February 24, 2016
Conference to Explore Connected Lives of the Family of Adoption
What is your definition of family? When this question was posed recently to Barker adoptive parents of an unstoppable two-year old, they responded as follows: “Family is unconditional love and in our case, it’s even larger, as our daughter has us, who love her to the end of the earth, and she has her birth mother and her family who all love her and want to help her be happy and live the best life possible. “ As Barker marks 70 years of connecting and supporting families through adoption and education, it will fittingly focus its 22nd annual Conference on the connected lives of “families of adoption,” the unique ensemble that includes birth parents, adoptive parents, and the child of adoption. Read More
February 22, 2016
Come Share 70 Joyful Years with Your Barker Family
On March 5, The Barker Adoption Foundation celebrates its 70th anniversary with a grand gala featuring prestigious guest speakers, fantastic silent auction items, live music and a stunning setting—not to mention dinner and drinks. Many people feel numbers tell a cold, factual story with little excitement. But who can argue the deep emotion elicited by these numbers, especially for those of us so intimately affected by them. Nearly 7,500 children placed in loving, permanent homes, creating forever families since 1945... Read More
February 16, 2016
Joining in the Great Migration: Chinese New Year Family Celebration
The text came in saying: “At WoHop! Table for 10 is ready! Can’t wait to cu!” Read More
February 12, 2016
Remembering Anita Datar: Celebrating Her Commitment to Family
In late January 2016, the U.S. Read More
February 2, 2016
On My Own
When many people think of an orphanage, I think they often envision babies and toddlers. I used to be one of those people myself. On my many trips to China, however, I began meeting and falling in love with the older children who have grown up in institutions, many who never had any true chance of finding a permanent home. Read More
February 2, 2016
Barker's Annual Adoption & Foster Care Conference: March 19
Barker's 22nd Annual Adoption & Foster Care Conference: Connected Lives: A Complex Privilege for the Family of Adoption. The adoption landscape today is in a state of flux. We find striking permutations on the theme of adoptive parenting and on the role of birth parents. Yet no matter how many variations or rearrangements exist, one principle grows ever clearer through the lens of rigorous clinical research and the rich findings of clinical practice: connected lives usually redound to the health of the child of adoption. Read More
February 1, 2016
February News from PWNL
Each month Project Wait No Longer offers updates and insights through its very popular newsletter. You can sign up to receive it directly in your good old fashioned U.S.P.S. mailbox by emailing Anna Beers at abeers [at] barkerfoundation.org, or, you can now find it in the Barker Blog. Read More
February 1, 2016
Barker Families Celebrated Hispanic Heritage
This past Sunday, after a long, post-blizzard week, 70 members of the Barker community -- including many toddlers and young children -- attended Barker's Hispanic Heritage Celebration, held at Los Tios Grill in Alexandria, Virginia. Read More
January 29, 2016
Older Child Adoption: A Jewish Communal Conversation
Please join us for a special event at Congregation Beth El on Wednesday, February 10th at 7:30pm. You will hear from a parent who has adopted an older child from the foster care system, a representative from The Barker Adoption Foundation, a representative from CASE (Center for Adoption Support and Education) and Rabbi Greg Harris as we explore adoption of older children from the foster care system and special considerations for Jewish families. Read More
January 21, 2016
Free Online SAT Courses though The Khan Academy
The Khan Academy is now offering FREE online SAT test prep. The mission of the Khan Academy is “to offer practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empowers learners to study at their own pace in and outside the classroom”. The Khan Academy is offering free test prep in partnership with the College Board to make SAT prep more readily accessible to students. Read More
January 21, 2016
Get to Know Barker's International Programs Case Manager, Betty Betz
Betty Betz, Barker's International Programs Case Manager, joined the Barker Adoption team in 2014. As you'll read, Betty is driven by far more than a paycheck; she's truly passionate about the key role she plays in connecting and supporting families. Read More