Can I match for Adoption on Social Media?

If you’ve followed my blog or Instagram for any amount of time, you know that the answer is a resounding YES! This is exactly what I spend my time helping hopeful adoptive parents (HAPs) learn how to do.

I have had the desire to adopt a child on my heart for as long as I can remember. I would sometimes see a “So & So: Hoping to Adopt” page on Facebook and share it to help that couple find their match. When my husband and I decided we were ready to pursue adoption, we turned to social media partially because I had seen others trying it over the years and partially because I had spent the previous 4 years working in marketing and social media, and was not intimidated to give it a shot.

We started our Facebook and Instagram pages in January of 2022 and by July, our son’s bio mom had reached out to us. We matched in August and welcomed our sweet boy in November. In the adoption world, that’s pretty quick so I decided that I might be able to help other HAPs navigate the world of private matching for adoption on social media as well and here we are!

I started creating monthly planners that give post ideas for every day of the week and growing a following on my Instagram, @TheHelpfulHAP. Through this experience, I have met so many HAPs and thoroughly enjoy networking with them and hearing about their experiences. Most of all, many of them have told me how helpful my planners and other content are, which brings me so much joy!

Adoption is an overwhelming process and frankly, there’s a lot of noise, especially in the world of digital profiles, matching services, website offerings, social media, and more! Because of this, I take pride in helping HAPs work toward their goal of growing their family! One concern I hear often, and the reason for this blog post, is whether people can actually self-match for adoption on social media. Not only is this what we did, but it also is what several people I have met through this process have done as well. I also know of at least one couple that has been using my starter guide and planners religiously that has been contacted by several expectant mothers and is likely very close to matching. It is so exciting to see the Lord working through this process again!

One major factor that is working against HAPs in some ways is the overwhelming number of agencies, consultants, profile companies, matching websites, and other businesses that are out there competing to be the platform that each coupled chooses for their journey. The market seems to be oversaturated and while many of these companies are operating ethically and are truly there to help not only HAPs but also expectant mothers, some myths can be started this way.

A follower recently reached out to me about how many people are actually matching on social media because an adoption professional had recently told her that matches are not happening this way. While there is not a lot of data available for all of the ways that matches are happening, I simply cannot believe this to be true. For one thing, it happened for us and several others I know, just within the last year. Another reason is that since Covid, there are more people online than ever before! That means more potential people to either match with or to follow your page and share your journey via word of mouth. The opportunities are endless.

Beyond all of this, social media is just a great tool for presenting your family in a customizable way that can be short, digestible bursts, optimized for an expectant mom to get to know your family! You can read more about my take on that here.

To summarize, you can ABSOLUTELY private match for adoption on social media. You can also use social media even if you are working with an agency, to supplement your chances of matching, and to take more of the process into your own hands. Is this method for every HAP? Of course not but for those looking for a more customized, personal, and oftentimes LESS expensive adoption matching journey, social media is a great option!

Ready to get started? Check out these Best Practices for Using Social Media to Match for Adoption or learn about Getting Started on Social Media for Adoption Matching!

Have questions? Reach out through this site or on my Instagram! Happy Matching!