Shaohannah's Hope : How To Adopt

Helpful Adoption Links

Where to go for Adoption Assistance

Federal Adoption Expense Tax Credit

For tax year 2005, the federal adoption expense tax credit increased to a maximum of $10,630 per adoption. See http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html and the instructions for form 8839 at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8839.pdf for details. Also, read the Adoptive Families article, "The Adoption Tax Credit," by Mark McDermott, at www.adoptivefamilies.com/clip.php.

State Tax Credits

Several states have tax credits for adoptive families, sometimes restricted to those adopting from that state's public child welfare system. Contact your state adoption unit for more information.

Adoption Subsidies

Children with special needs may qualify for a subsidy to help parents pay for ongoing treatments. For more information: North American Council on Adoptable Children, www.nacac.org/adoptionsubsidy.html.

Nonrecurring Adoption Expense Reimbursement

Families who adopt from the public system may be eligible for reimbursement of adoption-related expenses, such as homestudy, travel, and attorney costs. More information: www.nacac.org/subsidy_stateprofiles.html.

Military Subsidies

Active-duty personnel are reimbursed for one-time adoption costs, whether adopting an infant, a waiting child, or a child from abroad. Find out more at http://www.militaryfamily.org/your-benefits/adoption/.

Employee Benefits

More employers are offering adoption benefits for employees, and the dollar amounts of these benefits are growing, with the average expense reimbursement now approaching $4,000. Two resources for help in lobbying for these benefits: www.adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org and www.benefitsguides.com. Also read "How to Lobby Your Employer for Adoption Benefits" at www.adoptivefamilies.com/clip.php.

Grants and Loans

Some adoption agencies and organizations offer adoption grants and/or low-cost loans. Agencies with such programs include Holt International, World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP), and Dillon International. (See the adoption agency listings in this Guide for contact information.) The Gift of Adoption Fund: www.giftofadoption.org, and A Child Waits, www.achildwaits.org (for Eastern European adopters) offer grants.

Other Resources

Look into cash advances from credit cards, second mortgages, home equity loans, and special adoption loans. Consider borrowing from your life insurance policy, 401(k), or pension plan. Approach your church about the possibility of adoption assistance. Perhaps you can tap friends and relatives. Maybe you can take a second job until your child comes, or identify a birthmother who already has medical insurance. More ideas are found in the booklet, "How to Make Adoption an Affordable Option," available from the National Endowment for Financial Education at www.nefe.org/adoption, or by calling 888-878-3256 (item #508-F). Also see the Burke Family's list of adoption funding sources at http://www.angelfire.com/journal/adoptionhelp/1ADOPTIONOTHERRESOURCES.html.

Orphan Care

Worldwide	URL
Ambassadors for Children	www.ambassadorsforchildren.com
Buckner Orphan Care International	www.helporphans.org
Doctors without Borders	www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Northwest Medical Missions Team	www.nwmedicalteams.org
Orphanages: A Directory	www.missionfinder.org/orphanages.htm Opportunities for ministry to children
Warm Blankets	www.warmblankets.org
World Orphans	www.worldorphans.org
World Vision	www.Worldvision.org
Africa
Africa International Christian mission	www.aicmission.org
Children of Zion	www.cofz.org
Far Reaching Ministries	www.farreachingministries.org
Invisible Children	www.invisiblechildren.com
Watoto Children Ministries	www.watoto.com
Asia
Cambodia/Tabitha	www.tabithausa.org
CCBN China	www.cbnchina.org
Children Hope International Foundation	www.chifoundation.org
Children of Promise	www.promise.org
Gospel Mission of India	www.ebenezermission.org/
Home for Good	www.hfgf.org/about.html
Hope Foster Home	www.hopefosterhome.com
Love Without Boundaries	www.lovewithoutboundaries.com
The Miracle Foundation	www.miraclefoundation.org
Phillip Hayden	www.philiphayden.org
Eastern Europe
Children's Hope Chest	www.hopechest.org
The CoMission for Children At Risk	www.comissionforchildren.com/profiles/aom.php
Firefly Children's Network	www.fireflykids.org
Lifesong for Orphans	www.lifesongfororphans.org
Central/South America
Love Links in El Salvador	www.love-link.org
United States
Becoming a Foster Parent	www.acf.hhs.gov/acf_services.html
CASA Program	www.casanet.org
Orphan Foundation of America	www.orphan.org
U.S. Orphanages - directory	www.legends.ca/orphanages