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ADOPTION
NEWS & LINKS
ADOPTION
BOOKS
Tapestry
Books
In 1994, Tapestry Books became the first site on the World Wide
Web to specialize in adoption books. With knowledgeable staff members,
friendly and efficient service, and a love of family, Tapestry Books
is your complete source for books about adoption. Visit their website
at www.tapestrybooks.com.
ADOPTION INFORMATION
Evan
B Donaldson Adoption Institute
Since 1996, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a national
not-for-profit organization, has advanced sound adoption policy
and practice for adopted people, adoptive families and birth parents.
The Adoption Institute gathers, analyzes and synthesizes the best
available information from research and practical experience to
identify and develop the most effective policies and practices to
increase the numbers of permanent and loving families for waiting
children, as well as to provide positive lifelong experiences for
all participants. Working with lawmakers, practitioners and researchers,
the Adoption Institute strives to improve the ethics of adoption
policy and practice, and the day-to-day experiences of everyone
involved. Visit their web site at
www.adoptioninstitute.org.
National
Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC)
The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse was established
by Congress in 1987 to provide free information on all aspects of
adoption. The NAIC website provides comprehensive information on
domestic and intercountry adoption. Visit their website at http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm.
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption focuses on increasing adoption
awareness while supporting model adoption service programs. The
foundation publishes one of the most widely used resources in the
adoption community called A Child is Waiting... A Beginner’s
Guide to Adoption. It contains a step-by-step process of adoption
as well as various resources to help potential adoptive parents
get some basic questions answered. Visit their website at http://www.davethomasfoundationforadoption.org/index.asp.
Options
Magazine
Options Magazine and Optionsmagazine.com provide free information
for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. With articles about adoption,
parenting, abortion, marriage, pre-natal care, health, counseling,
and more, Options Magazine emphasizes the need to make positive
choices during pregnancy. Visit their website at www.optionsmagazine.com.
Adoptive
Families Magazine
Adoptive Families, the award-winning national adoption magazine,
is the leading adoption information source for families before,
during, and after adoption. Whether you're adopting for the first
time, considering adopting again, or interested in keeping up with
the latest adoption news and trends, the Adoptive Families Annual
Adoption Guide will provide you with detailed, accurate information
you won't find anywhere else. You can subscribe by visiting their
website at www.adoptivefamilies.com.
ADOPTION INSURANCE
AdoptionAssurance
AdoptionAssurance is an insurance policy that covers an adoption
for a child less than two years old arranged through an approved
adoption attorney. Visit www.adoptionassurance.com or call 1-800-966-9304
for more information.
ADVERTISING
Parent
Profiles
ParentProfiles.com is a unique environment created for birthmothers
and hopeful adoptive parents to find each other, establish relationships,
and create adoption situations that meet the needs of everyone.
Visit their website at www.ParentProfiles.com
or call 1-800-FAMILY-NOW.
Options
Magazine
Options Magazine and Optionsmagazine.com provide free information
for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. With articles about adoption,
parenting, abortion, marriage, pre-natal care, health, counseling,
and more, Options Magazine emphasizes the need to make positive
choices during pregnancy. They also offer on-line and magazine advertising
of adoptive family profiles. Visit their website at www.optionsmagazine.com.
CORD BLOOD PRESERVATION
Alpha
Cord
Alpha Cord has established the nation's first network of cord blood
banks. They carefully screen and select laboratories which have
a proven history of quality and dedicated service. This allows Alpha
Cord to offer you the most trusted names in cord blood preservation
at a significant savings. For more information about the importance
of cord blood preservation for your adopted child, visit www.alphacord.com.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Gift
of Adoption Fund
This nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation provides grants to adoptive
parents in order to alleviate the financial burden of the adoption
process. It is the only organization in the world with the singular
mission of providing funding to build bridges of hope for children
and their families. Visit their website at www.giftofadoption.org
for more information or call 877-905-2367 or E-mail: info@giftofadoption.org.
National
Adoption Foundation (NAF)
NAF provides adoption assistance for prospective or adoptive parents
by proving financial support, information and services and specializes
in helping adoptive parents with the costs associated with adopting
and raising a child. They provide grants and loans to help fund
legal or adoption fees, educational expenses, or the day-to-day
costs of raising a family. Visit their website at www.nafadopt.org
or call 800-258-4207 for more information.
A
Child's Desire
This nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization provides grants for families
seeking to adopt hard-to-place children, children with special needs
and children over age 8. They also provide fundraising ideas and
resources to families. Visit their website at www.achildsdesire.org
for more information.
Fifth
Third Bank—Naples, Florida
There is a new financing program offered by Fifth Third Bank in
Naples, Florida, which is meant to help families more easily afford
adoption. The program offers families who are looking to adopt a
home equity credit line or installment loan to help cover their
expenses. Adoptive parents can be approved for a credit line that
will allow them to borrow up to 100 percent of the value of their
home, minus the amount of their mortgage. Payments need only be
made on the money used, and there is an option of making interest-
only payments. Checks are issued along with a Mastercard that enable
the borrower to access their credit whenever needed, and one can
take up to 20 years to pay back the principal amount. Please call
them at 239-530-1460 for more information.
National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
How to Make Adoption an Affordable Option, is an all-around guide
to the financial aspects of adoption. Visit their web site at http://nefe.org/adoption.
A Child Waits Foundation
A Child Waits Foundation makes low interest loans to cover a portion
of the costs associates with an international adoption. Please call
866-999-2445 or visit their website at www.achildwaits.org.
Military Subsidies
If you are an active-duty member of the Armed Forces of the United
States, you may be eligible for a $2,000 per child military subsidy.
Check with your base commander for more information.
Employee Benefit Programs
Many private and governmental employers offer adoption assistance
and benefits. These might include financial reimbursement, paid
and unpaid leave and resource and referral services. Please inquire
with your Human Resources or benefits department.
Family Medical Leave Act
After you adopt, what about job security while staying home with
your new child? The Family Medical Leave Act may provide the benefits
you need. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 is a federal
law that requires employers of more than 50 workers to give full-time
employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption
of a child. One must have been employed for at least 12 months and
worked at least 1250 hours during the previous 12 months. Your employer
may have more generous benefits, but this offers minimum protection.
PayPal
An Internet service that allows you to pay for adoption expenses
and fees with your credit card. See www.paypal.com.
God's Grace Adoption Ministry
God's Grace Adoption Ministry is a non-profit organization helping
adoptive parents overcome the financial burden of adopting children.
It is not an adoption agency, but rather works in cooperation with
the agency to assist the family with their financial needs. Depending
on the individual family needs, financial assistance is available
in the form of grants and interest free loans. Call 209- 572-4539
or visit their website at www.ggam.org.
Shaohannah's Hope
Working from these foundational truths, Shaohannah's Hope exists
to care for orphans by engaging the church and helping Christian
families reduce the financial burden of adoption. These families
can provide not only love and support needed for this life, but
also provide a child with the knowledge of God’s plan for
his or her eternal life with a forever family called The Body of
Christ. For more information, please visit www.shaohannahshope.org.
Adoption Tax Credits
• A permanent adoption tax credit of up to $11,390 per child
is available to offset documented adoption expenses.
• For special needs children, a flat tax credit has been established
which allows for the $11,390 credit without proof of expenses.
• Given the beneficial treatment accorded special needs adoptions,
it is important to recognize that only children who are U.S. citizens
or residents currently qualify for special needs status. In all
other cases taxpayers must substantiate the qualifying adoption
expenses incurred in order to receive any benefit.
• Qualifying adoption expenses include virtually all costs
directly related to the adoption, including travel costs, lodging
during travel, and any fees incurred. Interested taxpayers should
consult Form 8839 and the related instructions for more specific
information regarding definitions, the phase-out of benefits, and
the year in which the tax benefit is allowed.
• The starting point for reduction of the adoption credit
will be a modified adjusted gross income of $155,861 and the tax
credit is eliminated at a modified adjusted gross income of $195,860.
• The adoption expense credit will now be allowed to offset
the minimum tax as well as the regular income tax.
• The income inclusion for employer-provided adoption assistance
will be doubled to $10,000 and its income. Phase-out provision will
mirror those of the adoption expense credit. For special needs adoptions,
this exclusion is not limited to actual expenses. For non-special
needs adoptions, the same expenses cannot be counted for both the
credit and the exclusion.
• The North American Council on Adoptable Children released
a fact sheet on the adoption tax credit for adoptive parents. Visit
them online at http://www.nacac.org/pub_taxcredit.html.
Also see IRS Publication 968, Tax Benefits for Adoption, which can
be downloaded from the IRS website at www.irs.gov/publications/p968/ar02.html.
Chase
New Additions
Chase
has partnered with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to help
adoptive families finance adoption. The Chase New Additions program
is a home equity line of credit specifically designed to assist
prospective adoptive families and offers low rates, generous credit
lines, and payment flexibility. For more information visit www.chase.com/NewAdditions
or call 1-866-345-7687.
Bank
of America
Keith McKinnon, Loan Officer, and Bank of America may be able to
help you finance your adoption. For more information call (813)
367-5669 or email keith.r.mckinnon@bankofamerica.com.
PROFILES
Creative
Adoption Consultants (CAC)
CAC is a Heart of Adoptions, Inc. agency partner that specializes
in helping adoptive families create their own unique portfolio and/or
dear birth parent letter. CAC offer design, editing, and critiquing
or portfolios. They also offer tailor their fee structure to specifically
meet the needs of Heart of Adoptions, Inc. families. Visit their
website at www.creativeadoption.com
or call 813-786-5467.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Brandon
Crisis Pregnancy Center
The Brandon Pregnancy Center offers free pregnancy tests, information
on adoption, abortions, help finding a place to live, supports groups,
maternity/baby items, and counseling. Visit their website at http://www.cpc.org/brandon/
or call 813-654-0491.
Life
for Kids
Life for Kids provides pregnancy, adoption and parenting services
through the ministry of Gorman Family Life Center, Inc. Life for
Kids provides support to birth mothers who have placed a child for
adoption and those considering placing a child. The purpose of the
group is to provide a setting where woman can gain peer support,
general adoption information and post-adoption healing. Call 407-629-KIDS(5437)
for more information.
The
Pregnancy Resource Center
The Pregnancy Resource Center was founded in 1997 and provides a
variety of fee services and programs to meet the needs of clients
and the community. Some of their services include, but at not limited
to, free pregnancy test, adoption support groups for birth mothers,
child birth classes and a 24 hour hotline. Visit their website at
www.pregnancynaples.com
or call 239-513-9775.
The Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families
The Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families, Inc.
is a community-based, parent-driven organization that provides services
and supports to meet the identified needs of children and the families
that adopt them. Support groups, resource library, and respite are
just a few of the services they offer. Visit their website at www.SylviaThomasCenter.org
or call 813-664-0303.
TRAVEL
AngelFlight.org
Angel Flight West provides free transportation to medical treatment
for people who cannot afford public transportation, or who cannot
tolerate it for health reasons. Angel Flight West accepts requests
from individuals or health care professionals such as social workers
and physicians.
You can also call Angel Flight West toll- free at (888) 4-AN-ANGEL,
or (888) 426-2643. If you need transportation outside the Western
States, you can obtain a referral to another similar organization
in your area by contacting Angel Flight America's National Patient
Travel Center at (800) 296-1217, or visit their website at www.npath.org.
Protravel
International Inc.
Contact Nancy Kay Streiter at nancykay@protravelinc.com or call
toll-free at (800) 683 720 for assistance with your travel needs.
Be sure to mention your travel is adoption related to receive discounted
rates. You may also visit Protravel’s website at www.protravelinc.com.
HELPFUL
WEB SITES
 EVAN
B DONALDSON ADOPTION INSTITUTE:
Since 1996, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a national
not-for-profit organization, has advanced sound adoption policy
and practice for adopted people, adoptive families and birth parents.
The Adoption Institute gathers, analyzes and synthesizes the best
available information from research and practical experience to
identify and develop the most effective policies and practices to
increase the numbers of permanent and loving families for waiting
children, as well as to provide positive lifelong experiences for
all participants. Working with lawmakers, practitioners and researchers,
the Adoption Institute strives to improve the ethics of adoption
policy and practice, and the day-to-day experiences of everyone
involved.
You
can visit their web site at www.adoptioninstitute.org
, a popular and reliable source for accurate adoption information.
 CASEY
FOUNDATION —www.casey.org
For a particularly
thorough explanation of tax and other benefits associated with adoption.
HEART OF ADOPTIONS, INC.
Heart of Adoptions, Inc., is the adoption agency through which we
handle many of our adoptions.
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