Adoption-Share Creates New Ways for Adoptive Parents to Engage the Adoption Process

BRUNSWICK, GA, November 28, 2011

Pregnant with her second child, Anthea Ramirez MSW, in 2010, was employed as director of a licensed adoption agency, when she made a decision to try to mitigate the complexities of the adoption process. By April 2011, Ramirez had quit her job and, in May, introduced a beta site of Adoption-Share (www.adoption-share.com), a social network platform designed to level the playing field for all parties involved in the adoption process (birth mothers, adoptive parents and licensed adoption entities). Where adoption has historically proven to be arduous, expensive and overly complicated, Adoption-Share is designed to demystify the process, reduce expense, decrease time and increase the use of adoption.

In September of 2011, http://www.adoption-share.com went live and, two months later, boasts well over 200 members: expectant parents, home study ready prospective parents and licensed adoption agencies and lawyers. Adoption-Share is the only nation-wide, social networking website to provide all parties to adoption with transparent and unlimited equal access to the adoption process. Adoption-Share finds that matching best occurs when adoptive parents are able to work directly with licensed adoption professionals, as demonstrated by the numerous adoption "situations" posted regularly by licensed adoption entities on the site. In this short span of time, at least one adoption has already been completed.

According to Dr. Jo Jones of the Department of Vital Statistics: "one-third of women, ages 18-44, have considered adopting; while only 1 in 7 actually follow through." Upon hearing that statistic, Ramirez, recognized that something had to change. Ramirez hopes that Adoption-Share will be an advocate for the other 6 women in that statistic; those who gave up their dream of adoption, perhaps due to their lack of knowledge or simply fearful of expense, scrutiny, time delays and complexity of the process.

"After working with prospective families and women who are placing their children in adoption, I became increasingly disturbed about the inefficiencies and barriers that exist within the adoption process, and wanted to make a meaningful difference for everyone involved, not the least of whom are the babies themselves," Ramirez said.

Working late nights, running on caffeine and conviction, Ramirez now looks at what has been accomplished and is excited for the future. "The truth of the matter is that most adoptive parents are networking on their own. The more licensed adoption entities refuse to employ best practices when working with adoptive parents, the more they will decline from being relevant and thus those with the authority." Ramirez believes with certainty that as Adoption-Share continues to integrate licensed professionals with those qualified to adopt without all the barriers to adoption that exist, the process of adopting will positively change.

Adoption-Share is the only social network designed to bring together all relevant parties to adoption offering free access, information, and engagement of the adoption process. For more information go to http://www.adoption-share.com or write to info@adoption-share.com or Adoption-Share PO Box 1532 Brunswick, Georgia 31521.