[Momof2boysinOH]

Hi Everyone,

Even though my husband and I have decided to adopt from China, I like to read the threads on the Guatemala board and see all the beautiful photos. I was wondering if any of you could offer me some advice about funding an adoption...

Here's what I was thinking. I'm a stay-at-home mom to 2 bio sons but from time to time I do freelance translation work (English/Spanish). Spanish is my first language (my mom is Colombian and my dad is from Spain) and I spent 2 years living in Colombia. I've been doing this kind of work on a very part-time basis for the past 3 years with 20 clients mainly in the banking industry (my professional background was in the financial services industry). Recently as a favor I translated some medical records for a lady in my town who is adopting for a 3rd time from Guatemala. It occurred to me that maybe I could raise some money for my own adoption by charging a small fee to adoptive parents who need translations done. I just don't have any idea how to get started. Do you think I should contact the adoption agencies and see if they could use my services? Or is there a way I can advertise myself to the adoptive parents?

Thanks for your help! And good luck to everyone on their adoption journey!

-Mary
mami de Julian (4/2003) y Christian (12/2004)
paperchasing for Chinese daughter in October

[AdoptAmiga]

I sent you a PM.

[KellyMigoya]

I would see if you could advertise on some international forums or go into the agencies and leave your card. I know we had to use a translator for my husband's birth certificate as it is from Spain and had to be translated into English for the dossier. Also what about getting your notary license and notarizing adoption papers. I know the notary class is only a day long and you take the test right after the class.

[ddhuab]

I have spent most of my adult life working at colleges and universities, and since for many years I was a receptionist/secretary, I have found that regular people in the community often call colleges for help that they are willing to pay for, simply because they don't know where to start.

You might try giving business cards and/or a flyer to language departments at Universities, community colleges, and high schools, as well as to day cares or elementary schools where Spanish is taught.

As a person whose specialty is English/writing, I can tell you that working within an institution is often restrictive about services you can/cannot perform while in that environment, AND full-time specialist are also BOMBARDED with people asking them for help... so it is nice to have some extra names/numbers on hand to give to strangers.

This would provide you with clients other than adoptive parents, but if you are looking for a chance to fund your adoption, I think this might be a good place to start.

I would think agencies would be a perfect contact medium, but I know some agencies offer their own translation services AND some agencies discourage direct contact between the p-adoptive parents foster families/attorneys, so you may have to think outside the box.

Good luck,
D.