Creating Your Adoption Profile Book

Your adoption profile book is often the first way to market yourself to prospective birth mothers. One of the first things you should do is decide on the layout and sections for your book; never rush through this important document. By taking time to plan, you create a meaningful connection. The profile book should have a title such as "Our Journey to Parenthood."

The next step is building your profile book content. You will need to put content in your book such as letters talking about your adoption journey, quotes about family, and pictures of you as a couple. You can find some great ideas for pictures and quotes on Pinterest! Make sure to use good quality photos of you as a couple! If you have also created a website, make sure to include your website link in your book. Consider including an email that is set up for this specific purpose (to talk with prospective birth mothers). Or you can direct birth mothers to contact you through your adoption professional. If a birth mother does contact you, have an initial conversation and then direct them to your adoption professional to do a formal assessment.

There is no hard and fast rule on how many pages your profile book should be. The quality of content is the most important, not the quantity. Remember to keep your content only about your adoption journey and not include anything that could be divisive or controversial.

The final step is getting your profile book distributed! You can start small by having your adoption professional review and approve your book. However, to be able to reach out beyond your immediate adoption professional, you have to engage in some additional options. Some options that are available are: Print Multiple Copies- you create physical copies and select "high quality printing" and in the process that follows you can choose your paper type, binding, and how many copies to print. Digital Version- If you create a digital PDF with great photos and captions that you want to reach more viewers you click "Save as PDF" in the program you're using. The process that follows will allow you to choose your quality settings, file size, and how to share the digital file.

I have had several past adoptive parents who have connected with birth mothers by using compelling profile books. It allows you to be active in your adoption journey and not just feel like "I am waiting." I am always here to support you in your journey and provide guidance.