SPRING EDUCATIONAL EVENT

Join us as we welcome Pulitzer Prize winning author, Adam Pertman, for a lecture, discussion and book signing event!

Saturday, March 8, 2008
2:00 - 5:00 PM / Magee Auditorium / Oakland

Bio: 
Adam Pertman is the author of the groundbreaking Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming America, which has been reviewed as “the most important book ever written on the subject.” In addition, he was nominated for a pulitzer prize for his writing about adoption in The Boston Globe. He is also the author of many chapters and articles on adoption- and family-related issues in books, scholarly journals and mass-market publications. He is the Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a national nonprofit that is the pre-eminent research, policy and education organization in its field. Pertman is also the Associate Editor of Adoption Quarterly, the premier research journal dealing with adoption and foster care.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

PLACE
Auditorium, Magee Women’s Hospital • 300 Halket Street • Oakland, PA 15213
The Auditorium is located on the zero level of the hospital.
Parking is $4 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour (3 hours=$6)

TIME
1:30 to 2:00 pm — registration
2:00 to 4:00 pm — presentation/discussion
4:00 to 4:30 or 5:00 pm — networking

Suggested Donation:
FREE TRFCC members
$5.00 non-members

Honors....
His other honors include the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Adoption Council, the Angel in Adoption award from the U.S. Congress’ adoption caucus; the Special Friend of Children Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law’s first award for “the nation’s greatest contributor to public understanding about adoption and permanency placement issues;” the Friend of Children Award from the ODS Adoption Community of New England; the Century Foundation’s prestigious Leonard Silk Journalism Award; the President’s Award from the African American Cultural Council of Virginia; the Year 2000 Journalism Award from Holt International Children’s Services; and the American Adoption Congress’ first award for the journalist who most informed the nation on adoption issues and “for his eloquent witnessing of contemporary adoption.”

Review....
This book is a terrific overview of adoption yesterday and today. The message is of need for change. but it is an optimistic message, and lays the burden of responsibility for adoption reform directly on all those touched by adoption. Speak up, says Adam Pertman, contact legislators,get educated, find like-minded people and put the welfare of the child at the center of everything we do. Mr. Pertman is a relative newcomer to adoption, compared to many others who have worked for so many years to educate, reform adoption practice and help triad members. Having heard him speak, however,and seeing his serious commitment to adoption reform and his study of and dedication to this complex field, I am convinced that his voice will continue to be heard in the future and that what he writes and says will continue to be helpful, valuable and influential. Books like Adoption Nation go a long way toward increasing public understanding of adoption. Give this book to as many people as you can!