A new tool on the market, adopt2Connect, can provide that link. Developed just one year ago by Nancy Baker, an adoption case worker, and Mark Barrett, an adoptive parent, the site is innovative yet has the ease of use that is common to social media sites. Independent Adoption Center was an early proponent of the site and has continued to be supportive of the site through the many new features we have rolled-out this first year. The latest enhancement is the social media front-end that allows each owner of an adoption support page to link to each of their other social media tools – Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, etc. and without any further effort, all of your social media updates instantly appear in adopt2Connect on IAC’s support page and then instantly populating every home page of every IAC page member. So log on to adopt2Connect today at http://www.adopt2connect.com and join IAC’s support page to see up to the minute feeds and news from their organization, all in one place, right from your home page.

Today, adopt2Connect is 250 families strong. We cherish the gift of a child, respect the unknowns of the adoption process and know how to stick it out through our growing network. As you or someone you know waits patiently for the next call, email or document to guide your steps, remember to join or share our network so that we can be by your side (virtually) and welcome you into a community of expectant parents who want to do good works. We’re there for you from beginning to end. Check us out! Membership is free. Our community works together to make a better life for every child.

The Independent Adoption Center is happy to announce that we’ve joined the enormously popular Pinterest community! We’ve already started a few boards: Open Adoption, containing our favorite adoption related quotes and gifts; Books Worth Reading, full of insightful literature on open adoption; and It’s a boy!/It’s a girl! boards with announcement and gift ideas and the cutest baby photos we can find!

So why use Pinterest?…

Due to it’s visual appeal, it is a great site to spark your inner creativity and at the same time collect all of your ideas in one place and share your ideas with others. It’s a convenient place to plan ahead for parenthood by creating boards for nursery items, baby clothes, birthday/gift ideas, and kid-friendly crafts. It’s especially useful for discovering DIY projects like making you own baby foods. Pinterest can be a way to journal your favorite quotes and pictures about what open adoption means to you, so that you can one day share it with your child.

IAC’s Top Five Reasons to Use Pinterest:

1. It’s free sign up. But, the catch is that you need to be invited by someone who already has an account. Start sending flowers and pretty pleases, pronto!
2. You can create as many boards as you want.
3. You can install the “Pin It” Button, a bookmarklet for your browser, that allows you to pin something from any website you visit.
4. You can pin on-the-go with the well-designed Pinterest Mobile App.
5. You can link your Pinterest account to your Facebook account so that everything you pin is published to Facebook’s News Feed

The popularity of Pinterest has spread like a wild fire. Launched in 2010, Pinterest now generates more referral traffic than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn, and will soon pass up Twitter. Since January 2012, its percentage of daily visits has increased by 145%. For more interesting Pinterest statistics check out, “The Power of Pinterest” Infographic on TechCrunch.

With all this fuss about Pinterest, I bet you’re curious! Our best advice is to find out which of your friends are on Pinterest and ask them for an invitation. As soon as you create your account, start following the IAC’s boards to get you started!

Scout and Bill adopted their daughter, Simone, just over a year ago into an open adoption through the Independent Adoption Center. Their personal experience was so positive that they decided they wanted to turn all the questions they were fielding into something more official. “Hold My Hand” was born to help hopeful parents with everything from social media outreach to nursery decorating tips. They don’t claim to be experts, but want to make an impact, “We’re not social workers or trained professionals, we’re two Dads who have been through the adoption process and want to help others through theirs.” Read more about The Guncles and their adoption mentoring service on Celebrity Baby Scoop.

is a brand new resource for families pursuing open adoption. America Adopts! functions as a meeting place, offering various services that help prospective adoptive parents put their best foot forward as they reach out to potential birthparents.

America Adopts! primary service allows prospective adoptive parents to create a four page adoption profile. Writing and networking services are also available at affordable rates. For more information on the services available visit Why America Adopts!?

As an introductory offer good through November 21, the Adoption Profile Service is only $95 for the first month (including set-up) and $25 each additional month. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption.

IAC clients, Amy & Chris, from Athens, GA have already taken advantage of this opportunity. If you are interested in registering, visit: How to Register.

This idea formed when we asked our Facebook fans to post pictures of their favorite captured moments of their children. The photos were heart warming and seeing them in succession painted a wonderful portrait of open adoption.

We want to continue painting this portrait by allowing everyone (birthparents, adoptive parents, adoptees, family & friends) to share memories made possible through open adoption. We’ve also created an events calendar with this year’s celebrations across the U.S. for Adoption Awareness Month.

Starting November 1st, we invite you to visit Open Portrait and contribute an image, a video, a quote, a keepsake of any kind that helps paint the portrait of open adoption.
Open Portrait is a great new way for the open adoption community to come together and spread awareness. You can get involved by:

• Checking us out! Visit Open Portrait frequently and see what people are posting.
• Sharing! Post photos, videos, and quotes from your own open adoption.
• Spreading the word! Post links to Open Portrait on your Facebook, blogs and other websites.
• Tweet! Tweet! Tweet! Link to Open Portrait with the hashtag #openportrait.

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact Amalia: agratteri@adoptionhelp.org

Don Paul & Preetha Bhat are an IAC family pursuing open adoption.  Don and Preetha were recently interviewed by an e-zine for South Asian mothers, called MasalaMommas. The interview touches on their challenges with conceiving and their decision to adopt.  They offer advice on infertility, a closer look into their parenting philosophy and why it was important to them to wait to have children.

Read the full interview by Anjum Choudhry Nayyar, “Conceivable Dreams: One Couple Makes the Case for Open Adoption”

Congrats to Don & Preetha for being featured!

Marisa Eide & Imran Ashraf are an IAC family pursuing open adoption. Marisa was recently interviewed by an e-zine for South Asian mothers, called MasalaMommas. It’s a great interview addressing topics such as open adoption, transracial adoption, and mixed race marriage.

Read the full interview by Anjum Choudhry Nayyar, “The Choice to Adopt: One Couple’s Cultural Journey”

Congrats to Marisa & Imran for being featured!

IAC has also recently published detailed wait time statistics for 2006 through May 2011. This is discussed on page two. On page 10, we reveal a selection of comments pulled from our Facebook page that answer the question: “What is the significance of your child’s name? And/Or how did you decide upon a name for your child?” The answers from both adoptive parents and birthparents are touching and inspiring.

On page three, get to know Lyn Dawn, Manager of Agency Services. Learn about her love of animals, her feelings about family and what it’s like to be the IAC Halloween Decorating Champion 10 years in a row.

Turn to page four to read an endearing story of how Erin Garcia-Norris and her wife bonded with their son’s birthmother without being able to speak her native language. On page six is our feature article, by Jamie Clark, who has two daughters, both adopted through the IAC. She tells of her search to find her older daughter’s birthmother and how Facebook and other social media play an important role in their ongoing relationship.

On page nine, hear from resident expert Kathleen Silber as she offers great insight into how to teach your adopted child the significance of birth siblings. As always, the final pages contain up-to-date birthparent statistics and upcoming support group dates. DOWNLOAD & enjoy!

~ Ann Wrixon, Executive Director ~

Download the full version here.
Recent events in Japan have reminded me of the importance of staying connected with friends and family. Myself and a few other IAC staff members have special connections with people in Japan whose lives have been heavily affected by these occurrences. How fortunate we are to have resources like the Internet and social media networks to keep us connected and up-to-date on what is going on in our world and what is happening to the people who are so important to us.

Open adoption is about staying connected. Sometimes we don’t even realize how important someone is to us, or how important someone will become, unless we keep a positive outlook and open mind. This means welcoming any opportunity to share your plans to adopt in a genuine and appropriate manner. Jennie Hurley addresses this in her networking success story on page 9, “Marketing Your Adoption Plan with an Open Heart.”

This also means welcoming your child’s birthmother as a unique extension of your family. Her existence to you is filled with every ounce of love that you have, or will have, for our child. And, she will always love him just as much. In the feature article, “…One Love” on page 5, readers will glimpse into the powerful connection between a birthfamily and adoptive family. The voices of the birthmom (Meryah Maddock) and adoptive mom (Wendy Crawford) are woven together in this surprising and heartwarming adventure.

Before we hear from IAC families, readers will get to see the “newest families” and IAC news and events. And, in “Marketing Force” on page 3, we’ll reveal the faces behind the IAC Marketing Department and find out what makes them tick.

We’ve saved the best for last, so on page 10, hear from resident expert Kathleen Silber. She shares some incredibly valuable information about how to approach the hospital experience of your child’s birth. There’s no better time to reinforce your connection with your child’s birthmother. As always, the final pages will supply updates on birthparent statistics, Open Adoption article submission information and the upcoming support group calendar. Enjoy!

For previous issues of Open Adoption Magazine visit our archives at http://www.adoptionhelp.org/news/newsletter

For prospective waiting families having a Facebook page is a great way to be proactive and take charge of your adoption. While the goal is ultimately to attract the right birthparents, having a Facebook page also keeps you informed and passes time as you await the day you welcome a baby into your lives.

I want to help you to make the most of your Facebook presence so I have gathered some more tips for you as you continue to expand your network.

• Secure a unique URL. Once you acquire 25 fans (or “Likes”) you can create a username, i.e. facebook.com/username. This is a good idea because it is easier to promote your Facebook page with a short, simple, and relevant URL. Make sure to include the URL on marketing materials and emails you send out. Set your username here: facebook.com/username/




• Manage your permissions. While you are in edit mode you will see that there is a category called “Manage Permissions”. These settings allow you to control what info is shared and who can view and interact with your page. Here are the settings I recommend:





• Add the YouTube App. While in edit mode, select the Apps tab. Search for “You Tube Box” and add it to your page. Then add some of the IAC’s videos by entering the URLs in the space provided. If you have your own You Tube video add that as well. By adding this app you are allowing visitors to learn about our agency without having to leave your page.





• Link your Facebook and Twitter accounts. If you have accounts with both social mediums, it is wise to link the two. This way when you make a post on facebook, the post will also go to your twitter feed. Link your accounts here: facebook.com/twitter/




• Like every post you make. This is important because your wall now reveals posts with the most likes and comments at the top. In order to ensure that your posts are being seen in other people’s feeds, post interesting content that elicits likes and comments.




• Fill in the Info tab. Provide your contact information as well as the IAC’s websites, blogs, and toll free number. Also use the space to introduce yourself and the purpose of the page. It is a good idea to use the introduction from your Dear Birthparent Letter as a way to address potential birthparents looking at your page. You can even include other sections of your letter on the info tab – it can’t hurt. Most importantly, make it easy for them to contact you and learn more about you.

You may have also noticed that Facebook has undergone yet another change. At this point in time, the new layout is optional, but as of March 2011, all pages will convert over to the new format. In the image below I have numbered the most important changes and explained each change below.

1. The tabs have moved from the across top of the page to down the left side under the profile photo. The wall tab shows the wall as others see it, posts in order of popularity, and the admin view shows posts in chronological order.




2. Now recent photos show up at the top of the page. You can edit which ones show up by hovering over the thumbnails and clicking the “x” that shows up at in the top righthand corner. Delete photos until you have the desired ones appearing on your wall.




3. You can now elect to use Facebook as your page. It transforms your news feed, notifications, and identity into that of your page instead of your profile. The cool part is that you can switch back to your main identity at any time.




4. Facebook now allows you to choose 5 featured pages (that you Like) to appear on your page. In edit mode select the “Featured” tab. From here you can select up to 5 pages. Definitely select the IAC page, the I Heart Adoption page, and the Adoption Diaries page.

Keep in mind that Facebook is ever-evolving. These changes seem drastic, but you will be used to them in no time. These changes are undoubtedly backed by research for optimal user experience. Here is a short video that also highlights these changes:

For more information on Facebook and other social media as it relates to your adoption, read these blog posts:
http://adoptionhelp.org/blog/2011/media-spotlight-part-1-of-3/
http://adoptionhelp.org/blog/2011/media-spotlight-part-2-of-3/
http://adoptionhelp.org/blog/2011/media-spotlight-part-3-of-3/