The Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program (IAATP) is a federally funded training program targeted to healthcare professionals who have occasion to provide information, referral or counseling for teens or women facing a crisis pregnancy. A crisis pregnancy is one where the pregnancy was not planned and the teen/woman isn't sure if she is ready to be - or wants to be - a parent.

AzCA offers this program throughout Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. In New Mexico AzcA partners with Las Familia, Inc. to provide the training throughout the state. The curriculum was produced originally in 2001 by Arizona 's Children Association in consultation with the National Curriculum and Training Institute with contributions from a number of not-for-profit agencies and individuals. In 2004 the curriculum was revised and improved through a collaboration with 4 other grantees: Spaulding for Children, Harmony Adoptions, Latino Family Institute and Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota. In 2006 AzCA was awarded the grant for another 5 years and additional improvements/enhancement have been made to the curriculum. The training is available in a full day, half day or web-based version.

The program provides information and helps healthcare professionals develop the skills needed to effectively and comfortably present 'adoption as an option' information on an equal basis with all other courses of action. By attending the seminar, participants in the tri-state area receive comprehensive information on:

• Adoption Practice - how the adoption practice has changed over time

• Procedures and Laws in Arizona that relate to adoption - distinguishing myths from realities

• Social, Cultural and Personal Influences on Adoption Decision Making - understanding the factors that may influence a woman's decision

• Informed Choice - learn techniques like open-listening and the use of open-ended questions to assess a woman's knowledge of her options

• Adoption & Decision Counseling Resources - materials that include resource and referral sources addressing pregnancy options

Click here to register online

To contact the state program coordinator:

Arizona :

Jan Cardwell

JCardwell@arizonaschildren.org

1-877-774-0111 ext.1981

Nevada :

Dorothy Paul

iatinevada@earthlink.net

1-866-573-2542

New Mexico:

Megan Walsh

mmwalsh@la-familia-inc.org

1-866-276-5729

For More Information

To access current a list of Arizona resources relating to pregnancy options, please click here: Adoption and Pregnancy Counseling Resources in Arizona

For a concise listing of the current Arizona laws regarding adoption, please click here: Highlights of Arizona Adoption Statutes.

Both of these lists are kept current, so please feel free to check back regularly for updates.

To learn more about the Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program also contact Marcie Velen, Director of Permanency Planning, at 1-877-774-0111 ext.1978 , or via email at mvelen@arizonaschildren.org.