The family profile is a collection of photos and information about a prospective adoptive family. It should include the birthmother letter you have written. If you have explored the different adoption websites on the internet you have probably seen or viewed a couple’s family profile. It is one of the most important parts of the adoption process. The family profile is the document that a birthmother will view to help her decide on a family.
If you are working with an agency, the agency will provide you with guidelines to create your family profile. The agency may also help you create an internet profile that is placed on the agency website. Birthmothers are then able to view the family profiles online and will also look at the hard copy of the profile. Adoption attorneys can also give direction to a family when building a profile. Some adoptive families choose to use internet websites that are designed exclusively for a prospective adoptive family to place their profile for a monthly cost. Websites such as Parenting Profiles are often used when a couple is going through Private Adoption with an attorney in order to get greater exposure.
Creating the family profile can be an enjoyable project to complete. It is the couple’s opportunity to collect pictures of themselves, their extended family, their house and neighborhood. It gives the prospective adoptive couple the chance to further describe who they are by sharing how they met, their job descriptions, education, hobbies and activities, and personalities.
Tips for Creating Your Family Profile:
• Create a family summary which contains basic information about the family, including hobbies, interests, education, your job, and personalities.
• Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right words to describe ourselves. If you are struggling to find words that describe your personality, ask you spouse to describe who you are.
• Include a paragraph describing your extended families and include related photographs.
• Describe and include a picture of your house and neighborhood. If you can, try to take pictures of your house in the spring or summer.
• Include 5-6 close-up pictures of you and your spouse. You should be able to see faces and expressions. Send pictures where you and your spouse are showing affection with each other. Use recent photographs.
• Use various backgrounds and setting for pictures. Show pictures of vacations, holidays, and activities. This way the birthmother can picture how her child will grow up.
• Do not include pictures where you are drinking or smoking.
Take your time creating your family profile. Remember, this is the way the birthmother and hopeful adoptive family find each other and start a relationship.