HTTh: Adoption Billboads

CaptainSerious · September 2013

I was driving along the New Jersey Turnpike a few months ago, when I saw a billboard advertising for a couple looking to adopt, and listing a website. I was curious, but forgot about it until I saw it again a few months later and looked it up. This is the website: www.adopt2013.com The yellow banner at the top is identical to the billboard. What do you think about this kind of advertising? I don't know why, but it leaves me greatly unsettled. To me, it screams of desperation. I know many prospective adoptive parents desperately want to add a child to their family--I was pretty desperate at points--but I think of how much money a billboard must cost month after month, and it makes me wonder. Is there a reason they think this is necessary? Why can't they be matched another way? Is there something concerning about this couple? I really don't want to judge the couple themselves, but I'm wondering why they would go to such extremes and if this kind of advertising is ethical. I did a quick Internet search and found this article: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/new-jersey-adoption-billboard_n_3790765.html For some reason, it bothers me even more that they don't indicate anywhere on their website that the names are aliases. It's as if they are actively trying to prevent expectant mothers and their families from being able to google them, and that makes me wonder if they have something to hide. What do you think, oh wise women?

CaptainSerious · September 2013

Gah! Sorry for the lack of paragraphs! It's my stupid iPad.

Dr.Loretta · September 2013

The only thing I think is that, if I were an expectant mom, I would be leery of responding to a billboard ad to make an adoption plan.

MagickalNarwhal · September 2013

Whoa. This skeeves me out so much. It just seems kind of, I don't know, insulting? Like a 16/18/25 year old (as they refer to in the article which is WEIRD to me) is going to be driving along and see that and be all "OH YEAH, you know, I'm NOT ready to be a mom, lemme give this couple the greatest gift!" (Also quotes from them.)

Also the fake names. No. Gross. Weird.

Flamingo86 · September 2013

It just strikes me as desperate and weird. Also very expensive. IMO, billboards are for advertising casinos and car dealerships, not parents for your baby.

[Deleted User] · September 2013

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sgb721 · September 2013

Its interesting you bring this up as a couple we met at our agency talked about posting on a billboard saying it was like $300 for 90 days or something. I wished them luck but it just didn't sit well with me. To me, it read we'll accept any child from anyone- it was more of a desperate cry to me. We're more interested in finding 'our' child and entering an adoption relationship that works for everyone.

CaptainSerious · September 2013

Yes, the use of the word gift in the artless repulsed me, although I couldn't't say why, because I do believe my children are God's greatest blessing in my life. I tell M all the time that I am so happy he's my son, but I wish he never needed me as a mother. I explain that I love him dearly, but wish his first mom was able to parent him.

IRR · September 2013

CaptainSerious - we saw the huffington post article and all I thought was " a billboard in NJ" costs as much as an adoption and that this couple has money to burn. I don't think it is a bad idea but can you imagine if everyone who could afford to do so did so? The PP who said it only costs $300 for 90 days, not sure where you live but in NJ from my work experience 30 days could cost $25K for the billboard space and another $5-10K to make the sign that gets placed. If it was less than $500, I would be willing to try it for a month just to see what kind of a response we would get, but I would not spend the kind of money this couple did spend even though it received PR as well. I also thought it strange to not include a name. I think many PAP's are trying to think out of the box because we just want to find EM's willing to match with us. Trust me after still waiting for more than 18 months and two failed matches, if I had unlimited funds, I would be willing to try anything, but this is not the case and all I can do is continue to try to network with agencies and others to be matched. I also think if I had unlimited fund I may have gone the surrogate route, but also not an option based on cost.

JoshKrisAdopt · September 2013

I don't know, I go back and forth on this one. On one hand, I totally understand their motivation. We're almost doing the same thing with our blog and Facebook page. On the other hand, even though it costs a lot, a billboard seem to "cheapen" the adoption process to me. This is a huge decision for an expectant mom. It's not like advertising for a realtor or something.

sgb721 · September 2013

IRR said:

The PP who said it only costs $300 for 90 days, not sure where you live but in NJ from my work experience 30 days could cost $25K for the billboard space and another $5-10K to make the sign that gets placed. If it was less than $500, I would be willing to try it for a month just to see what kind of a response we would get, but I would not spend the kind of money this couple did spend even though it received PR as well.

I didn't look into the cost myself- this is just what I heard from another couple while taking a class at our agency (we're from NJ). I don't think we could go that route- its not for us.

sgb721 · September 2013

Where on the turnpike was this? We're headed up to MA in two weeks and I"m curious if we'll pass it.

CaptainSerious · September 2013

Between Trenton and Edison, so central.

sgb721 · September 2013

Thanks- I'm going to have to see this with my own eyes

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