A group of attorneys in Guatemala is looking to put together a booklet of Guatemalan adoption stories. The request was made to Focus On Adoption following their recent conference in Guatemala. During the conference, a short booklet with about 15 sample stories was presented as evidence for "why adoption works". Apparently it made quite an impression and thus came the need for a more extensive booklet of stories that advocates for adoption could share with government officials, Guatemalan Congressional representatives, and basically keep "re-circulating" the positive image of adoption among newcomers to ICA issues in Guatemala.
PLEASE HELP by sending in your adoption story. The ultimate message of the compilation needs to be "Why adoption works". It should focus on how adoption has touched your lives and how you feel about your child(ren), elaborating on the life and opportunity that you would like to provide for your child(ren). Any stories of special needs adoption, older children adoption, sibling group adoption, etc. reaffirm the more extensive need that adoption can also serve. It would also be helpful if adoptive parents commented on how they feel private foster care may have made a difference for their child. Parents should also include 5-10 photos of their child/family. This not only pulls on anyone’s heartstrings, but also adds to the legitimacy of the stories.
I know that confidentiality is always a question. If you reveal your names in your written story, they will be included in the compilation. But we will not insert names, take them off of the envelope, or anything like that. So if you are only comfortable with your first names being used, don’t put your last name into the piece.
Please send stories saved on a disk or CD (also include photos) to:
Focus on Adoption, 312 S. Lincoln Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Also please include a simple statement that says “I authorize Focus On Adoption to use and distribute our adoption story”.
From these stories, Focus On Adoption is also hoping to publish a more extensive booklet of Guatemala Adoption Stories and possibly a CD or video for distribution. We may also consider offering this collection of stories publicly to help raise funds for our advocacy efforts.
If you have any questions, please contact Jeannene Smith at ReachOutNJ@aol.com.
We would like to do this. Is there a due date?
Thank you for all of your efforts.