ADOPTION SUPPORT GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Adoptive Parent Support Group (Kent) Meetings held
the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 12 noon. Located at Kent County Catholic Social Services. Call Angela Potts
1-866-968-7411 for info.
Adoptive
Family Support Network 233 East Fulton, Suite 108, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. (616)458-7945. www.afsn.org. A post-adoption focused organization serving the West Michigan area.
Chinese Culture Group of Greater Grand Rapids www.ccgggr.org. E-mail: info@cccgr.org. Meets the 1st Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. at St. Luke Lutheran
Church, 3215 4 Mile Rd. NE, Grand Rapids, MI. An educational and cultural group for families of adopted Chinese children
(pre- and post-adoption are welcome). A Families with Children from China (FCC) chapter.
Chinese Village, LLC Offers Mandarin language and
Chinese cultural heritage for families in West Michigan. For information or registration, call 1-888-255-0236 or visit
www.chinesevillage.org.
Christian Advocates
For Adoption (CAFA) P.O. Box 364, Hudsonville, MI 49426. (616)669-0655. www.cafadopt.org. Inspiring Christians to adopt, educating the church, and providing a system of fundraising for Christians
working to adopt.
Eastern European
Play Group A group of families in the Grand Rapids area who have adopted from Eastern Europe and organize occasional
fun family events. Contact Cindy Samson to join the e-mail list at cvs@wmis.net.
Families
For International Children P.O. Box 2053, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. www.fficgr.org Serving and linking adoptive families through educational, cultural
and social activities. Annual Heritage Camp in June, which includes an African-American camp, along with camps for internationally
adopted children and siblings.
Families for Russian
and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA)--Michigan Chapter www.frua-michigan.org Support and activities for those who have adopted or are adopting
from Russia, Ukraine and neighboring countries. Based on the East side of Michigan.
Families of Promise www.familiesofpromise.org Orphan and Adoption Resource and Support Ministry of Kentwood Community Church, Kentwood, MI. E-mail Jodi at jnjlewis@hotmail.com. Providing information, education and mentoring
related to adoption/foster parenting, as well as support for adoptive/foster families and other churches interested in starting
orphan and adoption ministries.
Families
With Children from Guatemala A Michigan-based support group whose purpose is to offer support and socialization
opportunities for families both before and after their children come home. www.group.yahoo.com/group/FamiliesWithchildrenFromGuatemala
Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome Parent Support Group Meets 1st Monday of the month from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at St. Luke Lutheran
Church, 3215 4 Mile Rd. NE, Grand Rapids, MI. (4 Mile Road and E. Beltline). Call Janet Dunning (616)532-3689
or Nancy Halberstadt (616)874-8735 for more information.
GIFTS (Giving International Families Transitional Support) A support group to help families of internationally
adopted children. Meets second and fourth Thrusdays of the month at 1338 Baldwin in Jenison, MI. For more information
contact Lori at ltroop@earthlink.net.
Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren Support Group Sponsored by and located at Life Guidance Services (1400 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids).
Meetings held 1st Wednesday of the month. Dinner and discussion groups for grandparents and the children. Childcare
provided for preschool age and younger. Call Sara Stephen at (616)954-1991 to register.
Michigan Association of Single Adoptive Parents (MASAP)
E-mail: bnite@wwnet.net 946 Forest, Westland, MI. www.pages.ivillage.com/masap
Lakeshore
Chinese Culture Group Contact: 616-392-5331
Meets: South Olive Christian Reformed
Church, Holland, 7:00 pm, fourth Monday.
Ottawa
Area Adoption Consortium Psychoeducation and support group for parents of challenging adopted children between
the ages of 2 and 12. Meetings are held two evenings a month and cover topics chosen by the parents. Contact Bettye
Jo Bell, MA, LLP for times and location at bjbell@tds.net or (616)355-7720.
Panda Pals is for children who were adopted from China and attending 3rd grade
through junior high. The focus is to provide the opportunity to learn about their birth country and culture in an age
appropriate and fun environment where it is safe to explore adoption and family issues, discuss and develop skills to handle
discrimination, develop healthy peer relationships, and make a difference in their home country. Click here for more information.
SAFE (Singles Adopting from Everywhere): West Michigan group of
single adoptive parents. Members are mostly from the Grand Rapids area and have adopted children from around the world.
If you are interested, please join their MISAFE Yahoo group and introduce yourself.
Transracial
Support Group Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. No meetings in November and December.
Contact Staci Sytsma (616)455-0225 or Lucy Bolter (616)532-4223 for location and more info.
FAMILY/ATTACHMENT THERAPISTS:
Megan Bronson, RN, MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist
An adoptive mother with extensive experience with pediatric psychological issues. Belmont (616)874-7014 or meganbronson@comcast.net
The
following therapists are part of the Lakeshore Attachment
Alliance:
Lennis Baggech, MA, LLP
Holland 616-355-0411
lrbaggech@juno.com
Betty Jo Bell, MA, LLP
345 E. 16th St., Ste. 242
Holland, MI 49423
616-355-7720
bettyejob@gmail.com
Over 25 years of personal
and professional experience in adoption issues. Extensive training and experiene in attachment, grief, loss and trauma.
Kurt Ellis, MA, LLP
4920 Plainfield NE, Suite C
Grand
Rapids, MI 49525
(616)217-8612
kurtellis@att.net
Post Adoption, Attachment and Family Counseling Services
Joseph Kohley, MSW, ACSW, CAC II and Ruth
Kohley, MSW, ACSW
2976 Ivanrest Ave. SW, Suite 205, Grandville, MI 49418
(616)261-0888
Attachment Therapy,
EMDR, and neurofeedback.
Vic Steinbach, MSW, ACSW
Grand Rapids (616)949-3335
thetherapyclinic@aol.com
