[BrandyHagz]

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, be proactive in educating your community about adoption!

Only we can change the way adoption is portrayed by the general public!

• Write an essay and submit it to the local newspapers!
• Contact your local newscast and find out about public interest pieces
• Write letters to the major TV houses regarding positive adoption portrayal in their shows

It’s time to make your voices heard!

[BrandyHagz]

I’m really disheartened by the lack of response to this, and my other NAAM post.

I’ve seen tons of posts where people talk about the lack of education among the general population, as well as the lack of positive adoption stories on TV. I was really hopeful that people would focus some of that energy towards NAAM, and work towards educating the masses.

The only people who are going to make things different are those affected…share your voice for National Adoption Awareness Month!

[Shoshana]

Brandy:

You're absolutely right - it is critical that we continue to educate and inform and challenge preconceived ideas. I think that you and I (and many others here too) who share dual and sometimes triple roles in the adoption triangle have valuable and unique perspectives to offer.

I've noticed that people in the helping professions (those not specifically involved in adoption) are very receptive to awareness programs. I've been disheartened by some triad members who seem invested in perpetuating the old views.

[BrandyHagz]

Elizabeth,

Thanks for responding!

I think that ever voice counts…I’d love to dispel some of the misconceptions that I’ve run into. In fact, I’ve worked very hard to do so here locally.

I’m hoping that I can find some positive adoption merchandise…I’d like to purchase some.

I’d love a sticker for my car…I’ve seen stickers for just about everything…but positive adoption. I’m not talking about the “Pregnant? Call…”

Sigh…we’ve got a long way to go…

[riley6]

I'll tell you what I'm doing SO FAR.

I got an "Ask me about adoption" pin and I'm going to be wearing it each day in November. I got it at a conference I recently went to on Attachment Disorder.

I wrote to the newspaper and asked them if they could run a series each Sunday of November, or if I could write them and they could publish them.

I've talked to our pastors about putting an article in each weeks Sunday bulletin about the different types of adoption and that I owuld be available to talk to anyone further if they were interested.

We are also going to have a skating party for our adoption/foster parent association (which I'm a member). The paper is going to come and take pictures and run an article about the association and the children we help.

If you have any other ideas, I'm willing to give anything a try!

[Shoshana]

Riley, those sound like wonderful ideas. I have a heart-shaped adoption pin that I will also wear during November.

Oh, Brandy - talking about the 'pregnant?' bumper stickers - did you see the debate last night? Not to get into a discussion of abortion here - but Bush was asked a question about abortion and he started the 'adoption is the only alternative to abortion' argument. THEN he said that he wanted to start GROUP MATERNITY HOMES! Oy vey. Let's go back to the middle of last century, ship pregnant girls away from home, and let them have the group bonding experience. Sorry, but that idea totally rankled me. Oh, and I was born in a "home for unwed mothers" -- the girls/women didn't even get to go to a hospital to give birth.

[BrandyHagz]

I just came in from soccer...I'll respond to the debate thing in a few, but I wanted to ask a question.

Where did you ladies get your adoption stuff?

I've decided to create a few things myself on the Cafe Press website, and I am really excited (I worked on this for a few hours last night).

Riley, your ideas sound great!

Now, I gotta go install my water filter...bbl

[riley6]

I got my pin (button) at an attachment conference I went to. Adoptions Together adoption agency had a booth there and they had pins, free for the asking. I asked and got mine.

You've inspired me to wear my pin this month as well. I'm going to pin it onto my purse so I don't forget to put it on everyday. I'll let you know if I get any response to it.

Our DCFS has bumper stickers that they give out to foster/adoptive parents. I'm hesitant to put one on, bc I don't want my kids pointed out as possible foster or adoptive kids. Not that I'm ashamed of how they joined our family, but our teens are very sensitive about being looked at as different from their peers, kwim?

What kind of bumper sticker would you like to see? I've seen a website that custom makes them. I had been thinking about having one made, but again, what could I put on it to promote adoption in a positive light, but not have my teens cringe?

http://www.makestickers.com/stickerpricing.asp

[BrandyHagz]

The idea that I’ve come up with is very general…it’d be something that even non-triad members could put on their car or wear on their shirt.

I’ve been a busy little bee…when I get done, I’ll PM you guys the link, so you can take a look and give me some feedback

[riley6]

I look forward to hearing your ideas!

[SchmennaLeigh]

AH, sigh.

I work for our local news station. With the things that have happened in our area recently regarding a teen not knowing about the Safe Haven Law in Ohio, I could not stick my neck out there as a Birthmother to not only my coworkers but the public in general. While I hope to educate those that I feel are important enough to know my story, I can't handle the judgement anymore.

I'm sure I'll write a piece, that will stay in my journal, with the rest of everything.

[BrandyHagz]

Jenna,

You might consider writing a piece for your local news paper, and sign it anonymous.

I know that your placement was fairly recent, and that a lot of your pain is still very fresh, so I do understand your need to maintain your personal privacy, but this might be an opportunity for you to voice your feelings anonymously about the negative stereotypes that birthmothers face on a daily basis.

I truly hope that everyone who has a voice about adoption will use that voice this November to dispel many of the negative connotations regarding adoption.

Maybe if this year isn’t a good time, next year will be!

Thanks for participating in the thread anyway

[spaypets]

Hi Brandy,
As a recovering journalist, I've been considering writing an op ed for our local paper. I haven't decided what tack to take.

I got into a "discussion" with the editor a couple of years ago because the paper identified a young woman who set her parents house on fire as "adopted" with absolutely no other details (what kind of adoption, how long in the home etc., did her family think some sort of adoption issue was related to her behavior). Turned out their decision to run that detail was deliberate, based in part on the fact that she was darker skinned than her parents and the editor thought that would raise question in the readers mind. I flipped out, and basically said, "So your paper will feel obligated if it runs a photo of my kid scoring a soccer goal, giving her valedictorian speech etc., to identify her as adopted? And will you do the same for the blond Russian adoptee, and describe the history's of other kids who don't "match" their parents?

Long story short, he realized that his decision had been racist and now the paper has a policy of not identifying birth status if it's not germain to the story.

[michellemartin]

I got a new job last week and already have told them all about placing Kara into adoption. I have been pretty lucky that no one has said anything overly judgemental or mean. Most are just curious and of course I bring out my pictures. I would love to wear a pin! My love of talking about adoption has gotten other people to share their stories. A girl I work with has a sibling that was placed by her mom in the closed adoption era, and they are in reunion!

[BrandyHagz]

Ok, so I came up with some fairly decent ideas...

If anyone would like to see what I came up with, either send me an email or PM