Adoptive Couple Action Plan

We had a great adoption information meeting in April.

Christine Robey, the manager for adoptions for the Fountain Valley and San Diego offices, gave a great overview of the adoption process through LDSFS.

Jamie Pyatt, an adoption caseworker at LDSFS, spoke about "Placement Prep."

Erin Packard, FSA Chairperson, spoke about, "The Proactive Adoption," and "Why FSA?"

Lastly we had a great Q&A panel with Christine, Jamie, Tera Miller (birth mom) and Nicole Dunn (adoptive mom.)

One handout that we did not have available at the conference is the, "Adoptive Couple Action Plan."
This is a great list of ideas to help you "find vs. wait."

Adoptive Couple Action Plan

Preparing for an adoption is filled with lots of mixed emotions. Along with the excitement of preparing for a new addition to your family, there is also all of the stress that accompanies the unknowns. It is hoped that this list of items will help to guide you in being proactive with your preparations. Being "anxiously engaged" can actually reduce the stress by helping you to feel that you have some control over the adoption process. You may discover other items that help you in this effort. Please feel free to share your ideas with us so that we can offer them to others.

Date

_____ Picture(s)

_____ Birth parent letter

_____ Have profile posted on website

_____ Preference checklist

_____ Hold a family fast

_____ Attend a Temple session with birth parents in mind

_____ Organize a family Temple session with birth parents in mind

_____ Send out pass along cards to family and friends

_____ Make and distribute fridge magnets similar to pass along cards

_____ Contact immediate and extended family members to see how they can help

_____ Attend ward council and talk with Church committees regarding your desire to adopt

_____ Talk to your doctor's office personnel (OB/GYN, Pediatrician, and Family Practitioner) to inform birth parents of adoptive possibilities

_____ Contact friends

_____ Talk to your caseworker about taking an adult birth mother into your home

_____ Volunteer to help with a birth mother's needs

_____ Check with government foster care and adoption services

_____ Join and attend FSA meeting and activities

_____ Take or Retake adoption classes

_____ Apply to be an LDS Family Services Agency office volunteer

_____ Present about adoption at community, school. and/or church settings

_____ Send a letter explaining adoption and your desire to adopt to friends and family

_____ Send reminder letters at least quarterly

_____ Talk to one person per week about adoption and your desire to adopt

_____ Volunteer to mentor a new adoptive applicant through the adoption process

_____ Include desires to adopt and adoption updates in regular/holiday correspondence

_____ Develop your own postcard/ad

_____ Post your own postcard/ad at supermarkets, libraries, and other public areas

_____ Make additional copies of profile, collage, and letters to birth parents to provide leads

_____ Consider posting your profile on other websites for a fee

_____ Add a link to your adoption profile as your e-mail signature

_____ Ask friends and family to post a link to your adoption profile to their blogs or social
networking sites.

_____ Hold an adoption fundraiser



Thank you to all who participated in and attended the meeting. We hope it was a valuable use of your time.