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Written by Nancy S
on August 01, 2014

domestic adoption  In this third part of a four part blog series on domestic adoption . We will discuss creating your book profile or portfolio.  In part four of my blog series we will give you tips on creating an effective adoption video profile. 

 

Now that you have completed your paperwork, your home visit, reviewed your home study and been approved as prospective adoptive parents, you are one step further on your journey to add to your family through adoption.  Now what? 

 

You need to stay active in your desire to adopt.  Your need to stay in touch with your agency, clearly tell them the type of child you desire to adopt, the amount of openness you want and the risk factors you are willing to accept.  You must be honest and open with your adoption agency social worker so that you can be prepared for every opportunity that comes your way.  You need to be active in putting yourself out there by letting people know you want to adopt, staying current with trends in adoption and creating a book profile and video profile to present to prospective birth mothers and birth fathers.  Your agency should ask you to complete a profile that they can present to potential birth mothers and birth fathers. 

 

What should you include in this book profile?  Consider the following when you are putting your profile together:

  • First and foremost your profile should represent you.  It should accurately show who you are and what your lives are about.  It should show a birth family the type of life their child will lead in your family.

  • Your profile should address the birth parent(s) through a letter or greeting expressing your gratitude for viewing your profile or acknowledging her strength in making this difficult decision to place her baby for adoption.

  • Include pictures of yourself, your spouse, your children (if applicable), aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and other important people in your life

  • Show what makes you unique or makes you stand out. Do you travel internationally? Do you speak more than one language?  Do you participate in sports?  Do you camp and hike? 

  • Describe your spouse including his/her personality, hobbies, profession, and readiness to parent.  

  • Highlight special traditions in your family.  

  • Show your house (inside and out), your yard and play area, and your community 

  • Show how full your lives are but also show how a baby can be part of that.

  • Describe each picture with details of who people are and what is happening in the picture so that birth parents can understand who you are and what you have to offer a child.

  • You may also want to include any family pets.  This may appeal to some birth parents but it may not to some birth parents who may have allergies or don’t like animals, so don’t overdo it.

  • Choose your pictures wisely, taking note of what is in the picture, be sure to truly represent who you are.

  • Have a friend or someone less vested in the process look over your profile and ask them to be candid and honest with you about it.  A fresh set of eyes can see things you may be overlooking.

  • If your profile has not been attracting birth parents, make some changes, sometimes even the smallest change can dramatically affect results.

  • There are many online photo service stores that you can use to create beautiful books that can make a dynamic first impression, and there are services that can help you prepare an adoption profile.  The choices are yours. 

  • When you have completed a book profile, before printing multiple copies have your agency review it.  At Family Connections, Inc. we have insight into what should and should not be included, what does and does not appeal to birth parents and how to convey to a birth mother or birth father your desire to adopt. 

In many ways your profile is a window into your life for a birth mother and birth father.  It can help them to get to know you further and to see what kind of life this unborn child will have.  There may be one small part of your profile that connects deeply to a birth parent or there may be several things that they have in common with you.  By opening up your heart and mind to the possibilities that can lie ahead you can create a profile that may help to bring the child you desire home.  Above all else I cannot stress enough to be honest, be yourself and truly represent who you are. 


Family Connections, Inc., is a not-for-profit, New York State authorized adoption agency that is Hague Accredited through the Council on Accreditation. The Agency provides home study services for families planning to adopt a child domestically or internationally.  The Agency has a infant domestic placement program for families in New York State.   Family Connections, Inc. serves Syracuse, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Binghamton, Long Island, and all other regions of New York State. You can learn more about Family Connections, Inc. at www.adoptfamilyconnections.org. Please call us at 1-800-535-5556 or 607-756-6574 or email us at info@adoptfamilyconnections.org  we would be honored to help with your adoption plans.

 

                                        

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