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.

We offer a bilingual center, a small environment and a caring community that is here for your internationally adopted child.

OUR NEEDS

We are here to help.  With Russian-speaking translators, along with American teachers and volunteers, we are equipped to help make an easier adjustment for your school-age adopted child now living in America.  Our bilingual center is for all ages and provides individualized learning in core subject areas along with life skills, Bible, nutrition and more.  A post-institutionalized internationally adopted child has different and unique needs.  We are here for your student and your family. 

Change is not always easy and surviving is all they know.  Give us a try. 

A post-institutionalized child of a certain chronological age may be much younger developmentally and functionally. Emotional, cognitive, and behavioral immaturity is the trademark of post-institutionalized 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.

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

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 - Some of our teaching is based on the Smart Start Program by Dr. Boris Gindis of the BG Center. Go to www.bgcenter.com for more information.  The CLC is designed to provide a safe and secure environment during transitional times in an adopted child's life in the U.S. 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.

OUR GOAL IS TO HELP PREPARE YOUR ADOPTED CHILD FOR THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

This is an all-volunteer learning center designed under a home-school format that operates M-F  7:15 am - 3pm. We follow the same calendar year as Shelby County Schools.

Basic subject areas of English, Grammar, Literature, Math, History, Science, Geography, as well as Art, Music, Health & Nutrition, Life Skills, Bible, Computer Lab, American Currency & Management, Community Projects and more.

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.

WE CAN ALL HELP GIVE INTERNATIONALLY 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 205-397-2058.


CULTURAL LEARNING CENTER (a service of Reach Orphans With Hope)
Physical Address:  2630 VALLEYDALE ROAD
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35244
TEL: 205-397-2058