According to a Sept. 14 press release, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $35 million in grant funds to 38 states and Puerto Rico for the purpose of increasing the adoption of children who are currently living with foster families:

The states that receive the funds will use the federal money to support programs that promote the adoption of abused and neglected children, the release reported:

"Adopting a child from foster care is a wonderful way to enrich any family`s life," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "We congratulate the states that performed so well this year and we thank the parents who are providing loving and permanent homes."

The Adoption Incentives program was created as part of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. The original program authorized incentive funds to states that increased the number of children adopted from foster care.

In order to get payments, states had to increase the number of children adopted relative to baseline data.

Labels: foster_care, financial_assistance

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Congress recently enacted a tax credit aimed at helping ease the financial burden of adoption. Though the credit applies to both foreign and domestic adoptions, parents adopting domestically may get the credit sooner.

"People who adopt in the USA can claim a credit for adoption-related expenses in the year the adoption is completed or the year after they apply, even if it is still pending. But parents who adopt a non-U.S. child can claim the credit only in the year the adoption is completed."

Because of increased regulations in many countries, foreign adoptions take longer than they used to. Additionally, an unsuccessful foreign adoption isn't eligible for any portion of the credit, while an unsuccessful domestic adoption may be. Source: USA Today

Labels: financial_assistance, tax_deductions

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An auctioneer in Kentucky has started a unique organization aimed at helping prospective adoptive parents. David Meade's organization, "Auction for Adoption," will host its first auction Aug. 16, with a goal of raising money to help offset adoption costs.

"Meade has visited some of the orphanages in Guatemala and has seen the broken-hearted children. He says he wants to bring hope to orphans and also to couples who cannot have children. Meade doesn't have any specific goal he would like to reach, although he hopes to raise $3,000 to $4,000."

The Aug. 16 auction takes place in the First Southern National Bank in Stanford, Kentucky. Items to be auctioned include tickets to sporting events, autographed sports memorabilia, couples' getaway packages, and more. Source: The Interior Journal

Labels: financial_assistance, prospective_parents

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It's no secret that adoption is neither easy nor cheap. A Benton, Kentucky, couple is hoping to ease some of the financial burden with a unique yard sale.

"The Riley's front yard is the place they plan on setting up all those donated items for sale, but you won't find any price tags. 'We're going to let people come in on that day and pay us what they think they items are worth or what they would like to donate toward our adoption,' said Lee Ann."

The goal of the August 9 yard sale is to raise just over $20,000, which will cover attorney and agency fees, birth mother expenses, legal fees, medical expenses and the cost of parenting classes. Source: WPSD Channel 6 (Kentucky)

Labels: adoption_costs, financial_assistance, donations

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A budget shortfall in 2007 forced Florida lawmakers to trim $4 billion in state spending - cuts that resulted in the complete omission of new funding for adoption subsidies. On June 17, 2008, lawmakers agreed to transfer $21 million from state trust funds to adoption, foster care, and child protection programs.

"The [adoption] subsidies are the state's primary tool in encouraging parents to adopt foster children with special needs who may require extra health or psychological care.... Both the adoption and after-foster care programs would have collapsed this year without more money."

The money will help support adoptions that occurred during the last fiscal year, and will provide funding for the more than 3,000 adoptions the state is expecting to process in the coming year. Source: Tampa Tribune

Labels: special_needs, foster_care, financial_assistance

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Having a child, whether by birth or adoption, means not only added joy but also added expenses. The costs of raising a child are estimated in the $125,000 to $250,000 dollar range - and that's not including the cost of the actual birth or adoption. But there are steps parents can take to ensure their finances are as healthy as their family.

"Ignore the Joneses: In today's world, it's easy to imagine your child falling far behind if he or she isn't playing a musical instrument, speaking a foreign language, playing daily with groups of friends and on a sports team before kindergarten. Still, the most important activities for children are priceless (and very budget-friendly): Exercising in the yard, reading library books together, drawing with crayons or sidewalk chalk...."

For adoptive parents, it important to plan for the cost of the adoption itself and to build a post-adoption budget. Know before you ever begin the adoption process what your financial picture will look like once you have a child. The fewer surprises, the less stress, and the more you can enjoy your growing family. Source: PR Web

Labels: financial_assistance, expenses, budgets

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Since 1997, when the Adoption and Safe Families Act was passed, the adoption of foster care children has increased from 31,000 to 51,000 per year. While the adoption of special needs children is encouraged, financial subsidies are only available to adoptive parents if the child's biological parents qualified for welfare. Senator Susan Collins from Maine would like to change that.

"I am a cosponsor of the bipartisan Adoption Equality Act introduced by Senator Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., to correct this situation and ensure that no child adopted from foster care is denied federal support strictly on the basis of the birth family's income."

The Adoption Equality Act would also require states to reinvest surplus foster care dollars back into child abuse and neglect programs. Source: Seacoast Online

Labels: legislation, special_needs, financial_assistance

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Julie and Dana Cadman have three children, all of whom were adopted from Russia. The joy they've experienced from adoption has caused them to form the Cadman Foundation, which helps families raise the money needed for adoption.

"The Cadman Foundation aids adoptions by providing grants to families who are raising funds for the opportunity. With domestic or international adoptions costing up to $40,000, the Cadmans know many families can't pursue a child without incurring major debt."

To date, the Cadman Foundation has provided $20,000 in grants to six families who have adopted internationally. Source: Observe & Eccentric Newspapers, Rochester Hills, Michigan

Labels: Russia, advocacy, financial_assistance

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New laws passed in Florida this week will increase the amount of money parents will receive for adoption. An amendment to one of the laws extends one-time payments to employees of schools, colleges and universities.

"'I see this as a very good thing,' said Naderah Salim, CEO of the Children's Network... 'Anything we can do that shows the families and the children that you are valued. This is a big step for families... The more resources we can put into the hands of a family, the better they can take care of the children.'"

Children's Family Network contracts with the Florida Department of Children and Families to care for foster children and facilitate adoptions in several counties. Though the new law has been signed by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, the bill is pending approval of special funding.

Read more at News-Press.com.

Labels: support, financial_assistance, money

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Standard Register is an Ohio-based leading provider of document and print management services. But it recently gained recognition as a leader in something else: providing a "beneficial and comprehensive adoption policy" for its employees.

"Established in January 2006, Standard Register's policy on adoption provides employees with up to $4,000 of financial assistance as well as up to four weeks of paid leave. These benefits apply to both female and male employees."

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption ® recently recognized the company, ranking it third among Ohio-based workplaces and fourth on a nationwide list of companies that are considered "adoption friendly". Read more online.

Adoption, drugs and teens can sometimes go together. Learn more about teens and drugs from the Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base.

Labels: financial_assistance, employers, adoption_policy

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