Older internationally adopted children have to catch up to their peers from within a situation of overall adjustment, which is very emotionally taxing. They must master a major life skill - the new language - merely to carry on existence in a new social/cultural environment. The abrupt loss of the first language, emotional strain related to the functioning in a new, slowly emerging language and regression in cognitive skills and processes are likely to adversely affect their school performance.

It is not right to start the life of a child newly arrived in America with frustration and failure. Let us help.

We are not a permanent solution...only a beginning temporary stop on the pathway of adjustment.

A post-institutionalized child of a certain chronological age may be much younger developmentally and funcionally. Emotional, cognitive, and behavioral immaturity is the trademark of post-institutionalized children. Most of them behave like younger children, regulate their emotions and motivation like younger children, and have cognitive skills and academic knowledge like younger children. Internationally adopted children need to be placed accordingly in school to ensure a positive school experience, which is the prerequisite for long term school success.

These children, due to their past history, are particularly vulnerable to stress associated with school performance. To expose them to this stress on a level that they are not able to handle may result in emotional/behavioral problems that adversely affect the whole family.

RESTORING, EQUIPPING, TRAINING - We offer a one-year program (based on the Smart Start Program by Dr. Boris Gindis of the BG Center) at The Cultural Learning Center in Birmingham, Alabama. This program is designed to provide a small and secure environment during the first transitional months of a new life in the U.S immediately after adoption. With Russian-speaking translators and teachers on-hand, our goal is to help ease the traumatic events your adopted child is experiencing and provide an environment where they can begin to discover who they are, learn English, find out about their community and world around them, learn who God is and build on their talents and strengths.

Can you imagine going from life as a teenage orphan in Ukraine to a family unit of an English-speaking family?

OUR GOAL IS TO HELP GET YOUR NEWLY ADOPTED CHILD READY FOR THEIR NEXT STEP IN PUBLIC SCHOOL OR HOME SCHOOL CLASSES.

NEW LARGER LOCATION!

We have moved to a 1,500 sq. foot house that fronts a lake on Valleydale Road in the Oak Mountain area of Birmingham. This environment allows for educational exploration in a relaxing environment through basic subject areas as well as art, music, physical education, nutrition, social skills, Bible, computer training, etiquette, career exploration, community projects and more!

This is an all-volunteer center designed as a home-school format that operates 8am - 3pm schedules M-F, the same as local Shelby County Schools.

1 year commitment. 3-day a week program or 5-day a week program.

ADULT VOLUNTEERS WELCOME AND NEEDED AT THE CLC. WE CAN ALL HELP GIVE THESE NEWLY ADOPTED CHILDREN A CHANCE FOR SUCCESS IN THEIR LIVES AND HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE!

If you are interested contact Valerie Hall at valerie@reachorphanswithhope.org or by phone at 205-240-5077.


CULTURAL LEARNING CENTER (a service of Reach Orphans With Hope)
2630 VALLEYDALE ROAD
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35244
TEL: 205-240-5077