  The relaxed format led to some great exchanges.  Please join us tomorrow for this newly created weekly meeting.

PEP Talk is an informal weekly meeting where parents can come in to talk with other pre- and post-adoptive parents.  The group is facilitated by Ginger Martin, LCSW and our USF interns.  Your thoughts and concerns  lead the discussion topics.

The group meets each Wednesday 10:00am - 11:00am .  Please join us for coffee and conversation.  Feel free to invite other adoptive parents. RSVP by email gmartin@sylviathomascenter.org or calling Ginger at 651-3150.

No childcare is available for this group.

Sharon Dues

Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) Talk Support Group

The Sylvia Thomas Center is happy to announce Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) Talk, our new (and additional) adoptive parent's support group. 

PEP Talk is an informal weekly meeting where parents can come in to talk with other pre- and post-adoptive parents. 

The group will be facilitated by Ginger Martin, LCSW and our USF interns. Your thoughts and concerns will lead the discussion topics. 

The group will meet every Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:00 AM, starting next 2/15/2012.  See the attached flier. 

Please join us for coffee and conversation. Feel free to invite other adoptive parents. RSVP by email gmartin@sylviathomascenter.org or calling Ginger at 651-3150.

No childcare is available for this group

Sharon Dues

Adoption Tax Credit Awareness Day

The following was sent to us in a news letter from the North American Council of Adoptable Children. We felt like this was information you could use so are posting it here with links to their site.

Kevin

Today Is Adoption Tax Credit Awareness Day

Please help spread the word about the adoption tax credit today (and every day). Although most of you who receive NACAC's e-mail are well aware of it, many adoptive families—particularly those who adopted before 2010 and those without internet access—are still not aware that this tax credit exists.

Some families have been turned away by tax preparers and even the IRS. It is our goal to help ensure that all adoptive families who are eligible to receive this benefit are informed about how to claim the credit.

We are asking everyone, including professionals, advocates, state agencies, families, and others to help broadcast the existence of the adoption tax credit today. Please use this  flier to distribute information. 

For more information, visit:

• NACAC Tools & Resources: http://www.nacac.org/taxcredit/taxcredit.html
• IRS Form 8839 Instructions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8839.pdf
• IRS Form 8839: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8839.pdf
• IRS adoption tax credit FAQs: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=231663,00.html   
• Voice for Adoption’s distributable postcard: http://voice-for-adoption.org/adoption_tax_credit

Thanks for taking the time to make this count for adoptive families!

February Parent Support Group

Please join us next week for our Adoptive Parents' Support Group.

When:  Thursday, February 9th, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Where:  Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families, Inc.

             716 S. Oakwood Avenue, Brandon FL  33511

The topic for the evening will be "My Child is 18, Now What?" 

Did you know some youth believe their adoption is over when they turn 18? This is a topic that comes up often, 

when some adoptive parents and some youth think their connection will be over, only to (and rightly so) discover 

that their child still needs them to help learn how to navigate in the adult world. Lying,

 Stealing and Hoarding, Oh my"!  

This will be a panel discussion format. The panel includes an adoptive parent of 3 young adult adoptees, 

a 20 year old adopted  youth, and two-17 year old adopted youth. We will also discuss the youth's 

desire to connect with their biological family.  There will also be a brief question and answer period. 

To RSVP, simply reply to this email with your family information.  Childcare is provided, but space is limited. 

 If you will be bringing children, please include each child's name, age, gender and any special needs so that we

 may prepare for their care.  You may also call our center to RSVP, providing the same information; 813-651-3150.

Light refreshments will be served.  

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you next week. 

Sharon DuesPlease join us
next week for our Adoptive Parents' Support Group.

When:  Thursday, February 9th, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Where:  Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families, Inc.

             716 S. Oakwood Avenue, Brandon FL  33511

The topic for the evening will be "My Child is 18, Now What?" 

Did you know some youth believe their adoption is over when they turn 18? This is a topic that comes up often, 

when some adoptive parents and some youth think their connection will be over, only to (and rightly so) discover 

that their child still needs them to help learn how to navigate in the adult world. Lying,

 Stealing and Hoarding, Oh my"!  

This will be a panel discussion format. The panel includes an adoptive parent of 3 young adult adoptees, 

a 20 year old adopted  youth, and two-17 year old adopted youth. We will also discuss the youth's 

desire to connect with their biological family.  There will also be a brief question and answer period. 

To RSVP, simply reply to this email with your family information.  Childcare is provided, but space is limited. 

 If you will be bringing children, please include each child's name, age, gender and any special needs so that we

 may prepare for their care.  You may also call our center to RSVP, providing the same information; 813-651-3150.

Light refreshments will be served.  

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you next week. 

Sharon Dues

Three Poems

Hello all,

Hope your holidays were both peaceful and memorable!

Just before Christmas the Community Roundtable in Brandon held a benefit dinner to raise donations and gifts for the Sylvia Thomas Center and some of our families with special needs. Poet Marlene D. Boggs was the presenter sharing three of her poems which we would like to share with you.

Mother By Choice

What does it take to be called a mother?

Is that time-honored name reserved

For only those whose wombs bore fruit?

No! There have been others who deserved

To be called “mother” by a child

Whom they gladly chose to love

And raise and care for as they grew.

They, too, are blessed by God above.

And those whose mothers chose them

Were doubly blessed when God arranged

To give them his most precious gift:

For a mother’s love remains unchanged

From her child’s youngest baby days

And even beyond adulthood full blown,

She will love with all her heart

The child she chose to be her own.

To Jim On Father’s Day

What makes a father?

Is it cells and chromosomes and genes?

Or blue eyes and brown hair?

Is that what “father” means?

Or is it love and kindness,

Patience, thought and care,

A hand reached out to show the way,

Someone who’s always there?

There is one who may have no genes

No chromosomes or cells;

Perhaps no physical inheritance

Within his children dwells…

Yet many call Him “Father.”

The Stroll

He is father,

I am mother;

I hold one hand,

He holds the other.

Slowly now

We walk along,

And I feel love

Flowing strong.

We are three

In the sun;

In the shadow,

We are one.