Location: Kirtland Community College - University Center, 60 Livingston Blvd., Gaylord MI

Details: Maris Blechner is an adoptive and birth parent, a licensed clinical social worker and educator, and a nationally respected trainer, consultant, and speaker who has spent the last thirty-eight years working for the improvement of adoption and the child welfare system. One of the founders of the parent-led multi-service adoption agency that she directed for twenty-six years, Maris relates proudly that she comes from the citizen-activist child-advocacy community and brings that neighborhood and personal family experience to her professional work. Maris is known for her humorous and down-to-earth style and enjoys mentoring for Children’s Corps, and teaching at her own school, the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She has recently been featured as a story-teller about adoption on the Moth Radio Hour, on NPR and podcasts, and was even featured on the BBC. This event is free to attend! Please RSVP by August 12th to Jill at (231) 421-6500 or jwicksall@bethany.org.