Introduction One of the firsts activities carried out by those who later create AFIN was the conference La adopción y el acogimient o: present e y perspect ivas on the 4th of October 2004 at the Universitat de Barcelona, one of the first meetings in Catalonia and Spain about international adoption. However, it has probably not been remembered by this, but for the fact that it gathered around the same ‘table’ both scientists and researchers, professionals and technicians, administrators and solicitors, members of Adoption Agencies and family associations and families themselves, in order to exchange experiences and knowledges. This attempt to inter-relate the voices of those who participate from different fields in issues as complex as adoption and fosterage, that initially ’ scared’ those who believed it was complicated and inconvenient to gather a group so heterogeneous in terms of interests and actions. Nevertheless, it ended up being one of its principals goals, taking into account the assessment received from those who assisted. Those results and repercussions confirmed the benefits of a format that has been used again on the I International Forum of Childhood and Families De Filias y Fobias: del parentesco biológico al cultural on September/ October 2006, on the International Conference La adopción int ernacional ent re el ‘ allá’ y el ‘ aquí’ on February 2008, on the conference Ef ect os de la Inst it ucionalización en la Inf ancia on March 2009 and on the International Conferences La ‘ int egración’ de la adopción int ernacional on May 2010, organized by AFIN, always giving positive results and experiences to those who assisted and/ or participated. ‘Giving the voice’ to different experiences, thoughts, opinions and situations in relation to adoptions and fosterages in particular or to families and childhoods in general, is also one of the purposes of the AFIN’s Newsletter. This Newsletter 17, written by Jennifer, a young lady who was born in China and adopted by a family from the USA that took part in the AFIN Conference on May 2010, is an example of this. The Newsletter 13 was also at the time and example of this, in which an adoptive mother shared her experience in relation to children’ s literature about adoption. newsletters@afin.org.es Editors: Esther Grau, Diana Marre y Beatriz San Román Author: Jennifer Bao Yu ‘ Precious Jade’ Jue-Steuck Layout Editor: Sofía Gaggiotti ISSN: 2013-2956 P. 1/8 Newsletter 17, July 2010 ADOPTIONS, FAMILIES, CHILDHOODS This Newsletter is publisehd with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Project R+D Adopción Int ernacional y Nacional: Familia, educación y pert enencia: perspect ivas int erdisciplinares y comparat i- vas (MICIN CSO2009-14763-C03-01 subprograma SOCI)