You can advocate here or there, you can advocate anywhere!
What does it mean to be an adoption advocate?
• dispelling myths and clarifying misconceptions
• opening your mouth
• helping people use correct terminology
• sharing your passion for and testimony of adoption
• educating
• increasing awareness of the adoption option
Even 'busy' people can advocate for adoption
• everyone is busy, but everyone has time to be an adoption advocate
• the key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. - Stephen Covey
• "have i done any good in the world today?"
Anyone can advocate - no matter how much time you have.
• Anything you do - no matter how big or small - is better than nothing
• these are things you can do with or without FSA
• these are things you can do in your won community and neighborhood
• these are things you can do by yourself or with a group of your friends
What are some things you can do to be an adoption advocate?
• small amount of time
-share your love and testimony of and spiritual experience with adoption
-get involved in FSA - there are varying levels of involvement
-keep adoption info in your wallet/purse to distribute when prompted
-talk about adoption/pass out materials to family and friends, other adoptive couples or advocates, your hairdresser or barber.
-if you already have a blog add a list of couples who are hoping to adopt, link to their profiles and link to the national FSA blog.
-put on adoption spin on the way you answer your questions in church as well as in the lessons and talks you prepare.
-wear adoption paraphernalia and give as gifts
• medium amount of time
-Talk about adoption / pass out materials to neighbors, work colleagues, bishops, RS presidents, YSA reps and teenagers you know.
-if you already have a blog research adoption articles, link to them with your reaction or summary or interview adoption professionals, members of the triad.
-Add to adoption discussions on social networking sites and blogs: http://www.adoptionblogs.com/, http://www.adoptionvoices.com/, myspace.com, facebook.com, youtube.com
-car ad - drive around an adoption message or url on your back window.
-get involved in FSA's school and church outreach programs
• large amount of time
-talk about adoption/ pass out materials to doctors and nurses at hospitals, attorneys, dentists, planned parenthood, abortion clinics, pregnancy resource centers, rape recovery centers, JHS / HS principals, health teachers and counselors, women's counseling centers at colleges, podcasters, newspapers, women's health clinics, women's shelters, women's rehab centers, prisons, hospital staff and social workers, dept. of human services offices, WIC clinics, student clinics at colleges and universities
-start a personal blog or adoption blog to talk about adoption/infertility and adoption issues/research
-help with or volunteer to start a blog for your FSA chapter
-make a video about adoption and post it online
-ask to be a guest writer/blogger/interview on popular blogs, podcasts and print media
-ask popular bloggers, podcasters, journalists, newspapers in your area to advocate for adoption on their site with a featured article.
-adoption yard sale to benefit friends and family who may be adopting. Provide info on adoption and ask the press to cover it.
-walk in your city's parade carrying FSA banner and wearing Orange: Orange you glad you chose adoption?
-mass empty stroller walk
-birth mothers day walk
-art gallery display where local art gallery exhibit couples seeking to adopt by displaying artistic expressions of adoption, infertility, family...
-library display in November for national adoption awareness month. Use school libraries and have adoption stats posted.
-5K or other race with adoption T-shirts
-bake sale and sell recipe books
Brainstorm more ideas
• what are things you've done that have worked well
• where do you need help
• what is keeping you from being an adoption advocate
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