Adoption Story

 

Do you have an adoption story that you want to share? As I am out and about during the day and I tell people I meet about my new website, they are very eager to share their adoption story with me. Whether they have first hand experience with adoption or they know someone who knows someone who adopted or was adopted, they are always quick to share their story. So, I thought, “hey, why not let someone share their story on my website!” Isn’t that how we all learn, from hearing other people’s stories? So, if you want to share your story with Adoption Update Readers, leave a comment and you will receive a reply within 24 hours with instructions on how to post your story! I am excited to hear from you and encourage you to pass the word on to your friends!

Adopted The Movie

 

Adopted The Movie was set to release in October of 2008.  I have had my eye on this film for quite some time now and I am anxious for its release. It deals with a very popular topic, transracial adoption. The fact that International adoption has become so popular in the United States means that there are many varying opinions about removing a child from his or her birth county and bringing them to a new culture. Some supportit and some do not. This film deals with the good and the bad of transracial adoption. I think that the best way to describe thefilm is to take the description right off of its own website. 

   “Adopted reveals the grit rather than the glamor of transracial adoption. First-time director Barb Lee goes deep into the intimate lives of two well-meaning families and shows us the subtle challenges they face. One family is just beginning the process of adopting a baby from China and is filled with hope and possibility. The other family’s adopted Korean daughter is now 32 years old. Prompted by her adoptive mother’s terminal illness, she tries to create the bond they never had. The results are riveting, unpredictable and telling. While the two families are at opposite ends of the journey, their stories converge to show us that love isn’t always enough.”

Click here to watch trailers, pre-order the DVD and to learn more about the making of this film.

Adoption Agency Review

From time to time I will provide a link to an adoption agency that I have come across through my research that I have found to be interesting and wanted to share a little information about them. However, this does not mean that I have any personal experience with them. Perhaps they have a new program or a waiting child that could use some promoting. That would be a reason why I might chose to mention them. I highly recommend that you research each agency on you own. I have provided two links below that I have found to be helpful when you want to get a general opinion of an agency from people who have had personal experience with them. The first is for the Better Business Bureau. Click here for the Better Business Bureau. The second is a website called Adoption Agency Ratings. People who have something positive or negative to say about an adoption agency often times leave comments here. Click here for that website. Hopefully this information will be helpful to you.

National Adoption Day 2008

 

I came across an article from The Wall Street Journal reviewed National Adoption Day 2008. More than 4,000 adoptions from foster care were finalized on November 15th. This is the 9th year that the Saturday before Thanksgiving (although this year it was moved back a week in respect to the 45th anniversary of the death of President JFK) has been celebrated as National Adoption Day. With this great news of 4,000 children placed with their forever families, we also remember those children who are still waiting. In the US alone, there are 129,000 children in the foster care system who are simply waiting to be adopted. National Adoption Day also brings awareness to these waiting children and helps to break down the wall of myths that surround them. The article also discusses the fact that every year 26,000 children age out of the system and enter the world ill equipped to tackle life’s challenges. To read the article click here

Rwanda

I have noticed that Rwanda has gotten a lot of traffic this week, so I thought I would do a highlight on their adoption program. I have found a few agencies that have a Rwanda adoption program, however America World Adoption based out of McLean, VA seems to have the most concise information posted. They cover history on the country and the program, travel information, fees and requirements. I have requested an info packet and hopefully that will give me some better detail about the program. Click here to see their information page for Rwanda. 

I also came across Hands Across The Water adoption agency based in Ann Arbor, MI. Their website states that they have a new pilot program with Rwanda. I do not know how long they have promoted this program as a “pilot program,” but from my experience a new program can be risky, but worth it. Click here to read more about their program and agency.

Adoption Registry

Everyone knows that having a baby can be expensive. There are all kinds of baby gear that you need to buy. In addition to the cost of supplies, adoptive parents face the costs of travel and adoption fees. Often times the “waiting period” for a referral of a child can be quite lengthy. Friends and family of an adoptive parent often feel at a loss for what they can do to help encourage during this difficult time. Well, there is a website called Gotcha Gift Registry that allows adoptive parents to create a profile for their adoption journey. Friends and family can then log onto that profile and purchase or contribute towards their journey. It is exciting for the adoptive parents to see what gifts have been given specifically for their child as well as for the giver to know that their gift is truly something that both the parents and the child need. Click here to see sample registries to get a better idea of what this website has to offer.

Birthparents Seeking Adoptive Families

Lifetime Adoption Center in Rough and Ready, CA works with both families seeking to adopt as well as birthparents looking for adoptive families. They maintain a long list of birthmothers who are hoping to find a home for their baby. The list includes the age of the birthmother, due date, gender, ethnicity of the baby and the state in which she lives. It also includes a short description of the type of family she is looking for as well as the type of adoption. (Closed, semi-open or open) The list is quite overwhelming but also encouraging. This is an agency based adoption process. List of Birthmothers seeking Adoptive Families

Domestic Adoption

Adoptive Families Magazine has composed a fantastic outline that describes the adoption laws for all 50 states. The information regarding each state includes, “when after birth can consent be given, when does consent become irrevocable, what birthparent expenses may be paid, can adopters advertise to birthparents, can out-of-state residents finalize an adoption and is there a putative father registry?” This information is helpful for those considering an independent adoption or an agency adoption. The main difference between the two is that in an independent adoption, the adoptive parents work strictly with an adoption attorney instead of working with an adoption agency. So, in an independent adoption (also refered to as a private adoption) when the birthmother relinquishes her parental rights, the rights go directly to the adoptive parents. When you work with an adoption agency, the parental rights are released to the agency and they in turn consent to an adoption by the adoptive parents. The chart that Adoptive Families Magazine complied is full of information that will help both adoptive parents and birthparents understand the laws of their state.  Adoptive Families state-by-state listing

2009 Adoption Tax Credit

In October, the adoption tax credit was reviewed and the following changes were made:

“.03 Adoption Credit.  For taxable years beginning in 2009, under § 23(a)(3) the credit 

allowed for an adoption of a child with special needs is $12,150.  For taxable years 

beginning in 2009, under § 23(b)(1) the maximum credit allowed for other adoptions is 

the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $12,150.  The available adoption credit 

begins to phase out under § 23(b)(2)(A) for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross 

income in excess of $182,180 and is completely phased out for taxpayers with modified 

adjusted gross income of $222,180 or more.  (See section 3.14 of this revenue 

procedure for the adjusted items relating to adoption assistance programs.) “

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-08-66.pdf

The tax credit amount for 2008 was $11,650, so that equals a $400.00 raise in credit! Great news for all adoptions finalizing in 2009.

In Honor Of Adoption Awareness Month

As stated in a previous post, November is Adoption Awareness Month and this years theme focuses on foster children. I thought the the information below would be a great way to kick off November.

Congress recently (10/3/08) passed a measure to increase incentives for adoption, especially for families adopting older children, sibling groups or children with special needs. In addition, it increases financial support for relatives of a child in the system, encouraging them to claim guardianship. Lastly, it extends resources for children ages 18-21 to help their transition into adulthood.

To read the actual Act, copy and paste the link below. 

http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/HR_6893.pdf