Please Get Involved!

The best way to experience FCC-DV and meet other members is to get involved! Whatever amount of time you have to offer is welcome and appreciated. We're eager for new ideas, constructive criticism, professional advice, and as many helping hands as we can get! Please contact any of the committee chairs listed to learn how you can contribute to the success of FCC-DV and make ours the best chapter in the world. Read on for an overview of all that FCC-DV has to offer!

Arts & Crafts
Chaired by:
Are you creative? Are you comfortable with scissors, glue, paper and markers? Do you love working with kids? This is your chance to shine! Most FCC-DV events offer a crafts table where the children can make crafts related to the season or holiday being celebrated. Enthusiastic grownup "crafters" are always welcome and needed!

As They Grow
Chaired by:
Created in 1999 to meet the needs of the "first generation" of China daughters, this group is geared for children ages 5 and older. Events include an annual trip to the Peking Acrobats, our new Book Club, this summer's group outing to Cirque de Soleil. Watch the events calendar for future plans!

Culture & Language
Chaired by:
This committee's purpose is to find resources that help our children and parents learn more about the culture and language of China through speakers, articles, books and videos. If you have ideas for topics, please let us know. If you're a "digger" who likes to surf the web or comb the book stores and libraries for new sources of information, we can use your help, and this is the perfect committee for you!

Fundraising
Chaired by: OPEN
Let's face it...the "green stuff" even makes FCC-DV's world go 'round. Our objective is to be able to make charitable contributions to non-profit organizations in the realm of FCC-DV's mission. Whether you have fundraising experience or not, your time and ideas are necessary and welcome.

Membership/Volunteers
Chaired by:
Managing and encouraging our growing membership is a critical part of our success, along with finding the volunteers who help make FCC-DV the most vital and successful organization it can be.

Neighborhoods
Chaired by: Mindy Coath;

FCC-DV Neighborhoods enhance the experience for all families! Our
neighborhoods do not compete with the FCC-DV organization, but build upon
and support it! Neighborhoods provide easy access to local resources, tighter support network, more frequent meetings, and stronger ties to other families within their area.

Newsletter
Chaired by:
China Kids, our quarterly newsletter, is one of the most valuable "perks" of belonging to FCC-DV. Not only will you find news about the latest FCC-DV events, but you'll also find the most up-to-date articles pertaining to the China adoption process, homecoming stories, recipes, tips for celebrating Chinese holidays in your home, as well as information about books and cultural/educational materials. Each issue includes our special Pengyou Pages just for kids - by and for FCC-DV kids! Submissions by adults and kids are necessary for every single issue!

Playgroups
Chaired by:
FCC-DV Play Groups can be a real lifeline for any adoptive family of a Chinese child. Currently, there are several FCC-DV play groups in the Delaware Valley, and more are forming all the time. Just tell us about you, where you live and how old your child(ren) is (are), and we'll attempt to connect you.

Publicity
Chaired by: OPEN
Getting the word out about FCC-DV events, not only to our membership, but to the media as well, has become an increasingly exciting and often formidable task! If you have access to a PC, have media contacts, adoption agency contacts, like to write and/or talk to people, this is a great way to get involved!

Single Parents
Chaired by: OPEN
We single parents face our own unique challenges. How do we find ways to spend time with our kids and still get together with other families like ours? How do we manage to "keep it all together?" In this group we offer each other support and friendship. Some members have even vacationed together. After all, no one understands the challenges of being a single parent better than another single parent!

Social Events
Chaired by: OPEN
FCC-DV has several annual social events, including our Chinese New Year Party, Dragon Festival, Summer Outing, Harvest Moon Festival, and holiday Potluck Supper. There's lots to do than anyone can help with! Setup, cleanup, finding facilities, contacting vendors...there are many ways you can help with the social committee!

Waiting Families
Chaired by: /
We've all been there...in the process of waiting. And sometimes in that process, we can feel as if we're all alone. Waiting for fingerprint clearance. Waiting to get INS approval. Waiting for the home-study to be completed. Waiting for our referral. Waiting for our travel date. The aim of "Waiting Families" is to provide support for those who are in any stage of the China adoption process. Meet families who are waiting just as you are. Meet families who have already "survived" the process and are genuinely thrilled to reassure you and answer your questions.

Workshops
Chaired by: /
This committee's purpose is to find resources that help our children and parents learn more about adoption issues. As our children have gotten older, FCC-DV has placed increasing emphasis on our Workshops program, offering regular sessions each spring and fall. We’ve partnered with several prominent and experienced professionals to bring both adults and children a wide range of workshop topics, including Jane Brown, MSW; the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals; Also-Known-As, Inc.; and our own advisory board members Regina Levin, MSW/ACSW, and Ray-Ling Hou, MFT, MSN. For children, we gather groups by age and provide activities to stimulate age-appropriate thought and discussion in a non-threatening environment. Focusing on identity and adoption issues, the children are encouraged by adoption professionals to explore their own family circumstances using books, arts & crafts and other fun tools. Children generally spend an hour with Regina Levin and Ray-Ling Hou, followed by a 30-minute parent debriefing. For parents, we’ve had open discussion formats such as, “What’s On Your Mind?”; Q&A sessions with adult Korean adoptees about how it felt growing up Asian in Caucasian families and communities; and a Mentoring panel discussion exploring the importance of pride in culture & heritage. If you have ideas for topics, please let us know!