Change is on the horizon!

Did you know that adoption records have been sealed in Oregon since the 1950s? This has created decades of silence and secrecy. Can you imagine what it might mean to those birthmoms and adoptees if the records were finally opened, allowing them access to each other?

Marketing Update      

OA&FS marketing is moving full steam ahead with continued focus on Facebook promoted posts, Google Adwords and new this month - YouTube video ads!  More on those below, but first a recap.  We used surplus budget in October and November to significantly bump up our advertising presence.  The result: our core audience of young women is engaging our services at higher rates than ever. This fiscal year we're continuing to average 30 expectant parent intakes a month, (our five-year average is 20/month). This has contributed to strong rates of women and couples choosing adoption with a whopping nine placements in November. 

The advertising activity also turbo-charged our Facebook likes - our new record for number of likes in one day is 237! We've settled out at a higher number of likes/day than before this spike and are currently at 4,200+ total likes. A bonus is the reasonable expense. An average cost per click (CPC) for promoted posts is 37 cents, (compared to $5 for Google). We're now testing Facebook promoted posts that feature individual waiting families. When these are clicked the viewer goes right to the profile page for that family. In the first effort using Patty and Rita, (thanks ladies), this drove 308 visitors to their page in just one day!

We have a treasure trove of OA&FS-produced videos that provide an informed perspective on pregnancy counseling and open adoption - a very good thing considering all the misinformation circulating in cyberspace. To highlight these, we've produced a new YouTube  ad campaign. Each of our 11 videos will have their own ad that either appears as a "pre-roll", (plays prior to the selected video), or as a tile link next to the video, all within YouTube. These cover subjects ranging from pregnancy counseling to adoption placement and entrustment, open adoption as an alternative to foster care and more! View the OA&FS video gallery. Here's a sample ad:

These are amazingly effective. For the above example "I Chose Open Adoption",  advertising on YouTube bumped its average daily views from less than one to 84! This graph shows the impact. 

  

And the ads are very cost effective as well, clocking in at an average cost per view of only 15 cents. Now, when women ages 16-30 search for videos, we have an additional opportunity to educate and connect them with our services.

 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 October 31, Portland Counselor Katie Niemeyer presented to six doctors, nurses, and hospital staff at Silverton Hospital in Silverton, OR. They were grateful to receive our updated materials and open adoption DVDs to further enhance their own understanding of open adoption so they can share it with their patients. By the end of the presentation, they were prepared to support families working with OA&FS as well as providing OA&FS as a resource for last minute placements!
• On October 31,  Executive Director Shari Levine provided an in depth presentation on options counseling and open adoption to 14 students at the Birthingway Midwifery College in Portland. They were highly engaged and asked great questions. OA&FS has presented annually at the Birthingway College for over 15 years.
• On November 7, Executive Director Shari Levine spoke to 46 DHS workers in Clackamas, OR. They look forward to continue working in close collaboration with OA&FS, as they offer their high risk moms the opportunity to proactively plan an open adoption.
• On November 8, Seattle Counselor Courtney Gray led a discussion about open adoption and options counseling techniques to four staff members of Providence St. Peter's teen clinic team in Olympia, WA. The providers asked many questions about the current ways adoption works and seemed to most appreciate the information and tips specific to talking with teens.
• On November 9, Seattle Counselor Maria Villegas attended the annual Microsoft Adoption Fair in Redmond, WA.  She spoke to approximately 20 prospective adoptive parents and also did a brief presentation on open adoption. OA&FS was the only agency at the fair that truly represented the full spectrum of openness. 

Gatherings 

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.

The Portland and Eugene offices are having their holiday parties this month, so no Gathering meetings will be held.

Seattle

Topic:  Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Date: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

The 2100 Building, 2100 24th Ave S.

We are excited to welcome special guest speaker, Julie Gelo, to our Seattle December Gathering.  Julie comes to us with extensive knowledge about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and experience working with children and adults who have FASD.  In order to cover Julie's speaking fee, please send a check  for $10 (one person) or $15 (couple) made payable to OA&FS by December 14th to reserve your spot! Checks should be mailed to:

OA&FS

200 West Mercer St., #E-508

Seattle, WA  98119

You may contact Cindy in our Portland office at 206-782-0442 if you prefer to pay by credit card.  We look forward to seeing you there! 

Community Gatherings

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

Portland

Community Gathering for OA&FS Waiting Families

OA&FS prospective adoptive parents Deb & Corey Omey would like to start a potluck dinner group!

The group will meet on the second Tuesday of the month and will be for prospective adoptive parents in Portland area.

When:  Tuesday December 11, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
Where:  2105 N. Webster St., Portland, 97217

RSVP to uomey2@gmail.com

Announcements

Welcome to the Pool: 

Congratulations:

• Jennifer Noll and Borg Norum were shocked and thrilled to hear from another agency with whom they were working while in our pool, that they were chosen by a woman in Georgia who had just given birth. They got the next flight to Georgia and were soon meeting their son, Phineas Huntington Norum, born on September 4, 2012. They instantly fell in love with him and enjoyed spending a week getting to know their son's home town, before returning to Oregon. Jennifer and Borg appreciate that they can teach their son's birth family the value and wonderment of an open adoption and they look forward to developing a connection with them over the years.
• It all started when Lynne Minnick-Caldwell got to work November 1st and was told by a co-worker that she had a dream that Lynne and her partner Shelley Caldwell were going to have a baby today. The co-worker told Lynne she was usually pretty on-point when she had these kind of dreams. A few hours later Shelley and Lynne were screened for a last minute placement!Next thing they knew the counselor was calling that evening to see how early they could meet with birthparents Ben and Amber to move forward with adoption planning. The adoptive parents and birthparents hit it off right away, they were all laughing and talking about their love of mushroom hunting. Ben and Amber had their beautiful baby boy on October 29, 2012 at OHSU in Portland. Once Amber was discharged the baby stayed an extra week in the hospital and during that time, everyone worked together to always make sure that someone was at the hospital to hold and feed him. The relationship between the Caldwell's and Ben and Amber grows stronger every day and Theodore will always be surrounded by the love of four funny, creative, and amazing people.
• On October 30, 2012, Jennifer and Kevin Palmer of Klamath Falls, OR gathered together with their son's birth family in a Bend hospital to welcome a very loved little boy, Owen William Andrew Palmer into the world. After getting to know Owen's birth family over the last several months through phone calls, texts and visits, they were overwhelmed with joy to share the experience of his birth with his birthmother, aunt, grandma and grandpa. Everyone who was present agreed that his birthmother Alli was amazing and that he was the most beautiful baby they'd ever laid eyes on. They spent the next two days together at the hospital taking turns cuddling, changing and feeding him and putting him in picture worthy outfits.  This was an extremely special time for everyone involved and they all are looking very much forward to their first visit for a joint baby shower sometime later this year.  
• Just when Greg and Margaret Kaduchak of Eugene, Oregon, thought life might be taking them on a different path, they received "the call" from OA&FS.  With only 30 minutes to decide if they wanted to proceed, they took in every bit of information and quickly returned the call to say, "We're in".  In no time, they left work, packed and jumped in the car to make the drive to Federal Way, WA in preparation for meeting their daughter the very next day.  Jasmine Rose Kaduchak was born a day earlier on November 6, 2012 to her adoring birthparents. They were both present during her birth, held her, talked sweetly to her and affectionately chose to place her with Margaret and Greg in their "fun-loving home".  Jasmine's birthparents opted for anonymity and chose to place Jasmine without meeting Margaret and Greg.  Her birthmother, who named her as soon as she saw her beautiful skin and full head of dark hair, has kept in contact with her counselor to check on Jasmine.  Margaret and Greg honored Jasmine's birthmother by preserving the name she chose and adding Margaret's middle name, Rose.  Margaret and Greg said they will always have an open door for Jasmine's birthparents.  
• Julie and Luke Breazeal of Albany, Oregon, met their son Samuel James on November 9th.  Samuel was born on November 8, 2012 and his birthmom April spent the first 24 hours with him along with her immediate family. Julie and Luke and Samuel's birthmom met two weeks before his birth and began to build their relationship. Samuel's birthmom and the adoptive parents worked together to come up with a plan where the birthmom is providing the breast milk to give Samuel a great start in life! They all gathered around Samuel, including birth grandma, for an entrustment ceremony where they expressed their love and appreciation for each other. Julie and Luke gave April a birthstone bracelet at the ceremony. Julie and Luke are already planning to bring Sam's birthmom to see his home in the near future.
• Carole and Josh Rush of Grants Pass, Oregon were thrilled and honored to be present when their daughter, Emma Lea Nichole was born on November 8, 2012. Technically Josh waited patiently outside of the delivery room while Carole provided support to Emma's birthmother and cut the umbilical cord. All parties were overjoyed to finally meet Emma after her birthmother's long labor. Josh, Carole, and Emma's birthmother have gotten to know one another over the last several weeks and feel confident in the connection they've made, especially since they've noticed some similar personality traits and senses of humor among them. They all look forward to spending time together in the future and surrounding Emma with lots of love and an abundance of extended family.
• Andy and Brian Magee of Issaquah, Washington welcomed their son, Dominic Jackson Magee, on November 12, 2012. Dominic's birthmother, Carly named him Jackson William, and Brian and Andy chose Jackson as the adoptive middle name to honor her. They spent the last two months getting to know Carly over visits, trips to the doctor, and lots of texting. They all appreciate how easy and comfortable it's been to spend time together and can't wait to see how Dominic and his three-year old birth sibling connect in their own special way as they grow older too.
• On November 19, Adam and Samantha Gamboa, of Portland, Oregon were chosen by a birthmother to become the parents to her one-day old son, Quinn Teodoro Gamboa. The following day, everyone met at the hospital and although the circumstances didn't leave much time, Adam, Sam and Quinn's birthmother made the very best of it. Later that night, Quinn's birthmom gave him lots of hugs and kisses before he went home with Adam and Sam. Adam and Sam are excited to spend more time with Quinn's birth family to continue building a loving, supportive relationship. 
• Jerry Rapier and Kirt Bateman, of Salt Lake City, Utah, welcome with open arms their new son, Oscar George Bateman-Rapier, born November 20, 2012 in South Carolina.  Jerry and Kirt have had the opportunity over the past several months to build their relationship with Oscar's birthparents, Emily and Tyson, through phone calls, texts, emails, visits, meals and football games and now share in the joy of his arrival.  Jerry and Kirt have grown to truly love Emily and Tyson as family and understand the true power of and need for open adoption. All parties look forward to their future together and the many opportunities they will have to create new stories and memories. 
• Marc and Angie Carkeek of Seattle, were thrilled to have a month to get to know the birth family of their daughter before she was born. They shared many fun times bonding over horror movies and playing with their pets. On November 20, 2012 they were all thrilled to welcome Arianna Marie into the world and proved that as a team they could give her all the love and support she needed from the very start. Angie and Marc are excited to have their family grow, not just through the addition of Arianna, but by loving and welcoming her whole birth family into their lives.