» adoption articles archive » adopt: site index

• Content Categories
• Adopted Persons
• Adopting a Child
• Adoption Professionals
• Adoptive Parents
• Birth Parents & Families
• Community Resources
• Expectant/Placing Parents
• Foster Care
• Issues in Adoption & Foster Care
• Legal Resources
• Research & Statistics
• Search & Reunion
• Shopping
• Stepparents
• Select a forumFaith in AdoptionOpen AdoptionWaiting to AdoptGuatemala & So...China, Korea &...

         - Select One - Learn More For Birthmothers For Adoptive Parents Latest Info Our Guarantee About AdoptHelp

Adopt: Site Index

Urgent Messages

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IS BUILDING YOUR FAMILY THROUGH ADOPTION THE CORRECT DECISION FOR YOU?

HELP THE CHILDREN, INC. is a private, non-profit adoptive parent-led agency specializing in the preparation and support of families and single persons wishing to adopt. We can provide pre-placement homestudy, post-placement supervision and adoption services for both domestic and foreign born children. We have our own programs in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Brasil, Russia and Latvia. You can also locate your own child and we can help with the paperwork.

Our foreign attorneys/representatives will be present at this seminar to discuss the process of adopting in their respective countries through Help The Children. Newborns, Infants, Toddlers and School-Age Children.

CONTACT: Help The Children, Lois or Diana

PHONE: (209) 478-5585 or FAX (209) 478-5586
ADDRESS: 1350 West Robinhood Dr #2, Stockton CA 95207-5512
EVENT: Adoption Seminar
PURPOSE: To locate families for children who need parents
DATE: Saturday, 6 December 1997
TIME: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
PLACE: Marriott Residence Inn
3240 March Lane, Stockton CA
COST: $15.00 per person (includes lunch)

We believe that there is a family for every child in this world. You just have to be introduced! There is limited seating. Call HELP THE CHILDREN at (209) 478-5585 or FAX (209) 478-5586 to make your reservation today.

The message:
Eligibility for federal adoption assistance must be based solely on the child's special needs and not linked to elibility for AFDC and SSI. Delinking adoption assistance from AFDC and SSI is essential to S.1195. To have their best chance for finding loving adoptive families, all children with special needs should be eligible for adoption assistance. We urgently request your support for the delinking provision in S.1195.
Judith Ashton

November is traditionally Adoption Awareness Month, and while not every adoption-touched person or professional or adoption-related support group has the time, the means, or the volunteer energy to mount a full media campaign or plan a fair or sponsor an art contest or plan a full day workshop to raise awareness of adoption issues (especially this close to November, 1997--though there's plenty of time to think big for 1998!) there's still plenty of time to plan simple, inexpensive observances that nearly everyone could do for November, 1997.

I'm gathering a list of Simple Ways Individuals Can Draw Awareness to Adoption which will be mounted as an article on Perspectives Press' web site on Friday, October 24th. Our start is listed below. Does anyone care to add some suggestions? Remember, quick, cheap, and simple is the key!

1. Contact your house of worship and arrange to donate altar flowers one sabbath in November "In Honor of Children Waiting for Forever Families" or "In Celebration of this Congregation's Adoption-Expanded Families." (Suggest that each member of your APSG do this same thing--reaching many congregations of differing faiths during the month.)

2. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about a positive adoption issue.

3. Have your local APSG plant a tree at a park or the zoo with a small plaque acknowledging adoptive families of waiting children. Be sure to send out press releases for your planting ceremony! TV cameras will love the opportunity to photograph kids and families at a happy event--especially on a slow news day.

4. Individuals can buy single copies of a favorite adoption-related children's book for a classroom teacher's library or a school library or a church or synagogue library. APSGs might consider buying multiple copies of the same book (at substantial discounts directly from the publisher) inserting a bookplate with contact info about the APSG and having families distribute them to area schools or public libraries.

5. Contact your local public library about your helping them do an adoption book display.

6. If your zoo has dumped its "adopt-an-animal" program in favor of a more sensitive program name, sponsor an animal! Similarly reward other former adopt-a programs.

7. Subscribe to Adoptive Families, Pact Press, Roots & Wings or another favorite adoption periodical for your pediatrician's waiting room, your school's teacher's library, your hairdresser's dryer/waiting area, etc (and while you're at it, subscribe for Grandma and Grandma as a Christmas or Chanukkah present!)

8. Make copies of PP's "Using Respectful Adoption Language" fact sheet or some other article that you especially like and stuff your child's school's teacher mail boxes. Give one to your house of workship's priest, pastor, or rabbi, too. Send them as well to your state legislators and local media.

9. With a friend, volunteer to do a short presentation on adoption in a school classroom--preferably not your own child's. The PP article "Moses, Jesus, Superman and Me" could be a start for you to build on.

Thanks to all who called about the infants available for adoption. They have been placed with adoptive families.
Click here for other USA Waiting Children

Due to our inability to answer questions and email in a timely fashion, we are starting a listserv for pre-adoptive families and those looking into adoption for the first time, or for those in the process of adopting or who have just adopted. In the next month we will also add listservs for birth family and for post adoption support. We are also looking into bulletin board solutions so we may serve you better.

Pre-adoptive Family Listserv