MARE Hosted Events
Throughout the year, MARE hosts events statewide to connect and support social workers, waiting children and prospective adoptive families. Please subscribe to our events newsletter to be notified of upcoming opportunities as they are scheduled.
Adoption Matching Events – These casual, interactive mixers provide families the opportunity to learn more about foster care adoption, meet waiting children and network with social workers. Some events are open to families at any stage of considering adoption, while others are limited to families with an approved homestudy who are ready to meet waiting children. Some events are planned for specific populations of waiting children (such as teens, children with special needs, or siblings) or specific populations of families (LGBT families, families of color, or single parents). We encourage families who are licensed to bring a hard copy of their Family Profile to in-person events or to email it when attending virtual matching events. To download a template of the Family Profile click here.
Family Support Events – Through trainings, webinars, panels and peer to peer support, prospective adoptive families at any stage in the process can continue to build their knowledge and network of support.
Fundraising Events – Be a part of bringing a child or teen home to their adoptive family by participating on one of MARE’s fundraising and community building events.
Autism and Adoption - A Virtual Q&A with Morénike Giwa Onaiwu
Nearly 20% of waiting children registered with MARE are diagnosed with autism, and these children wait significantly longer for permanency. We believe that they deserve supportive and affirming homes, and recognize that families need information and resources to feel confident in their ability to parent an autistic child.
If you are a waiting family with questions or hesitations about adopting an autistic child, a family who has been matched or placed with an autistic child or a child welfare professional who works with children or families with autism, we invite you to join us for a virtual discussion and Q&A with global activist-scholar, author and community leader Morénike Giwa Onaiwu. Morénike (she/her/they/them) is an Autistic adoptive and biological parent of Autistic and non-Autistic children and the Founder/Principal Operator of a grassroots nonprofit, Advocacy Without Borders.
This event is open to families at any stage of the adoption process, including those who have not yet begun and those who have already been matched or placed. Social workers and other child welfare professionals are also welcome. There will be plenty of time for Q&A, and signed copies of the book For the Love of Autism, to which Morénike contributed, will be distributed to a few randomly selected registrants. We hope to see you there!
Please feel free to email Ashley Falandys, Specialized Recruitment Coordinator, at ashleyf@mareinc.org with any questions