The Ties Program

06/18/2026

We are beyond proud to see our very own Executive Director and Owner, Tanya Kaanta, featured in this spotlight! 🌟

Tanya’s lifelong dedication to the adoptee community shapes everything we do here at The Ties Program. We are so excited for her to connect with everyone at the IKAA Gathering in Seoul this October! Thank you for leading us with so much heart and vision, Tanya. 🤍✨

06/17/2026

You've found yourself on the right page 💜

At Ties, we're committed to walking alongside adoptees and their loved ones before, during, and long after the journey itself. Wherever you are in your story, we're here for you. Registration is open for our Summer 2027 programs to China, Kazakhstan, Korea, and Guatemala.

We are also still welcoming travelers for our Fall 2026 programs to Korea and China, as well as our Winter 2026–2027 journeys to India, Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Ethiopia.

Ready when you are. Learn more and register at thetiesprogram.com or the link in our bio.

06/15/2026

We are still celebrating after spending the weekend at both Latin American Heritage Camp and Indian/Nepalese Heritage Camp with Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families

These weekends are always a reminder of the power of community and the importance of creating spaces where adoptees and their families can connect, learn, and celebrate their cultures and identities together.

We were especially excited to have Ties Associate Director, Ben Kaanta, present to adoptive parents, offering a glimpse into our Together in This seminar designed specifically for partners of adoptees. It was a privilege to share this work and engage in thoughtful conversations about supporting adoptees and their relationships.

Thank you to the organizers, volunteers, and every family who joined us throughout the weekend. We are grateful to be part of these beautiful communities and always leave inspired by the connections and stories shared along the way.

06/11/2026

What if healing doesn't always begin with words?

When we think about healing, we often think about talking. But for many adoptees and people with complex lived experiences, there can be memories, emotions, and patterns that words alone don't fully reach.

Last year, we sat down with Mihyun Lee, a domestic, late discovery Korean adoptee, dancer, and somatic movement therapist, to talk about how movement and body awareness can support healing. Through breath, movement, and learning to listen to ourselves, we can begin to recognize, acknowledge, and better understand our lived experiences.

Whether through dance, yoga, walking, stretching, or simply taking a moment to pause and breathe, healing can take many forms.

Read our conversation with Mihyun and learn more about how movement therapy can support adoptee wellness❤️ : https://bit.ly/ListeningToTheBodyBlog or at the link in our bio.

Have you found movement, exercise, yoga, or other body-based practices to be part of your healing journey? We'd love to hear your experiences below.

06/11/2026

As we get ready to kick off our summer season of heritage travel, we wanted to share something that we prepare all travelers for before they ever step on a plane.

Preparing for a trip back to your birth country involves more than passports, packing lists, and itineraries. It also means making space for the emotions, hopes, questions, and uncertainties that can come with returning to your birth country.

Over the years, we've learned that there is no "right" way to experience a heritage trip. Every adoptee's journey is unique, and whatever unfolds, you don't have to navigate it alone.

At The Ties Program, emotional support doesn't begin when you arrive and it doesn't end when you come home. We are committed to supporting travelers before, during, and after their journey, creating spaces for connection and community every step of the way. ❤️

If you're dreaming about your own heritage journey, registration remains open for our Summer 2027 programs to China, Kazakhstan, Korea, and Guatemala. We are also still welcoming travelers for our Fall 2026 programs to Korea and China, as well as our Winter 2026–2027 journeys to India, Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Ethiopia. Wherever you are in your journey, we're here for you. 💙

Learn more and register at thetiesprogram.com.

06/10/2026

✨ Reminder: Spots are filling up for our Dual Citizenship Webinar for Guatemalan adoptees. In partnership with Adoptees With Guatemalan Roots, we’re excited to offer this session for those who were unable to attend the first webinar.

📅 Saturday, June 20, 2026
🕛 11 AM Central / 12 PM Eastern

If you've been meaning to register, now's the time! 🇬🇹💙

🔗 Register through the link in bio or at: https://bit.ly/AWGRDualCitizenshipWebinarJune

We honestly could not have imagined this kind of response 💛 Our Dual Citizenship Webinar for Guatemalan adoptees filled so quickly that we’ve decided to host another session in partnership with Adoptees With Guatemalan Roots (). We are incredibly grateful for the excitement, interest, and support surrounding this space and these conversations. Join us next month for the next one.

📅 Saturday, June 20, 2026
🕛 12 PM Eastern Time

To everyone who signed up for the last session, joined the waitlist, shared the event, or simply expressed interest, thank you. It’s clear how important these conversations around identity, citizenship, connection, and access are within the Guatemalan adoptee community.

Registration: https://bit.ly/AWGRDualCitizenshipWebinarJune or link in bio

Please note: This is the same content we presented on May 7, 2026. If you attended that webinar, please do not register for this one to allow others to attend.

06/09/2026

📢 WE’RE PRESENTING AT KAAN 2026! 📢

We are incredibly honored to announce that The Ties Program is co-presenting with Global Overseas Adoptees' Link (G.O.A.'L) ( ) at this year's KAAN: the Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network () conference in Denver, CO!

Join our Executive Director Tanya Kaanta, Korean Ties Program Manager Liz Kwon, and GOA'L Secretary General Louise Lindberg for a vital and timely session: "Finding Roots and Files in Korea."

🗓️ Catch Our Session:
We will be presenting this important topic twice during the conference weekend:

Session 1: Friday, June 19 @ 1:30 PM

Session 2: Saturday, June 20 @ 3:30 PM

🔍 What We Are Covering:
Following the historic 2025 transfer of all adoptee files from private adoption agencies to the Korean government and the NCRC (National Center for the Rights of Children), the landscape for birth searches and file reviews has fundamentally changed.

In this session, Korean Adoptees (KADs) will get a first-hand guide on how to navigate this new process, including:

📋 Disclosure Applications & file requests

🧬 DNA Testing logistics

🔍 Active search methods and file reviews

✨ Real step-by-step stories from those who successfully completed reviews right after the changeover.

Whether you are just beginning your search or trying to understand how these new legal shifts affect your journey, we are here to help clear the path forward. We can’t wait to connect with you in Denver!

🌐 For more details and conference information, visit: wearekaan.org/conference

06/08/2026

We are still smiling after our Program Manager, Rebecca Blessing, spent an incredible day at the African/Caribbean Heritage Camp at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park! A massive thank you to Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families ( ) for having us as presenters this year.

We had the privilege of hosting two sessions focused on our Ethiopian Ties trip, sharing our experiences, reflections, and connection to heritage. Heritage Camp creates such a vital, beautiful space for adoptees and their loved ones to find community, mirrors, and belonging, and we felt so lucky to contribute to that environment this weekend. Thank you to the organizers, the volunteers, and every family who sat down with us to listen and share their own stories.

06/05/2026

🌍 THE WAIT IS OVER! REGISTRATION IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!🌍

We are thrilled to unveil our Summer 2027 group travel lineup! We have four unforgettable journeys waiting for adoptees (all ages) and their loved ones, and we’re excited to welcome another season of meaningful connection, discovery, and exploration. Swipe through to see where we'll be in Summer 2027. 💛

🇨🇳 China Ties
Dates: Signature: June 23 - July 6 | Lite: June 23 - July 1

🇬🇹 Guatemalan Ties
Dates: Signature: June 27 - July 8 | Lite: June 27 - July 4

🇰🇷 Korean Ties
Dates: Signature: June 27 - July 9 | Lite: June 27 - July 6

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan Ties
Dates: Signature: July 1 - 11 | Lite: July 1 - 7

ℹ️ Learn more and request our info packet: https://bit.ly/TiesInfoRequest or link in our bio
✈️ Ready to travel? Register here: https://bit.ly/TiesRegistration

Secure your spot today and let's make unforgettable memories together! ✨

06/01/2026

This Pride Month, we’re honoring the many intersections of identity that shape who we are and how we move through the world 💜

For many adoptees, questions of identity and belonging are already part of the journey. Today, this month, and every day, we recognize and celebrate LGBTQ+ adoptees and all members of this constellation who are navigating what it means to live honestly and fully as themselves, even when that journey is complex.

At The Ties Program, we believe every story deserves to be seen and honored. Pride is about more than celebration. It’s about recognition, dignity, and the freedom to be seen in your full humanity.

Celebrating every story, every identity, and every journey🏳️‍🌈✊🥰