Writing an adoption profile is a joint task, involving both prospective parents.
Writing an adoption profile is one of the most important tasks of the adoption process. It is the letter -- and all addenda -- a birth mother reads in order to select the most suitable family for her child. As Lori Holden of the "Adoptive Families" magazine suggests, an attractive profile can make all the difference and minimize the waiting time until you become a parent. As with any other type of profile, such as a professional resume, your goal is to impress the recipient. But composing an adoption profile is different from any writing you have done in the past.
Instructions
1. Open your letter with a friendly greeting but not with "Dear birth parents." Though "birth parents" is an accurate term for biological parents, you should not use it when addressing them directly. A better greeting is "Dear expectant parents."
2. Write freely. An adoption profile can even be four or five pages long. Unlike professional resumes, adoption profiles should have a friendly style. You do not have to cut down sentences to focus only on facts. Birth parents are not human resources managers.
3. Write about yourself and your spouse. Don't refer constantly to the birth parents. Also, do not make assumptions about what they expect from a family ("I am a successful professional, as you would expect"). The purpose of the profile is to give a comprehensive description of your family.
4. Mention your occupation and your achievements. If your job provides a salary big enough to satisfy the needs of a child, mention that fact without giving the exact figure. You must show that you can maintain a balance between a successful career and a happy family life.
5. Use humor and share some funny moments you've enjoyed with your partner (or your kids if you are parents already). This shows birth parents that in addition to a safe environment for their child, you can offer the fun moments that are necessary for a child's well-being.
6. Be honest throughout the profile. Don't lie to impress. You do not have to give the impression of being famous or having a six-figure salary in order to adopt a child. Furthermore, if a background check by the adoption agency or the birth parents reveals a lie, however small, your application will be rejected.
7. Provide a photographic album showing various candid moments of your family life. Include captions explaining where you are, what you are doing and when the event took place. For pictures that include extended family members, identify your cousin, aunt or nephew, but don't give any unnecessary details.
Tags: birth parents, adoption profile, family life, Writing adoption, Writing adoption profile, your family