[ProphetMother]

I'm just beginning to research my options for domestic adoption and am wondering about the process of locating a birth parent.

For example, I found one place that said this:

Our designated program, for agency facilitation of pre-matched cases, or in which proactive adopting parents locate their child's birthparent via outreach and networking efforts and then receive full support, pre-placement and post-adoption services.

I've seen places that advertise waiting parents online, I've seen places that list where they advertise. I've seen ads on this site and even in local newspapers. What else do people do? Are those all the options?

At first I recoiled at the idea of advertising ourselves. Is that the way to go? How? Does it work?

From this site, I read this:

Another way to locate placing parents is to send an introductory letter, photo, and resume describing your family life, home, jobs, hobbies, and interests to crisis pregnancy centers, obstetricians, and all of your friends and colleagues who might possibly lead you to the right person. Some families have found Internet profiles are the most effective way of getting their information to potential birthparents who can view them in the privacy of their own homes.

So, that actually works? In most cases or in very few? Your experiences?

Just for reference, we are in Texas and are looking to adopt an AA biracial infant.

Thanks!

[blessedbybug]

We went through an agency. Any sort of advertising and networking is illegal in our province. Others might be able to have insight into this.

I know you are new to this site so I wanted to offer some perspective as you look forward to this journey of adoption. Please know that women who are pregnant and considering adoption are not "birthmothers" until they make the decision AFTER they give birth to make an adoption plan for their child. It was really helpful in my adoption waits to remember that no child (even in what we considered a possible "match") was mine to parent until their parents said they were. It really helped me keep things in perspective.

[ProphetMother]

I contemplated whether to research exactly how to correctly phrase my question before posting it or to just take a chance and post it using the phrasing from the agency sites I've been browsing. Hope I haven't offended anyone.

Thanks for that heads up.

Still looking for an answer. How do you find children available to adopt if not working directly with an agency and do those methods work?

[startedover]

WORD OF MOUTH. If you say it too enough people eventually someone may know someone who knows someone ect. That is how it happened for us and since then I have been very open to tell my story. (I sometimes just hunt for people who look board so I can tell them) and believe it or not I have been contacted several times in the last year again. I am actually in the middle of talking with a young girl that is considering placing. I am trying to be her support system and don't know yet whether we would adopt again but I want to educate her.

[aallen25]

I agree with startedover. That is what we did and that is how we met Shiloh's bmom. I know another couple who told enough people and found their DD's bmom that way also.
Also, regarding sending letters out. I've heard of that working out as well. My mom works with a lady who's mom is an obstetrician. She received a letter from someone and filed it away, not thinking much about it. Sure enough about a month later she came in contact with a pregnant woman wanting to place so she gave that women this couple's letter. They ended up adopting that baby. If we hadn't found DD's bmom so fast that was one of our plans.

[gottahavehope]

My hubby and I used ParentProfiles.com Our son's birthomther contacted us almost immediately after our profile was up. You can also put ads in papers. I know it sounds strange, but it works. I would suggest that you get adoption for dummies. I am not trying to be insulting, it just really helps with alot of the questions you might have as you start the process. I would also suggest you get a 1800 number in your home. It's cheap and you can do it by using companies online. I had all my calls transfered to my cell. That way, I never missed an opportunity to talk with a potential birthmother. Doing domestic independent is a lot of work, but we started the process and had our son home and the entire adoption finalized in about the same time it takes for a pregnancy.

Good Luck!