Photo Prints for Post Adoption Reports

While post-adoption reports are a written account of an adopted child’s progress adjustment, pictures show how the child is with or around his or her family. Post-adoption reporting is an opportunity for families to demonstrate to the child’s birth country that the adopted child is being cared-for and loved. It is so important that families comply with post adoption requirements so that the U.S. can continue to work internationally to place other children through adoption. Countries rely on post adoption reports in order to see how the children that they have placed through adoption are doing. We have seen countries that have closed their doors to international adoption completely or increased their requirements to adopt, because they were unable to see the benefit of international adoption.

All of our programs at MLJ Adoptions now require photo prints to be included with their post adoption reports. Before we were able to accept digital copies of photos but we discovered that it was just too difficult for our in country staff in impoverished countries to print the pictures that are needed to be turned into the government with the post placement reports. The number of photos required varies depending on the country. For example, if you adopt from the Democratic Republic of Congo they only require 5 printed photos but if you adopt from Nicaragua, Honduras or Bulgaria they require 10-12. You may also add a short description of the picture or caption to explain what is going on in the picture.

Photos can be printed in a variety of ways. Some parents prefer to use their at home photo printer or there are also lots of options for ordering prints. You can order prints online from websites such as Shutterfly, Snapfish or Mpix and they will be delivered to your home. Stores such as Target, Walmart, CVS and Walgreens also have the option to order online and you can have them mailed to you or you can pick them up in the store. These stores also have the option to place your order on their in store kiosks to access your pictures using your memory cards, cds or usb drives. It seems like there are always a promotion available for photos printing at low costs or for free shipping. Many sites also provide lower cost printing if you pre-pay. Mpix.com provided us with a one-time use promo code MLJ2013 for free USPS shipping orders on $15 or more that is good from March 11-25.

There are many ways to order pictures and if you haven’t ordered prints lately I encourage you to do so. Even though our programs require photos prints for post adoption reports you are welcome to continue sending us digital copies to enjoy because the MLJ staff loves to see pictures of our families;it is a great reminder that the work we do helps bring a child home to his or her family.

Photo by Casey Mullins used with permission.