Parent Profile (Glossary)

Parent Profile: Also referred to as an "adoptive parent profile," an "adoption profile" or an "adoption dossier." In its simplest form it is a document that gives background and current information about a parent that desires to adopt a child. It is intended to contain information that will be provided to birthparents to assist them in selecting adoptive parents to adopt their child. Although every adoption agency will have its own preferred format for parent profiles, if left to their own devices, the parent profiles that would be created by adoptive parents would be just as original, creative and different as the individuals that prepare them. Most commonly, a parent profile will include a narrative description of the adoptive parent or adoptive family, statistical information, such as age, educational and employment background, and talents and hobbies, plus a "Dear Birth Mother Letter," addressed to the potential birth mother and containing information about the adoptive parent's reasons for adoption, their parenting philosophy, details about their marriage and perhaps even a discussion of their religious and spiritual philosophy on life. The parent profile may even be presented in the form of a Photo Profile or even a notebook or scrapbook.