There is no charge for families adopting through A Helping Hand. For non-AHH clients a charge of $45.00 per person is required at the time of registration.

WHEN: The parent education classes are held on Saturday mornings, and most of the classes are from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. With some classes, a second session may be offered from 1pm-4pm.

WHERE: Parenting classes are held at A Helping Hand Adoption office located at 1510 Newtown Pike, Suite 146, Lexington, KY 40511. Class capacities vary but do not exceed 50 individuals per class. All of our classes fill up quickly, therefore, we encourage all AHH parents-to-be to register for classes early in their adoption process.

Directions To A Helping Hand Offices:

From I-75/I-64: Take exit 115 into Lexington. Turn left at the third light at Sugar Maple Dr. and this will take you into Griffin Gate Plaza. Make a right turn into the AHH parking lot

From Lexington: Take New Circle north and take the exit for Newtown Pike going North. You will go through 3 lights and after the third light is Olivia Street.. Make a right onto Olivia and then turn left into the AHH parking lot.

 Required Class Descriptions  

CPR TRAINING:

This class is crucial to all AHH parents-to-be. As such, classes fill up quickly, so we encourage parents to register early in their adoption process.

To get AHH credit for CPR Training, parents must do one of the following:

(1.) ON YOUR OWN…Contact a local Red Cross if you would like to obtain CPR certification on your own. You may make a copy of your CPR card and send it to our office so that we will have a record of your certification.

(2.) AHH SCHEDULED CPR CLASSES... The AHH scheduled classes can only take 20 individuals at a time so you will need to register as soon as possible. Class will be held at the Red Cross Building, 1450 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511 from 9 am to 1 pm. Payment of $27.00 per person is required to be paid to AHH at the time of regisration.

One of the most exceptional classes that AHH requires all KY parents to take is the MEDICAL RISKS CLASS. This class focuses on the potential medical issues that could apply to institutionalized children adopted internationally. It is facilitated by a medical professional, with specific related experience in treating internationally adopted children. We also have this class available on DVD. Please contact traci@worldadoptions.org for purchase information.

ATTACHMENT/BONDING AWARENESS AND TRAINING:

AHH utilized the ABROAD AND BACK course, written by Dr. Gregory Keck of the Attachment and Bonding Institute of Ohio. For a course summary, click here. The Abroad and Back class is a 1-day workshop beginning at 9:00am and ending at 4:00pm (with a one-hour break for lunch). Class capacities vary but do not exceed 50 individuals per class. All of our classes fill up quickly, therefore, we encourage all AHH parents-to-be to register for classes early in their adoption process.

AHH Family Credits can be earned in several ways. Here are some potential resources:

Below is a list of AHH recognized resources for our adoptive parents. Many of these resources are ways to obtain Family Credits. Please note the credits awarded for each resource. For documenting and validating your Family Credits, you must contact Traci by email (traci@worldadoptions.org) or by phone (859) 985-2390. 

Click here to order the "EYES WIDE OPEN" workbook or to take the course on line.

Books:

Books are wonderful resources for the adoptive parent. Approved books are worth 2 Family Credits each. In order to be credited for your reading hours, you will need to fill out a reading verification form. Then email, fax or mail the form to AHH attn: Traci

The following books are a partial list of currently approved reading for the adoptive parent. NOTE: If you have a book that you feel may be considered for our list, please contact Traci at traci@worldadoptions.org for consideration.

Support Groups:
One of the best ways to learn about the adoption experience and the adjustment process is to network with families who are going or have gone through the same experience. In many communities, there are adoption support groups that would be happy to have you attend their sessions on a monthly basis. They are a fantastic resource for answering your questions and helping you through the adoption process. Each support group attended is worth two (2) Family Credits. To receive Family Credit for your attendance, ask your facilitator to contact us. He or she can send an e-mail noting your attendance to traci@worldadoptions.org .

If that option is not available, you may e-mail the group name, location, the date and time of the meeting, the facilitator's name, and the topic of the meeting to traci@worldadoptions.org

Please use the following link for documentation: Support Group Verification

Families living in Lexington, KY please take note of the following information:  There is an adoptive families support group that meets at Southland Christian Church.  The group meets from 7-8 pm on the first Monday of each month in Building E, Room 109B.  For additional information, please call 859-224-1619, ext. 315.    

Additional AHH FamilyCredit Resources:

We understand that there are many other adoption education resources available. If you choose to use another resource, you may contact our office for information on the number of Family Credits each resource will earn . Below are some ideas to get started.

• Families with Children From Guatemala - some communities have this group and it’s a great way to meet parents who have adopted. To locate the support group nearest you, you can contact Ginny Hines
• Families with Children From China - most large communities have this group and it’s a great way to meet parents who have adopted. To locate the FWCC nearest you, you can visit the website www.fwcc.org .
• Adoption workshops may be offered in communities near you.
• Attachment disorder classes may be offered in your area.
• International Children's Clinics at various universities or large cities offer classes that you might want to attend.
• Scrapbook classes on adoption are sometimes available.

REMINDER

As you can see there are many ways that you can obtain Family Credit for parent education. Please remember that the primary goal is to learn as much as you can PRIOR to picking up your child. In order to receive credit for your work, you may turn in verification at any parent education class, email the information to Traci, or mail your verification to our office.

ALSO

Please remember to pre-register for your all classes with our Parent Education Coordinator, Traci Andis. You may e-mail her at traci@worldadoptions.org or call her at (859) 985-2390.

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