The site, itsaboutlove.org, replaces the previous LDS Family Services Web site, a "significant enhancement" from the first site launched in 2002, said Steven A. Sunday, manager of adoption services. The new site allows people to communicate 24/7, and is more exposed to adoptive parent and expectant parents than before, he said.
"The Web site has been much more friendly and informative," he said, as far as letting prospective adoptive parents and women in crisis pregnancies learn more about their options.
In an effort to make it a "non-threatening" environment, Brother Sunday said the new Web site features real stories from real adoptive parents and birth mothers, making it less canned.
"Their stories are emotional, powerful, from the heart," he said. They also had past parents and mothers answer frequently asked questions and forward questions received from their "Contact Us" section to them. Brother Sunday said it is important for people to realize their questions are being answered by real people, not by someone behind a curtain.
Brad and Brenda Horrocks were two of the adoptive parents who helped on the Web site. While contacting LDS Family Services, Sister Horrocks said she was given a questionnaire to answer commonly asked questions and found it a great opportunity to help other prospective parents.
"We were able to hopefully help some of those couples just starting out [in the adoption process]," she said.
One question they answered was about openness and how open adoptions are. Sister Horrocks said the degree of openness an adopting couple has with the birth mother is up to the two parties, but said that in their experience, the relationship with the birth mother is something to be treasured. Prospective parents should also not be afraid to meet the birth mother; she's at least as nervous as they are, Sister Horrocks said.
The Horrocks have adopted three children, two at birth and one at 8 months old. She said she is concerned with the sheer number of children needing homes and feels that in helping with this Web site she has helped those children.
"I just hope more people in crisis pregnancy find the Web site and find a connection," she said. "Really, [adoption] is a great blessing for both the adoptive parents and the birth mother," she said.
Valerie Mechling was another respondent on the site's frequently asked questions. She started volunteering with LDS Family Services, having become acquainted with the organization while placing a child in open adoption in 2006. Through word-of-mouth, she heard about the new Web site and was particularly excited about the section allowing questions to be fielded to birth mothers or counselors. She said helping with the Web site was "incredibly fulfilling."
"As a birth mother, we have an overwhelming experience: placing our child for adoption. No matter what the circumstances of that placement are, it still takes a lot of sacrifice and selflessness, and there is always grief," she said. "Hopefully, we have people to help us through it. And I think that for a lot of us, we later have the desire to give back, and to help others go through the same experience."
Sister Mechling said helping with that section of the Web site helped her feel like she was doing just that. She also submitted her story for the new Web site. Sister Mechling said she hopes to see it there eventually.
"I was able to write about my experiences as a birth mother, the difficulties and the incredible joys," she said. "Being a birth mother has changed my life. It's now an integral part of who I am. I love my son dearly, but I know he's in the right place, with a loving family.
"It's been very rewarding to share my experiences, and I will continue to do so."
Brother Sunday said a hope of the Web site is that it will give those interested in adoption or in a crisis pregnancy the resources to get started, and LDS Family Services will be there.
"We hope the Web site will be helpful enough that they will come in and get support," he said.
Melinda Buchanan, adoption specialist with the organization, said the point of the Web site is not to necessarily get more people through their doors but to give more options to those concerned.
"We really want to be able to help them," she said, "no matter what they decide to do."
Sister Buchanan said there is a shift in the nature of this Web site compared to the previous version by letting the expectant mother consider what will be the best family for her child. She said it is the first attempt to allow expecting mothers to browse through profiles online instead of using an agency.
There are more than 800 adoptive parents waiting for babies on the Web site, versus fewer than a hundred on other sites, Brother Sunday said, and in his experience with other agencies, LDS Family Services has the most as far as giving information and resources.
The Web site also offers a section for Church leaders, so they can better know how to counsel ward members who may be expecting. Sister Buchanan said it is important, however, to remember that there is more to itsaboutlove.org than just placing children.
"It's not about adoption; it's about [the whole] crisis situation," she said.
