 re
you eager to present yourself to birth parents in the best possible
light? Do you want tailored feedback to help your profile "stand out from the
pack"? Are you ready to tap into insights gleaned from
someone with over ten years of experience in adoption
outreach? If so, request a pocket review through Adoption Ink,
LLC. |
| |
| What is a
profile? |
| A profile is a letter of
introduction to prospective birth parents. Most profiles
include photos as well as text. Ideally, these photos and text work
together to create connections between you and birth parents seeking
an adoptive family like yours. Agencies and posting Web sites
often limit the length of profiles to keep from overwhelming birth
parents. While necessary, these limitations add to the
challenge of trying to present yourself in the best possible light.
|
| |
| What is a
pocket review? |
| A pocket review is a
time-limited critique that helps you turn your current profile into a one-of-a-kind
outreach tool. Each pocket review lasts roughly one
hour. I spend half of that time in the privacy of my home
office noting strengths and making suggestions for
improvement. We then arrange a time to talk on the phone for
another half hour to discuss my comments. Families are free
to accept or reject suggestions for improvement as they see fit.
|
| |
| Who may
submit their profile? |
| I will
perform pocket reviews for any family approved for adoption in their state
of residence, and willing to work hard to attract those birth
parents most likely to choose them. |
| |
| Why request
a pocket review? |
| Consider this service if
you: |
- Wish to benefit from techniques that go beyond their agency's
profile training or the scope of
the Reaching Birth Parents Through Your
Profile workshop
|
- Need help addressing health problems, one or more biological
siblings-to-be and other issues that might deter birth parents
|
- Are adopting for reasons other than infertility
|
- Struggle with writing or expressing yourself creatively
|
- Have grown weary of waiting to make a connection despite
reworking your profile on your own
|
- Simply desire assurance from the get-go that you have presented
yourself to birth parents as honestly and as positively as
possible
|
| |
| Is this
service confidential? |
| Yes. Please review my
privacy policy for more information.
|
| |
| What does a pocket review cost? |
| Each pocket review costs
$100. A check for the full amount is required with your
submitted profile. |
|
| How quickly
is feedback provided? |
| I require seven working days upon receipt of your materials to perform the initial
half-hour review. While making every effort to complete pocket reviews in a timely
manner, I reserve the right to impose a slight wait to accommodate
workload, personal emergencies and other circumstances. I will
let you know as soon as possible if the time need to be extended.
|
| |
| Why isn't
one pocket review enough? |
| Families are often surprised
at how different and how much better their profile looks and reads
after just one pocket review. Existing material sees change;
new material gets added. All this warrants a second and
sometimes even a third look. |
|
| You might equate a pocket
review to one stage in a kitchen remodeling job. In the
first stage, cupboards, countertops, and the sink are
replaced. Walls and windows may need to be moved or
removed. The second stage sees the installation of new
flooring and appliances. Wall coverings, tiling and lighting
make their appearance in the third stage. The steps may vary
from job to job, but a pleasing and fully functioning outcome is
assured. |
|
| Is feedback
ever given in person? |
| Anyone willing to travel to
Rochester (MN) is welcome to meet with me in person. On some
workshop days, I am also available to meet one on one with
families. Please inquire by e-mail
for days and times. |
| |
| What if a
family wants help creating their entire profile? |
| Adoption Ink, LLC, has
joined forces with Julie Carlson Graphics, LLC, to provide total
profile packages to families seeking assistance that goes beyond
pocket reviews. For more information, please contact Julie
Carlson, also an adoptive parent, at juliegraphics@comcast.net
or (651) 210-0325. |
| |
| What happens
if a birth parent connection takes place in the middle of either a
pocket review or a total profile package? |
| You are encouraged to network
and to make available to birth parents your existing profile during
our work together. If a birth parent expresses interest in you as an
adoptive family, you are free to stop work to pursue a
possible match. You
will be invoiced only for services rendered up to the point that you
inform us. If desired, you may resume services at a later
date. Please know that some families prefer to continue our
work together in the event a match does not take place. This
is a personal choice that each family must make for themselves. |
| |
| Family crises and other
factors may also interrupt or end our work together. Rest assured that
your needs will be respected. |
| |
| What is
needed to begin a pocket review? |
| I request the following: |
- Your birth parent letter, preferably with photographs
incorporated.
|
- Any agency forms or information sheets included as part of
your profile. These usually relate to your family makeup and
background, your interest in openness or future contact with birth
parents, and/or your comfort level with medical or background
issues possibly affecting a child.
|
- A note sharing any concerns about your family, background or
profile in general.
|
- A brief statement outlining your feelings, opinions and
concerns about openness or future relationships with birth
parents.
|
- Your contact information including mailing address, e-mail
address and phone numbers (home, work and cell).
|
- Proof that you are approved for adoption in your state of
residence. The name and phone number of your agency, social
worker or attorney usually suffices for this purpose.
|
- A signed release form available by e-mail.
|
- A check or money order for $100.
|
| |
| I will inform you by phone
or e-mail when your materials have arrived. |
| |
| All this
sounds like a lot of effort. Do pocket reviews really make a
difference? |
| Taking part in at least two
pocket reviews allows you to present yourselves in the best possible light, which
encourages birth parents to believe in you. Only then will they consider you as
an adoptive family for their child. While no one cannot guarantee a
successful adoption (please read my
disclaimer), experience and input from social workers have shown
that families who go the extra mile often reap the rewards of their
efforts. Yes, pocket reviews require work and time.
Then again, so do children. |
| |
| If you have more questions
about consulting services, please e-mail. |
| |
| * |
The Reaching Birth Parents Through
Your Profile workshop is continually updated to keep pace with
the changing face of open adoption. If you attended an earlier
version of the workshop, it may have gone by a different name. |
| |
| Copyright @ 2002, Adoption
Ink, LLC |
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