Networking 101: Introduction to Networking/Marketing in Adoption

This may be one of the hardest "adoption courses" yet. The research and homestudy process was lengthy and required a lot of planning, organization, hard work, and commitment - but it was something that felt comfortable to both of us.  (Kirsten's response to mounds of paperwork, many file folders, and long task lists?  "Yay! I get to use my label maker and colored pens!!")

This next process is a little more unnatural for us: NETWORKING & MARKETING.

In our months of research, we consulted with numerous adoption agencies, attorneys, books, articles, and adoptive (& prospective) parents.  The one common theme: the importance of networking in an effort to locate a birth parent.  Is it comfortable? Nope. Is it important? Yep! Examples include: conversation, letter writing campaigns, emails, social media/internet outreach, and obviously blogging. 
We started this blog in June but have yet to send it out. Today is the day.  We can do it! We have never turned away from a challenge before and we sure as heck are not going to start now - not with the most important thing that we will ever do (becoming parents.) So, here it goes - our first networking assignment.

Our first venture in networking and marketing is this blog/email. As we embark on a process of searching for a birth parent, this assignment is actually a group project.  Many of our friends and family have provided an enormous amount of support in our difficult effort to become parents.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing and caring support network (and we know our future child will be loved by many!)  Now we could really use you to spread the word to help us locate a birth parent.

Please read this blog, follow this blog, and share the link with your friends, family, and co-workers.  Ohio law allows us to locate a birth parent, but the birth parent/baby does not need to be in Ohio.  (Are you still reading New Jersey & Maryland/DC/Virginia friends and family?!)  And as mentioned, the networking is strongly encouraged by all adoption agencies and attorneys.  The only part of the adoption process worse than the networking is the waiting to become parents. (You can see where this is headed!) So, the more we network (and the more our friends and family share our story!), the sooner we will become parents and a family.

We have set up this blog and an adoption email address: kbfx2002@gmail.com that can be shared.  In addition, we are working with an experienced adoption attorney.  We can be contacted through him.  His contact information is:

    Thomas N. Taneff, Attorney 

    ttaneff@rrcol.com or 614.241.2181

Please remember to pass along the following:  Kirsten and Bill are a loving couple who very much want to be parents. If you know of anyone making the difficult, courageous, and loving decision to place their baby for adoption, please let them know about Kirsten and Bill!

Thank you,

Kirsten & Bill