Expectant Parent Calls Increase as OA&FS Grows Online Media! 

As you wait in the pool, you may be wondering how our marketing and advertising efforts are working for you. We're excited to report our successes! To capture the attention of our core expectant parent audience - women ages 16-30 - we rely heavily on Google Adwords and Facebook ads.  This allows us to spread the message of OA&FS' unique services efficiently and effectively. Our Marketing Director has been working closely with a consultant to help us get the most out of these platforms. We're pleased to announce that in July, we had the highest expectant parent calls per month since 2001! Since marketing is supported by your resources, we wanted to share the details:

• Google Adwords.  Of the people who click on our Google ads, 15% stay on our website for five minutes or longer. This "conversion rate" is considered excellent and indicates that we're not only attracting a highly engaged group, but when they reach our website, they're finding what they're looking for. Also, when people search within Google using the keywords "Open Adoption", we rank the highest for searches within Oregon and Washington. On September 5, we launched an Adwords test campaign that targets the entire U.S. As a result, we already have two birthparents from outside the Northwest planning adoptions.

• Facebook. We just topped 1,000 "likes"! These have nearly doubled since May and are a direct result of our Facebook advertising. Most likes come from our paid Facebook ads, but to keep folks interested in our page we also post fresh content 3-4 times a week. Why do likes and posts matter? When people who like our page see the content and interact with it by commenting or liking it, that opens up an opportunity for their friends to see it. When the friends of the friends like or engage with the content, then that spreads our message to friends of friends of friends which creates that "going viral" effect. We also have a national test campaign in Facebook that works in tandem with Adwords. It's unlikely that you'll see the OA&FS ads since they're targeted to expectant parents, but there is a way you can help. Like our page, like, or share a post and you help us reach more people!

Creating awareness of our pregnancy options counseling and open adoption services has certainly changed since the days of Yellow Pages ads - where we now have only minimal listings. Rest assured that we'll continue to utilize the smartest, most current tools to promote on your behalf.

Warm Regards,

Outreach News 

To educate others about open adoption and services available at our agency, OA&FS staff conduct outreach presentations and free trainings throughout the region year-round. In doing this, they form important relationships that benefit all who receive services from OA&FS. 

• On August 25, Portland Counselor Katie Niemeyer provided a training for eleven doulas in Portland. They were very excited to learn about the services that OA&FS provides. Caylx Doulas is now recruiting doulas for a new program to work with women who are making an adoption plan.
• On August 28, Eastern Oregon Counselor Angie Lunde was invited to introduce OA&FS services at an all staff meeting for Yellow Hawk Tribal Health Center in Mission, OR. The 50 staff in attendance showed interest that we are knowledgeable of ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) laws, available to provide options counseling for families with unplanned pregnancies and have a pool of parents who want open adoption and who respect and embrace cultural differences. They will display our materials and call our agency for more in depth presentations to staff.
• On August 29, Seattle counselor Maria Villegas met with 14 Group Health Family and OB/GYN physicians in Seattle, WA to train them on options counseling and OA&FS services. All of these physicians routinely work with pregnant women and often are in a position to discuss their pregnancy options with them. These physicians were eager to learn, and they were impressed to hear about OA&FS values of providing thorough, comprehensive, and compassionate services and presenting our clients with ALL of their options.  They now have a deeper knowledge of OA&FS and feel confident in their own skills and also in referring their patients our way if needed.   
• On September 6, Eugene Counselor Jan Jamieson met one-on-one with Dominic Pallazola of the Laurel Hill Center, a local program supporting individuals with mental illness, to exchange information about both programs and supporting clients that our agencies may have in common. 
• On September 11, Portland counselor Katie Niemeyer met with the Youth Development Coordinator at Salvation Army White Shield to discuss our options counseling services and the open adoption process. She was impressed by our non-biased, supportive approach and seeks to find ways to best integrate our services into their program for pregnant and newly parenting teens.
• On September 12, Executive Director Shari Levine presented to 15 Adoption Permanency Workers at the OR Department of Human Services (DHS) in Gresham, OR. They were so excited to learn more about our collaborative relationship in which high-risk moms can proactively plan an open adoption before their parental rights are terminated, that they referred Shari to their Child Protective Services (CPS) unit. The CPS workers are tasked with removing newborns from high risk moms at the hospital. Shari will be presenting to them in October.
• On September 14, Shari Levine spoke to 20 DHS supervisors in Portland. It was ideal to have the opportunity to present directly to the DHS supervisors, who work throughout the Portland metro area. Many of them signed up for presentations at their individual staff meetings. They were also eager to receive our Open Page newsletter.
• On September 27, Eugene Counselor Irie Hoffman presented to 15 high school students in a Young Mothers and Fathers class at at Willamette High School in Eugene, OR. These students had extremely insightful questions and perspectives. Irie presented information on OA&FS's options counseling and adoption planning services as well as referral services to other community resources.

Attending Gatherings is an important way to be better equipped and prepared for adoption.  Plus you get the benefits of developing friendships within the OA&FS community!  We look forward to seeing you.

Portland

Topic: Checking the Temperature: Autumn in the Pool 

Date: October 18, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

OA&FS Portland office, 5200 SW Macadam Ave., Suite 250

Please bring a beverage or snack to share.

RSVP to info@openadopt.org by Wednesday, October 17th

Seattle

Topic: Surviving the Wait, Savoring the Welcome

Date: October 10, 2012, 7-9 p.m.

The 2100 Building, 2100 24th Ave S.

RSVP to lisa@openadopt.org 

Eugene 

Topic:  Social Media, Communication and Adoption

Date: October 24, 2012, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Host:  Sue Ratzlaff

Location:  2071 Augusta St, Eugene, OR 97403

RSVP to jan@openadopt.org

Creston park came alive on September 15 as OA&FS families gathered for the annual Portland Summer Picnic.  The sunny day was complemented by great conversations, fantastic food and many bouncy babies to pass around.  Kids blew bubbles and decorated the eating area with colorful sidewalk chalk art.  And the color didn't stop there - many faces wore cupcake frosting accents!  Heather Allmain staged a "mixer" which involved asking others for their birth weights.  Prizes were given to the most weights gathered, plus highest and lowest birth weight.  Thanks to everyone for contributing such delicious dishes. Speaking of which, if you ended up with a spare square glass container it may be Heather's. Let us know if so. Suzie Williams was staff photographer for the day. See her fine work in these picnic photo collages. 

Community Gatherings

Check out the following community events and resources organized by other OA&FS adoptive parents in your area:

Announcements

• Shawna Walls & Michael Garlick of Renton, WA
• Jared Baeten & Mark Ruffo of Seattle, WA
• Rebecca Green & Joe Hessney of Portland, WA
• Shelley Caldwell & Lynne Caldwell-Minnick of Camas, WA
• Teresa & Scott Blackman of Portland, OR
• Suzanne & Michael Schlador of Seattle, WA
• Jason Hartz & Joshua Tibbs of Geneva, Illinois
• Sonja Outlaw & Stuart Kendrick of Seattle, WA

Congratulations:

• Joshua Hawley and Johnathan Molloy from Hawaii had been working with an expectant couple to adopt a baby boy in August. After spending time getting to know each other and being a support to the expectant mother at the birth they felt truly bonded to this family. After a difficult decision making process the mother decided to parent her baby. Although changes of hearts can be very difficult for adoptive parents, we know that Josh and Johnathan want what is best for this family and our thoughts and support are with them as they process this experience and move forward with their adoption journey.

OA&FS News & Resources

Pick up a copy of Hospitious Adoption!

 

Adoption Related Events 

NAFA (Northwest Adoptive Family Association) 

Baby & Toddler Care Class 

If you live in the area and have not yet taken a parenting class, OA&FS highly recommends this class!

When: Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 8 am- 4:30 p.m. 

Where: Legacy Meridian Park Hospital

Contact Andrea Feltham at akfeltham@comcast.net for details.

Parent Trust Baby Care for the Adoptive Family

When: December 1, 2012, 9:00 am 12:00 p.m.

Where: Center for Strong Families, Classroom A, 2200 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA  (Just south of the I-5 / I-90 interchange)

Call (206) 789-0883 for details. 

African-American Hair Care Series

Date: Sundays, October 14, 28 & November 11, 2012

Time: 3pm-5 p.m.

Location: The Jayah Rose Salon, 12 NE Shaver, Portland, OR 97213

Adoption Mosaic has teamed up with the stylists at the Jayah Rose Salon to bring you a fun, informative, instructional workshop that will cover hair care basics. Limited spaces is available. Find out more details about this workshop.

Adoption Mosaic LBGTQ Monthly Support Group 

Common questions that prospective adoptive parents ask at different points in the process of adopting, with a focus on LBGTQ interests and challenges. 

When: Thursday October 18, 6-8:00 p.m. 

Where: Q Center, 4115 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland, OR   

Contact info@adoptionmosaic.org for more details.

Adoption Mosaic Transracial Parenting Workshop

Instructor: Astrid Dabbeni
When: October 6, 2012, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: SE UpLift Building, 3534 SE Main Street, Portland, OR  This workshop is a safe, open place to explore the complexities of raising a child of a different race. Build support, gather resources and learn from a transracial adoptee who is also an experienced adoption professional. This is the last time Transracial Parenting will be offered this year.  Contact info@adoptionmosaic.org for more details