Adoption Writings
I write about adoption issues and the experience of being a birthmother more than anything else, but I am not limited to adoption issues, it’s just what I prefer. As a business blogger, I also wrote wine reviews, fashion promotions, art articles, real estate copy, blog posts about weddings, haunted houses, road trips, farm insurance and just about everything else under the sun.
However, I do adoption best. If you need something in particular, or just want the perspective that I offer, please get in touch.
- “Birthmothers” a chapter in Mothers, Mothering and Motherhood Across Cultural Differences: A Reader Edited by Andrea O’Reilly; Demeter Press May 2014 ISBN#978-1-927335-39-0
- 2013 30 Adoption Portraits; Portrait of an Adoption; ChicagoNow
“You Can Call Me Anti-Adoption If You Must” November 14th, 2013 - The Toast; “Adopting a Child in America: What “Baby Veronica” Teaches Us About the Adoption Process” October 4, 2013
- WhattoExpect.com Word of Mom Blog Guest Blogger: “Being Pregnant After I Relinquished My First Baby to Adoption” July 2013
- New York Times Motherlode parenting blog: “A Birth Mother with the Right Regrests” February 2013 – First Birthmother published on the NYT Parenting Blog
- New York Times “Room for Debate” online column “Should the Adoption Tax Credit Be Renewed?” October 2012
- Adoption Voices Magazine: Contributing Writer
- Lost Mothers: 2012 to present; multi authored birthmother blog
- The Adoption Constellation magazine, published by AdoptionMosaic “What’s in a Word: Birthmother” available in print version only
- Adoption Today Magazine; authored feature article “”Searching for Self, Searching for Family.” October ’10
- wwwGrowninmyHeart.com; 2009 to 2111: multi author, mixed triad adoption blog
- www.Adopt-a-tude.com; guest blogger 12/2009 “A Birth Mother’s View of “Find My Family”: The Best Thing to Happen to Adoption”
- Adoption Today Magazine; authored feature article “Wading through Life, Treading Time” for Dec 07 publication
- NIARA; proposed national reform bill calling for infant adoption practices and natural family preservation in the USA.
- Divine Caroline;authored:
- Also published on: Author‘s Den, International Adoption Associates , Associated Content, Op-Ed news, Blogger News Network & many more
Adoption Speaking Appearances & Interviews
I’m very open to speaking publicly about my experiences s as being a birthmother, adoption reform needs, and Adoptee Rights simply because I can. As I live only 90 miles north of New York City, I can take advantage of local opportunities and I do also seek them out. I do not do this because I live to be in the public eye, but because so many other Birthmothers are still in hiding in some way or fear the public commentary. And they are right, because it can be brutal, but I do it anyway because any opportunity to educated people is worth the risk.
UPCOMING:
Teaching Adoption Blogging & SEO Best Practices at the AAC Conference in March 2015
Presenting at the NYSCCC 26th annual conference, Uniting Families May 8-9, 2015 in Albany NY
- Four Birthmothers for Birthmothers; A Jean Strauss and AAC short documentary
- Presented “Adoption; Breaking Bonds or Building Families” with Cathi Swett at the International Children’s Rights Institutes first conference at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library October; 3rd, 2014.
- Birth Parent Activist Panel at the Adoption Initiative Conference at St. John’s University in Collaboration with Montclair State University; May 2014; More info
- HuffPo LIVE: Nov 2013; interviewed and filmed:
“Why I Gave My Child Up For Adoption” - In These Times: Round-table Discussion and Interview Oct/Nov 2013:
“The Adoption-Industrial Complex; Is U.S. domestic adoption about children or profit?“ - RH Reality Check: Interview October 2013: “Why Adoption Needs to Play a Bigger Role in the Reproductive Justice Conversation“
- New Republic: Interview September 2013 “Meet the New Anti-Adoption Movement; The surprising next frontier in reproductive justice“
- Adoption Perspectives Radio: Interview June 2013
- Poughkeepsie Journal: Interview May 2013″Search for Mom“
- MSN News: April 28, 2013 Fustrated Adoptees Turning to Facebook to Find Their Birth Parents
- The Atlantic; April 24, 2013: Adoptees Shouldn’t Have to Use Facebook to Find Their Birth Parents
- HuffPo LIVE: Dec. 10, 2012 I Want My Baby Back: Regrets
- The Justice Hour with Lisa Marie Macci on WWNN 1470 AM: Nov 24, 2012; Talk show guest
- AOL/ Huffington Post: Nov 2012Birth Mother And Adopted Son Find Fun Family Quirk After Meeting Seventeen Years Later
- HuffPo LIVE: Nov 2012; interviewed and filmed: The Search for Birth Mom
- Yahoo News / Dan Rather: April 30, 2012: “Abducted Generations?”
- Dan Rather Reports: “Adopted Or Abducted” investigation interview ; airing on HDNet May 1 2012
- Candid Adoption Talk Live on Blog Talk Radio: Feb 2012
- “Related by Birth” Voluptatum Studio; filmed Jan 2010; documentary regarding the relinquishment and reunion experience releasing Spring 2011
- Open Arms, Open Minds: The Ethics of Adoption in the 21st Century; October 2010;Speaking presentation and birthmother panel
- WAMC Northeastern Public Radio; fall 2008; interview regarding adoption practices in the US
- National Strategic Planning Session; regarding Open Adoption Records sponsored by the Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute Dec 10, 2007
- Kingston Times; interviewed for cover article Nov ‘07
- Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute and Ethica “Ethics and Accountability in Adoption” conference; October ‘07- promotional advertisement and contact database building, registration desk volunteer.
- The Montel Williams Show; Feb 07- expert regarding current adoption practices
- Korean American Adoption Network; July 07- presenting “Universal Motherhood, Universal Loss” New
- The Adoption Show: Aug ‘06 -online radio interview
- “The Record” Albany, New York- interviewed for “Identity Crisis: Some finding adoption registry a one-way street”
- Soul of Adoption; International Adoption Forum ( now Adoption Threads)- Founding member and administrator
Volunteer & Non-Profit Adoption Work
I really believe in doing what we can to make the world a better place. My focus just happens to be about adoption because that is what I live. I have worked with and will continue to work with anyone with similar goals that I believe in.
- Organizer of the Adoptee Rights Coalition and Adoptee Rights Demonstration; Upcoming: August 2014 Minneapolis, MN; August 12th, 2013, Atlanta, GA; August 6th, 2012, Chicago Illinois; Aug 2011 San Antnio Texas, July 25th 2010 Louisville Kentucky and July 25th 2009 Philadelphia, PA – adoptee right demonstration and lobbying at the National State Legislators Convention
- RegDay; November 2008; Area Coordinator for I.S.S.R. Informational table
- Unsealed Initiative; 06 & 07, 2012-2014 lobbying the New York State Assembly for adoptee rights bill
- Origins USA; 2005 to 2008 Board of Directors, Web Designer, Director of Public Relations; 2005 to 2008
Adoption Conferences, Education & Trainings
- International Children’s Rights Institutes first conference at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library October; 3rd, 2014.
- Adoption Initiative Conference at St. John’s University in Collaboration with Montclair State University; May 2014
- 2014 American Adoption Congress International Conference “Building Bridges for Change” – Recipient of the 2014 Sharon Magruder Scholarship April 9-13, 2014; San Francisco, CA
- Sixth Biennial Adoption Conference – Open Arms, Open Minds: The Ethics of Adoption in the 21st Century; presenter “What I Wish I Knew Before Adoption Entered My Life” birthmother panel NY October 2010;
- BlogHer; NY August 2010;
- #140CharacterTwitter; NY April 2010;
- SES 2009; NY; Search Engine Marketing and Social Networking Industry
- OMMA; Social 2009; NY
- #140CharacterTwitter; NY August ’09
- Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute and Ethica “Ethics and Accountability in Adoption” Oct ’07
- Korean American Adoption Network Annual Conference; presenter “Universal Mother Hood Universal Loss” Boston, MA; July ’07
- American Adoption Congress; Boston, MA; March ’07
- OriginsUSA/ Adoption Crossroads “Shedding the Light on the Adoption Experience” Conference; NY Sept 06
- St. Bart’s Adoption Conference; NY ’06