Agency News
Families Needed for Healthy Infants
Families are urgently needed for healthy infants from Guatemala. We currently have between 10 and 15 infant boys and girls waiting to be linked to families. We especially encourage families who are home study and dossier ready to inquire.
For more information on adopting from Guatemala, visit our Guatemala adoption page, view some of the waiting children, or call AAI at 616.667.0921.
Begin the New Year by Learning Chinese!
This winter, we will not only teach our basic Mandarin class, but we will also offer classes designed for both parents and children to learn more about Chinese language and culture. Visit the Chinese language page for details on classes in your area.
Begin the New Year by Learning Spanish
Beginning January 11, AAI will offer a Spanish class ideal for those planning to adopt from Guatemala in the Meeting Room of AAI’s Jenison office, located at 1352 Baldwin, Jenison, MI 49428. The class will be taught by Julio Juarez, a Grand Rapids Public School teacher and a native of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, on Thursday evenings (except for the 3rd Thursday of the month, when the class will be held on an alternate day) from 6:30 - 8:00pm. Through the course of this six-week class, students will learn basic Spanish and be able to ask questions about Guatemalan culture. Those who have previously attended an AAI Spanish class and would like to continue their Spanish studies are also welcome to attend.
To register, please contact Kim Batts by phone at 616.667.0921 or e-mail battsk@adoptassoc.com.
Help Support Our New Birth Parent Video
Did you know that less than 2% of women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy choose adoption? This number sounds startling, but if you think about it, how many birth parents do you know who speak positively, or even at all, about planning adoption for their children? Many women choose single parenting or abortion instead of adoption simply because they do not have role models in their lives who speak positively about their adoption decision.
In order to help educate prospective birth parents and their families about the loving decision of adoption, we produced a birth parent video five years ago entitled No Regrets. This video, which is one of our principle marketing tools and educational services for birth parents, is now very outdated.
Therefore, AAI is currently in the process of producing a new video for prospective birth parents that will allow them to hear from women who once planned adoption and feel very positive about their decision. This video will finally give prospective birth mothers the opportunity to connect with other women who were once in a situation similar to the one they are now facing. In addition to helping prospective birth mothers, AAI also plans to make the video available to other adoption agencies and to distribute it nationwide to crisis pregnancy centers, Planned Parenthoods, schools, churches, welfare agencies, and other youth-serving groups.
Because we believe so much in the necessity of a new birth parent video, we have made it the focus of our year-end appeal letter. Your donation would be an incredible blessing to prospective birth parents and their families across the country. Would you prayerfully consider donating to this project? Please call Tom Gill at 616.667.0677 or visit our donation page for more information.
Discover Your Grandchild’s Heritage through one of Our Cruise Tours
Ship ahoy, mates! We are offering special tours for grandparents by adoption as well as for folks with an interest in adoption that are intrigued by China or Russia. See below for details and information on how to contact us if you would like to learn more.
China/Yangtze River Cruise Tour
AAI is sponsoring this 15 day cruise which features major attractions such as a visit to China’s Great Wall, a cruise of the Yangtze River where you’ll experience the massive Three Gorges Dam Project, an outing to see the Terra Cotta Army, and a trip to the cities of Beijing and Shanghai.
The trip will be hosted by Dick Van Deelen, founder of Adoption Associates, Inc., and his wife, Jan.
When: May of 2007
Tour Cost: Approximately $2,500 - $3,000 (including airfare from Los Angeles)
Russian Waterway 2007
AAI is once again sponsoring this wonderful, relaxing, scenic and historic cruise/tour through the Russian waterways.
This 12 day cruise features the major attractions of Moscow and St. Petersburg and includes six days of viewing the beautiful interior of Russia from a river cruise ship during the middle of the trip. An orphanage visit and a stop-over in Prague are included. The trip will be hosted by Fred Groen, manager of international program development, and his wife, Bev.
When: July 18-29, 2007
Tour Cost: Prices start at $1,699. Airfare is additional. However, there is an early booking discount of up to $100 per person ($200 per couple) if the cruise is booked before December 31, 2006. (No discounts will be available after January 1, 2007.)
For more information: Please contact Travel Intrigue by phone at 616.667.1756 or by e-mail at krikke@travel-intrigue.com.
