Lutheran Social Services and our collaborating agencies are united in our endeavor to improve awareness and knowledge of infant adoption among health care professionals in rural and underserved areas.

The Infant Adoption Training Initiative, a one-day curriculum developed through a grant awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services, is designed to assist health care professionals in providing adoption information and referral to pregnant women on an equal basis with all other courses of action. Though national in scope, this unique educational opportunity is currently being offered near your hometown.

Just some of the benefits and basic skills that you'll obtain through participation in the Infant Adoption Training Initiative include:

• Effective nondirective counseling techniques to ensure that information about all pregnancy options is presented objectively, without bias or judgment
  
  
• Increased sensitivity and understanding of the influences that both a birth mother and birth father may experience from family, peers, and community
  
  
• Increased awareness of available adoption-related referral resources and how to assess the quality and/or appropriateness of these resources
  
  
• Increased understanding of psychological and emotional reactions the birth mother and birth father are likely to experience when considering various pregnancy options
  
  
• Knowledge of legal issues pertaining to adoption including overview of MEPA/IEP and ICWA
  
  
• Increased awareness of social, cultural, and personal influences with an individual patient/client