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This document is based on the successful efforts of Leah O'Leary, Executive Director of A Red Thread Adoption Agency, who gained the support of local businesses to underwrite the cost of putting a copy of An Educator's Guide to Adoption into the hands of each of the 400 teachers, guidance counselors, administrators and social workers in the Norwood, MA, School District.
Ten-Step Process to Incorporate An Educator's Guide to Adoption in Your School District
Letter of Introduction to the Superintendent of Schools
Solicitation Letter to Adoptive Families
Solicitation Letter to Local Businesses
Letter to Update Superintendent on Progress
Press Release on the Successful Completion of Your Efforts
LOCAL AGENCY SEES EDUCATORíS GUIDE AS TOOL FOR TOLERANCE
Norwood, MA -- Leah O'Leary knew one person can make a difference and was determined to do just that in her home town of Norwood, MA, with her successful efforts to get a copy of An Educator's Guide to Adoption to every teacher, guidance counselor and administrator in the community.
"Our culture is undergoing powerful paradigm shifts and adoption has been a catalyst for many of those changes," said O'Leary, who is the executive director of A Red Thread Adoption Services, Inc. "Transcultural adoption, transracial adoption, adoption by singles and same sex couples have shown us there are many ways to have a family. This has had a profound impact on society. It is increasing tolerance and redefining the way we think of families. As we come to understand this as a culture and as a society, we will also come to understand that there are also many ways to be a person and accepting our differences will become the norm. What we will discover is the similarities we share. In very simple, straightforward, concrete ways, this is exactly what An Educator's Guide to Adoption does in a non-threatening, powerful way. It gives a classroom teacher so many useful tools and suggestions for helping kids."
Published by the Institute for Adoption Information, An Educator's Guide to Adoption, is the first easy-to-use guide designed to minimize teacher workload. Since its publication a year ago, several school districts have incorporated An Educator's Guide to Adoption in their district-wide teachers materials.
"I believe kids today are extremely vulnerable in school situations especially in any area where they feel different from other kids," said O'Leary. "Adoption is just one way in which kids can feel different because of antiquated attitudes and bias. An Educator's Guide to Adoption is an important resource because it is a springboard for discussions on all kinds of diversity issues especially since its common-sense approach yields lessons that can be used for children from any type of non-traditional family."
O'Leary began her work in Norwood, a small town of 29,000 near Boston, with a simple letter to Kathrine LeTourneau, then superintendent of the Norwood School District, and a productive meeting on how to accomplish her goals. She was eventually joined by the Adoption Community of New England which supported her efforts.
"I was very careful not to ask anything of the schools except for a little time and effort because they are already overburdened as it is," O'Leary explained. "The superintendent immediately saw it as a win-win situation since it would provide a useful tool to her staff and suggested getting it to all teachers, guidance counselors, administrators and social workers in the system."
For her part, LeTourneau reported extremely positive feedback on the importance of the guide by the end of the school year. "Simple school assignments such as baby pictures, family trees and cultural heritage can raise questions and uncertainties for children and teachers alike," said LeTourneau. "This booklet assists teachers, guidance counselors and other staff to navigate assignments and situations that arise in their work."
O'Leary took the same simple approach with the business community. "I just kept looking for folks that had heard about the project, saw the importance and wanted to help," she said. "They are there in every community." Just as she suspected, the adoptive parents within the business community were the most helpful and provided a network of companies that would contribute either monetarily or with resources. In a little more than a month - just in time to recognize National Adoption Awareness Month - she also negotiated a bulk discount for the guides from the Institute for Adoption Information and networked her way to the $2,520 needed to cover the cost of 400 guides.
"I sent each business that I thought would have an interest a letter, enclosed a copy of the guide, followed up the next week with a phone call and asked for any help they could provide," she said. "The bank contributed resources such as sending out press releases to the local press and underwriting the cost of a photographer for pictures to accompany press releases. The school district contributed a staff person to take get a count of how many copies we'd need, distribute them, answer questions from staff and arrange for time on the superintendent's schedule. I went out on a limb and ordered the books for the ceremony turning them over to the school district. After the article appeared a businessman sent me a check for the entire balance we had yet to raise. This project confirmed my belief that people really do want to do the right thing. You just have to provide an opportunity through which they can get involved."
"We loved working with Leah because her creativity joined two important sectors of society - businesses and schools - on behalf of making life better for children," said Kathryn Creedy, executive director of the Institute for Adoption Information. "The response to our guide has been overwhelming and we are now in the fourth printing. This is the first of many guides but we felt it important to focus first on educatorís because teachers are the single largest influence on children outside the family."
Despite her success, O'Leary feels her work remains unfinished. "I see this project as just the first step in a multi-year effort to get tools, presentations and materials in the classroom within my own home town," she said. "I also want to get them into the hands of every day-care provider. But any local parent-support group or agency can do the same in their community. People are out there to help you. You just have to look for them."
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10-STEP PROCESS TO INCORPORATE AN EDUCATORíS GUIDE TO ADOPTION IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT
Step One
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Step Three
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Step Five
Step Six
Step Seven
Step Eight
Step Nine
Step Ten
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DATE
Name of Superintendent of Schools
ADDRESS
Dear Superintendent ________________,
I am enclosing An Educator's Guide to Adoption, a booklet prepared by a national adoption group for use by elementary school teachers to help them understand how some school assignments can be problematic for children of adoption.
There are an estimated 1-2 million adopted children in schools throughout the United States today. Simple school assignments such as baby pictures, family trees and cultural heritage can raise questions and uncertainties for children and teachers alike. This booklet helps teachers, guidance counselors and others to navigate these assignments and situations that arise in their work. Designed to minimize teacher workload, An Educator's Guide to Adoption also explains the history of adoption as well as research revealing the positive results of adopted children in both school and in life. It also dispels many of the myths surrounding adoption that continue to affect children. What makes this particular booklet important is its common-sense approach that can be applied to issues concerning any non-traditional family. With this, teachers are able to enhance the understanding of all families. This is critical today given the changes the family has experienced in the past few decades.
(Name of your organization) would like to organize a project intended to recognize adoption issues in the classroom to coincide with National Adoption Awareness Month in November. This project would entail getting business support for underwriting the cost of donating a copy of An Educator's Guide to Adoption to every elementary school teacher and guidance counselor in the school district. We would like (name of school district) to join the other districts, which have already introduced this valuable booklet into school systems throughout the country.
(Name of your organization) would like to take charge of getting business support. All we need is your approval and support for distributing this booklet.
I would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience after you have had a chance to review An Educator's Guide to Adoption.
Sincerely yours,
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DRAFT LETTER SOLICITING SUPPORT DIRECTED TO ADOPTIVE PARENTS
DATE
NAME
ADDRESS
DEAR ____________,
November is National Adoption Awareness Month. In recognition of this, (Name of your organization and any other organizations participating) is working with the (name of the school district) to place in the hands of each teacher and guidance counselor in the district a copy of An Educator's Guide to Adoption, published by Celebrate Adoption, a national organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding of adoption.
All of the districtsí schools have children who are adopted. An Educator's Guide to Adoption is a common-sense approach to handling sensitive class assignments from baby pictures to family trees and cultural heritage. With it, parents and teachers can create a partnership on how the teacher can help when insensitive remarks are made. It explains the history of adoption as well as research revealing the positive results of adopted children in both school and in life. It also dispels many of the myths surrounding adoption that continue to affect children.
The cost of this project is (state cost of the number of booklets needed at the discounted price). We are asking area businesses to contribute and thus far have gained support from several (name those who are participating). However, we need more help and we hoped, as adoptive parents, who would want to join this effort. Any contribution you can make would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call (name of contact person and phone number). In the meantime, thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely yours,
Your name and name of organization
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DRAFT LETTER SOLICITING SUPPORT DIRECTED TO BUSINESS
DATE
NAME
ADDRESS
DEAR ____________,
November is National Adoption Awareness Month. In recognition of this, (Name of your organization and any other organizations participating) is working with the (name of the school district) to place in the hands of each teacher and guidance counselor in the district a copy of An Educator's Guide to Adoption, published by Celebrate Adoption, a national organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding of adoption.
All of the districtsí schools have children who are adopted or who have adopted siblings. An Educator's Guide to Adoption is a common-sense approach to handling sensitive class assignments from baby pictures to family trees and cultural heritage. With it, parents and teachers can create a partnership on how the teacher can help when insensitive remarks are made. It explains the history of adoption as well as research revealing the positive results of adopted children in both school and in life. It also dispels many of the myths surrounding adoption that continue to affect children.
The cost of this project is (state cost of the number of booklets needed at the discounted price). We are asking area businesses to contribute and thus far have gained support from several (name those who are participating). Any contribution you can make would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call (name of contact person and phone number). In the meantime, thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely yours,
Your name and name of organization
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PROGRESS LETTER TO SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT
DATE
NAME OF SUPERINTENDENT
ADDRESS
Dear Superintendent (Name),
I am writing to update you on the progress toward the project we discussed an to suggest some next steps, including the enclosed draft fundraising letter and draft press release.
Progress/Developments (depending on what you have accomplished)
COPIES ORDERED - I have ordered and guaranteed payment for XXX copies of An Educator's Guide to Adoption from the publisher, Adoption Information Institute. We should have the copies within the next week or so.
20% DISCOUNT - We have negotiated a 20% discount on the price of the booklets which amounts to XXXX for the entire order.
BUSINESS SUPPORT - Local business people who have agreed to assist in the project include (List contact people and the names of their organizations).
OTHER SUPPORT - Name all other organizations that are assisting you in this project.
MATERIALS - We have drafted the attached fund raising letter and press release. Distribution of the letter is expected to begin next week and will be accompanied by your letter of support. We only await your approval of these documents.
PHOTO OP - We are planning a photo opportunity to include yourself and the area businesses, supporting this effort. We will work with your office to assure that this event is at your convenience as to both time and venue. This photo will be distributed along with the press release.
DISTRIBUTION - We would like to distribute An Educator's Guide to Adoption during National Adoption Awareness Month in November. We could organize a brief hand-over ceremony to the school to include a short presentation to groups of teachers and staff. Could you advise us as to whether this would be possible?
Sincerely yours,
Your name and organization
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
AREA BUSINESSES RECOGNIZE NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
DATELINE - National Adoption Month was recognized today as area businesses and schools joined to enhance the understanding of adoption by donating a copy of An Educator's Guide to Adoption to every teacher and guidance counselor in the school district.
The donation, prompted by the work of (Name of person, agency, support group, business or sponsoring organization), is part of an effort to help teachers understand that some school assignments can be problematic for adoptive families. An Educator's Guide to Adoption, published by the Institute for Adoption Information, is a common-sense approach to handling sensitive class assignments. With it, parents and teachers can create a partnership on how the teacher can help when insensitive remarks are made.
"This booklet increases our awareness of issues relating to adoption and give teachers ideas for supporting children in our schools," said (Name, title of school official and school district). "Simple school assignments such as baby pictures to family trees and cultural heritage can raise questions and uncertainties for children and teachers alike. This booklet helps teachers, guidance counselors and others to navigate these assignments and situations that arise in their work."
(Name, title of the head of sponsoring organization) pointed out the booklet also explains the history of adoption as well as research revealing the positive results of adopted children in both school and in life. It also dispels many of the myths surrounding adoption that continue to affect children. He/she emphasized the booklet is also ideal for day care providers, who can obtain copies of An Educator's Guide to Adoption through Name of sponsoring organization).
"(Name of school district) joins dozens of school districts nationwide in introducing An Educator's Guide to Adoption," said Kathryn Creedy, executive director of the Adoption Information Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding of adoption through education and media advocacy. "We focused on educatorís for our first major publishing project because teachers are the single largest influence on young children outside the family. What makes this particular booklet important is its common-sense approach that can be applied to issues concerning any non-traditional family. With this, teachers are able to enhance the understanding of all families. This is critical today given the changes the family has experienced in the past few decades."
The value of the donation for the (number of copies being donated) donated to the (Name of school district) is (fill in amount spent on donation) which was provided by (Names of donors/businesses).
Individuals wishing to make further donations should contact (Name, phone number of head of sponsoring organization) or send a check go (Name, address of sponsoring organization.) or contact Adoption Information Institute, PO Box 4405, Bennington, VT 05201, 802-442-7135 or www.adoptioninformationinstitute.org.
DATE
NAME
ADDRESS
Dear _______________,
I am writing to thank you for your kind and generous support for the project to supply An Educator's Guide to Adoption to (name of school district) school personnel. I also wanted to thank you for (anything else they may have done).
The press release and photo have been distributed to local press and we may be seeing some articles soon.
Your support for our efforts was instrumental in making our campaign a success. I hope you know how much we appreciate all you have done.
We know our efforts will make a difference to families touched by adoption but also to all children from non-traditional families.
With Warmest Regards,
Your Name and the Name of your Organization
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