ND Post Adopt Network

05/29/2026

Post Adopt hosted our annual Dads Retreat this April and what a fun day it was!

We kicked things off with coffee and donuts before heading to a private cooking class where the dads rolled up their sleeves and created an incredible meal from scratch—homemade pasta, marinara, roasted garlic alfredo, chicken, and a fresh Caesar salad. The best part? Sitting down together to enjoy the meal and conversation!

The fun didn’t stop there! We headed to Brewalla Marketplace for some nostalgic, old-school pinball, then wrapped up the day with an escape room challenge where the group cracked the code just in time!

A HUGE thank you to all the dads who made this day so special!

We would also like to thank Sandy's Donuts & Coffee Shop for their delicious and generous donation. As well as Square One Rental Kitchen & Events for leading a fun cooking class that brought out everyone's inner chef!🍩🧑‍🍳

05/28/2026

As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s vital to remember how important it is for parents to care for their mental health and overall well being. Parenting, especially through adoption and guardianship, comes with many unique challenges. It is common to feel isolated or unsure where to turn for support.

Connecting with other parents who understand your experiences can make a powerful difference. Parent support groups offer a safe space to share challenges and victories, find resources, vent without judgment, and feel less alone.
To help support parents, ND Post Adopt offers monthly, parent support groups, available both in person and virtually, providing connection, encouragement, and community. Please contact your regional Post Adopt Coordinator for more information.

The link below provide a wonderful overview from the Child Mind Institute on how support groups can help.
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Online or off, communities share experience, comfort and friendship

05/23/2026

💙 Continuing the Conversation for National Teen Self Esteem Month 💙
As we continue highlighting Teen Self Esteem Month, it’s important to remember that confidence grows with consistent support and understanding. Teens face different pressures and building healthy self esteem can look different for boys and girls, but encouragement and connection make a lasting difference for everyone.

The Child Mind Institute offers helpful guidance for caregivers and professionals supporting teens:
👉 How to Build Boys’ Self Confidence:
https://childmind.org/article/how-to-build-boys-self-confidence/
👉 Raising Girls with Healthy Self Esteem:
https://childmind.org/article/raising-girls-with-healthy-self-esteem/

Let’s keep empowering teens, recognizing their strengths, and reminding them they matter—not just this month, but every day. 💪🌟

Boys' self-confidence can be undermined by gender stereotypes, too. How to help them handle competition and bullying, and express feelings.

05/20/2026

🌟 Resource Spotlight: Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) 🌟
The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) offers valuable, specialized support for adoptive families. Their services are designed to address the unique challenges that adoption can bring, helping families strengthen relationships and better understand their child’s needs.

With the right tools and guidance, children can build emotional resilience and families can thrive together.
👉Check it out here:

Looking for comprehensive adoption competent support services? C.A.S.E. offers expert guidance and resources for a smoother adoption journey.

05/15/2026

🌟 Resource Spotlight: Adopt Informed with Katie 🌟
Surviving Your First Months as an Adoptive Parent!
The first few months after adoption can be full of big emotions—for both parents and children. Katie walks through what adoptees and adoptive parents may experience during this adjustment period and offers insight, reassurance, and understanding along the way.

If you’re newly adoptive or supporting a family who is, this is a must-watch! 👇
🎥

✨Are you ready to adopt? Take this free quiz to find out!✨https://adoptinformed.ck.page/quizWhat can you expect during the first 6 months when you adoptive c...

05/12/2026

Year four of ND Post Adopt’s Mom’s Retreat has come and gone, and we were so happy to have a wonderful group of women attend!

The retreat offered time to relax and rejuvenate through gentle yoga and a fun paint your own wood making project. Throughout the day, there was meaningful conversation, laughter, and plenty of connection. Post Adopt would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the moms who attended and helped make this event so special. 🌸

A big shout out and thank you to Soul Haven Studio and Board & Brush Bismarck, ND for leading some wonderful activities throughout our day! 🧘‍♀️🎨

05/12/2026

💙 National Teen Self Esteem Month 💙
Teen years can be tough and building self esteem doesn’t happen overnight. Support, understanding, and positive messages from caring adults can make a meaningful difference in a teen’s confidence and sense of self worth.

This short video from The Child Mind Institute is a great reminder of how encouragement, connection, and affirmation help teens feel valued and capable:
👉 https://youtu.be/1Hr59ws6mJU?si=MMaVy1B_qRHDmTGd
Let’s use this month to uplift teens, celebrate their strengths, and remind them they matter just as they are. 😊

42 likes. "How do I help my child build healthy self-esteem? I Child Mind Institute"

05/08/2026

💙 💚National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 💚 💙
Today we shine a light on the importance of supporting children’s mental health and emotional well-being. Mental health shapes how children learn, grow, build relationships, and understand the world around them.

Reading and learning can be powerful tools for supporting children’s mental health. Books help children name feelings, build empathy, learn coping skills, and feel less alone in their experiences.
The link below shares top children’s books that address mental health, offering meaningful, age-appropriate ways to start conversations and support emotional growth:
🔗 https://childmind.org/article/best-childrens-books-about-mental-health/

Taking time to read, learn, and talk together can make a lasting difference. Together, we can help children feel seen, supported, and empowered!

Explore our favorite children's books on everything from ADHD to trauma. Help your kids understand the emotional and learning challenges they may be experiencing.

05/07/2026

🌱🧠In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, ND Post Adopt is committed to sharing meaningful articles and resources all month long that highlight mental health for the whole family. Follow along as we learn together and promote healthy, supportive conversations. 🧠🌱

To kick things off, here are 5 tips to managing parenthood and mental health:
Sources: https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/behavioral-health/mental-health-tips-for-parents/ & https://www.melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/parents-look-mental-health-child-struggling

05/06/2026

Today, on National Foster Care Awareness Day, we are brining attention to a sliver of the realities many children and youth in foster care face—frequent changes, uncertainty, and challenges they did not choose.
We invite you to learn more about the experiences of youth in foster care and hear directly from their perspectives.

Shared by FosterClub:👉 https://www.fosterclub.com/nfcm
By learning and listening, we can better understand, support, and stand alongside children and youth impacted by foster care.