Miriam’s Promise, an independent not-for-profit adoption agency in Nashville, received a $1,250 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant helps fund a webinar series to prepare grandparents for an adopted grandchild.
During the pandemic, Miriam’s Promise has moved training to a virtual setting. After researching possible topics, grandparent/extended family readiness came to the top of the agency’s list.
“Through a series of live and recorded webinars, Miriam’s Promise will offer support and information to grandparents whose adult children are going through the adoption process,” said the agency’s CEO and President J. Dietz Osborne.
Through the webinars, grandparents will gain knowledge on topics including
- Trans-racial adoption
- Knowing when to give their adult children space
- Supporting their adult children through the adoption process
- Welcoming a new child into the family
- Supporting their adult children through infertility
- Making healthy attachments with an adopted grandchild
The first webinar was in February, and it covered the challenges of dealing with infertility. Webinars are free to Miriam’s Promise Hopeful Family members and $25 for all other attendees.
Additional webinars will be scheduled for 2021. When complete, Osborne feels grandparents will be better equipped to help their adult children navigate the adoption process.
“I wish this kind of tool had been available to us when Lynn and I became adoptive grandparents,” said Bishop Bill McAlilly, Nashville Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church.
“We really appreciate the work the Golden Cross Foundation does for senior adults in the Tennessee Conference,” said Osborne. “It has been our hope for many years to partner with the foundation. I’m thrilled that the grant has helped make this partnership possible through the webinar series.”
For more information about Miriam’s Promise visit www.miriamspromise.org.