Adoption Resource Center (ARC)

The Spence-Chapin Adoption Resource Center (ARC) was established to provide quality, lifelong support and offers workshops, trainings and educational resources to all adoptive families. Since the 1990s, ARC has expanded its information, support and post-adoption services. ARC workshops are now available — in addition to our Manhattan office — throughout greater New York City area, including locations in Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey.

Workshops and Playshops

ARC workshops cover a range of topics ranging from our popular Babycare: Since Babies Don't Come With Directions to our dual session Kids' Groups which give kids the opportunity to share their experiences with other children their age. Advanced registration is required for all workshops. Browse our full calendar and register online or contact Jamila at 212-360-0259 or jcleary@spence-chapin.org with questions or to request a paper calendar.

Mentorship Program at Spence-Chapin

The Mentorship Program at Spence-Chapin is for pre-teens and teens between the ages of 11 and 15, adopted either domestically or internationally. Since one of the best ways for our kids to understand their experience is by being around peers and adults who share their adoption status, we have organized a group mentoring program. The goal of the program is for the kids to have lots of fun and to get to know peers and adult role models who also share the experience of adoption.

This group mentoring program brings youth and adult adoptees together for monthly group activities around NYC, such as bowling, museum visits, an adoption forum, and more! Mentorship Events happen on one Saturday a month from September – May.

Our mentors are adult adoptees—adopted domestically and internationally--who have shared their adoption stories at various workshops and home study groups throughout the last few years here at Spence-Chapin.

The application deadline for the 2008-2009 Mentorship Program is June 1, 2008.

Parents: If you think your child might be interested in participating, please contact Rena Tucker at 212-360-0264 or rtucker@spence-chapin.org.

Adult adoptees (21+): If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Joy Lieberthal at 212-360-0257 or jlieberthal@spence-chapin.org.


Adoption Awareness for Educators

Spence-Chapin provides workshops in schools to help educators understand the diverse adoption experiences of today's families and their school-aged children.
Subjects include:

  • How children understand adoption at different ages
  • How to view and speak of adoption in a positive way
  • How to modify assignments that are different for adopted children
  • Resources available for school and families.
For more information about adoption awareness workshops, contact Jamila at 212-360-0259 or jcleary@spence-chapin.org.

Support Groups

Spence-Chapin sponsors several monthly support groups, led by professionals. Participants in the various programs discuss feelings and concerns about a range of issues related to being single adoptive parents, adoptive parents of teens and young adults, or birth parents. The goals of these groups are to foster open communication in a supportive environment that provides participants with a sense of community and enhances overall coping with the various demands of being part of the adoption triad.