COAC - Humboldt County Council on Adoptable Children

WHAT IS COAC?

In case you were wondering...

The Council on Adoptable Children, or COAC, as we fondly call it, is a twenty-five year old organization that has provided support for local adoptive parents. COAC has a Board of Directors who support the Post Adoption Services Project. In the past, COAC has held pre-adoption services, workshops, holiday parties, and cultural events. Currently, the COAC Board meets quarterly and will host at least two events annually: The Multicultural New Year Celebration and an Annual Swim Party.

COAC acts as the social network arm of adoption, which is a very important role. When families connect, socialize, talk, and have fun with each other interacting outside the office/agency setting, a whole new world of support, advice, and great times opens up. COAC encourages new families to join the Board of Directors to help plan new events. They welcome new members with ideas, energy, and imput!

COAC can be reached through the Post Adoption Services Project at (707) 476-9210

See pictures from our August 2002 Pool Party here!

WHY IS COAC SO GREAT?
An article by Adoptive Parent Linda Bareilles

Thirty-one years ago our adoption adventure began. After having two children via easy pregnancies and births, we became aware of many children waiting for families of their own. Thus, our third child, Jess, entered our family and our hearts. After Jess came Sandy – and Christy followed after her. After two children who were adopted in the State of California, we adopted our son Paul from Korea. Our daughter Heidi rounded out the family at age 1 ½ days, coming from Oakland, California.

When Jess joined our family COAC was just beginning in Humboldt County. I remember being told about it by our social worker and called to find out what it was about. Thus began a wonderful relationship with many people and families that continues to this day. In the early days of COAC we used to get together while the children would play. We would meet at each other’s homes or at a park. The children gained so much by seeing that they were not the only adopted children in the world, that there were many other families like theirs, and that there were all kinds of adoption.I feel that we gave our children a precious gift by broadening their horizons and outlooks on life.

As the children grew to know each other, so too did their parents. We learned that we all came from different situations in life. We realized that even though we did not raise our children in the same way, we all valued and were committed to adoption. We learned so much from bouncing ideas off each other. Our friendships grew and continue today. As our children grew older and did not always do things as we thought they should, we had wonderful COAC friends in place with whom we could turn to once again toss ideas and solutions around.

COAC has always been a very important part of our lives as well as those of our children. I recall a friend who was very active in COAC for a time and then, for whatever reason, drifted away. I remember her telling us that she regretted doing so, because she had lost contact with treasured friends that could have helped her when she needed it. I felt very sorry for her, and realized once again how fortunate my husband Ken and I have been to be part of a great organization like COAC all these years.

Every July COAC has an annual Summer Swim Party, and we cordially invite you and your family to have fun, get wet, and form connections with other families that can perhaps run as deep and be as meaningful as the ones our family has forged. Please join us for the party, and consider becoming a COAC member, and perhaps even serving on the Board of Directors to help COAC remain vital to our local adoptive family community.