Raising Adoption Awareness
How to Increase Adoption Awareness in Your Community
by Russell Webb
Raising awareness of adoption is commendable and valuable community education. Here are four questions that can help you determine what you can take on and what is most meaningful for your family:
- What is the focus? What aspect of adoption do you want to make people aware of?
- Who do you want to target? Your friends, family, church, school, club, or the greater community?
- Are there any ways that you are personally talented or gifted?
- What would be the most meaningful thing you could do?
Invite family or friends over for a special adoption celebration meal, or dessert or party. It can be something like a Thanksgiving celebration but specifically for adoption. Thanks can be expressed for your adopted children or you can use it as a way of honoring the birthparents in your children's lives. Adoptees can express thanks or give honor to their biological and adopted parents.
Invite family or friends over to watch a video that touches on adoption and allow for discussion afterwards.
Set up a website for family and friends to visit that has your adoption story, information, and links to other adoption sites.
Mail out your favorite adoption magazine to family members explaining that it is Adoption Awareness Month.
Ask to speak to your child's class about adoption.
Write a letter or article for your local paper about your adoption experience.
Ask your local library if you can help make a display for books on adoption.
Wear a ribbon or pin that signifies adoption awareness.
Ask a leader at your church if he or she would speak on adoption or donate a flower arrangement "In honor of children waiting for forever families," or "In celebration of this congregation's adoption-expanded families," or, "In gratitude to birthparents who have chosen adoption."
Write a song about your adoption experience and play as a special musical number for friends, family, church, party, or community event.
Phone your local radio station and ask that a specific song be played in honor of your adopted child(ren), your adoptive parents, your birthparents, or adoption itself.
Do an event (biking, running, swimming, etc.) asking friends, family, and the community to sponsor you to raise money for a nonprofit charitable organization involved in adoption.
However you choose to raise awareness of adoption, I hope that you feel a sense of pride and have fun doing it. Adoption is a wonderful thing worthy of celebrating.
Russell Webb is a Marriage and Family Therapist in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
This article was used with permission from the Adoptive Families Association of BC - bcadoption.com