A Invitation to Make a Difference in Someone’s Lives on a Major Scale

We can’t change our own pasts, but we can change someone else’s future.

Before I left my marketing gig in July of 2012, I spent time thinking about what I really wanted to do, what I was best at doing, and how that could be best used by the adoption community. There was a strong temptation to return to school to get my MSW, but the thought of investing time and money seemed unnecessary as I had essentially just completed four and half years of hands on training doing the internet marketing.  Not only was I adept at it, but I enjoyed it, and promoting and amplifying all our voices did need to be done. As I frequently say; I am not to the point where  we can even talk about how to really fix adoption because I am still trying to prove that we have a huge problem in adoption.

In deciding where to focus my efforts, I also came to the realization that no one person could do everything. So though I often feel pulled to do more, more, more, I try to stay on track. Some of us are more talented in some ways and others have different strengths, but there is so much room for all to contribute in some ways. I love it when others find a place to do their part.

The WS Birthmom Affect

After she lost her own son to adoption, Lynn Johansenn joined us in AdoptionLand on Facebook and with her blog  WS Birthmom and immediately started working directly with other women who were considering adoption and warning them of the untold aftermaths and pitfalls of relinquishment.  She displayed a true gift in weeding through the issues and breaking down the problems to make them solvable. Word got around and more mothers considering adoption would be sent to Lynn. Other mothers would offer to help and loosely a network started to band together.

A person local to the mother at risk would met up with her and make sure everything  is as it is presented. Obviously, we need to be sure that we are really helping someone who needs it and will not take advantage of the assistance. Others look for assistance, finding solutions, helping mom find the help she needs. And then others still join in to donate supplies and necessities. Meanwhile, others offer solutions, encouragement, validation and the real truth about adoption as a option.

 Building a Mothers Network

The network has been providing the very support that many of the birthmothers wish they been given when they were experiencing an unplanned pregnancy crisis and the threat of adoption seemed the only way out.

There have been other attempts to organize that didn’t quite gel and while it seems that in some ways a very grassroots effort has been working best, what cannot be ignored is both a growing need  as word gets around and more pregnant moms at risk find where to turn and that direct support has actually worked.  Mothers get recommended to Lynn, needs are shared on Facebook, the crisis pregnancy group  brings in both more moms at risk and more volunteers, other mothers help share info, organize, and gather necessities and I do the search aspects; which is now targeting those pregnant and considering adoption with the new unplanned crisis pregnancy resources– which in turn is being researched and information collected by MORE mothers wanting to help in this way!

The simple fact is that we CAN do this. And it is becoming more and more clear that we MUST do this.

One by One, We Are Saving Our Sisters

So it’s time for us to get a tad organized only so that  the assistance can be better distributed. Sheer numbers say there must be a list and away to be able to better communicate needs and asks. Plus much of this work is hyper local, so there is a need to be able to filter where folks are in the USA.

So if you are at all interested in actually DOING something to really help preserve families, support successful parenting and provide a viable option to a unplanned crisis pregnancy and avoid adoption, PLEASE  join this list.

If you are in any one of the family preservation groups on Facebook, PLEASE join this list.

If you are already on the Adoption Army list, PLEASE join this list.

If you don’t want to join this list here at this link, you can fil out the form below. http://eepurl.com/bfyLpH