November
is...
National Adoption Awareness Month
Did you know?
More than 20 years ago, Massachusetts
was the first state to make an Adoption
Week Proclamation. The idea took
hold on a national level in 1988
when President Reagan issued an
Adoption Week Proclamation. Every
president since has issued such
a proclamation in November.
FCC Activities
Year
2005 | Year
2004 | Year
2003 | Year
2002
Who
We Are
Families with Children from China
St. Louis (FCC) is an organization
of American families who have adopted
children from China. Common to our
families is the desire to actively
integrate our children's Chinese
culture into our family life so
the children will grow up closely
acquainted with-and proud of their
Chinese heritage.
Founded by a handful of families
in 1996, FCC-St. Louis reflects
the growing numbers of families
throughout the United States with
Chinese adopted children. FCC chapters
are represented in most major U.S.
cities and also in Canada and Britain.
Chapters are independent from each
other and are organized around local
needs and resources.
The mission of FCC St. Louis is
to build a community of support
for the healthy development of members'
children through:
-
Educational
opportunities for learning about
Chinese culture and developmental
issues specific to raising children
adopted from China.
-
Children's
and family activities to help
all learn about Chinese culture.
-
Opportunities
for socializing and networking
among families in order to enable
peer support and community building.
Preserving
Our Children's Culture
Most FCC families knew little about
their children's heritage prior
to traveling to China. Being part
of FCC builds upon what was learned
on the trip so children come to
know and appreciate the culture
of their birthplace. Families are
kept informed about cultural and
adoption topics and events via the
quarterly newsletter, FCC Connections,
and with regular mailings.
Additionally, FCC sponsors workshops
and programs of interest to both
parents and children. Several programs
have proved popular over the years
so now take place annually. They
are: the Chinese New Year party
with a silent auction featuring
cultural items; the FCC Culture
Day where children enjoy fun activities,
adults attend informative sessions,
and the entire group is entertained
by Chinese performers; and the moon
festival celebration. FCC welcomes
the participation of Chinese Americans
at its functions. FCC is currently
recruiting volunteers-pre-teens,
teens and adults-to work at this
year's Culture Day tentatively scheduled
in the beginning of June. Please
e-mail Mary Simms at 636-458-3857
if you are interested in helping.
In addition to disseminating Chinese
culture to FCC families, the organization
serves as a support network for
waiting families and provides the
chance to socialize among families
with similar interests. Informal
gatherings allow waiting families
to talk to adoptive parents about
the journey on which they are to
embark. Adoptive parents enjoy the
opportunity to share stories and
compare notes as the children play
with each other.
FCC St. Louis continuously strives
to cultivate relationships with
members of the local Asian-American
community which in turn enhances
the children's knowledge of Chinese
culture and language. The community
has welcomed our children with open
arms. These relationships add an
invaluable dimension to the organization.
Since building these connections
strengthens the exchange and understanding
between cultures...between people....FCC
is glad to be publishing the column,
"Growing Up Connected". This bi-weekly
column will report on topics such
as immigration laws affecting Chinese
adoptions, cultural resources, the
journey to China by local adoptive
families, the parenting experience,
integrating culture into the blended
family, and Chinese adoption laws.
Come visit FCC St. Louis at our
website:
www.fccstl.org
Anyone interested in becoming a
member, or a friend of FCC member
can call Nancy Mietzner at 636-527-3010.
FCC, a nondenominational organization,
is not affiliated with any specific
adoption agency. Membership is open
to families who have already adopted
and those in the process of Chinese
adoption and people wishing to support
the organization.
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