Merry Christmas!

This video of the Christmas story is darling.  Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

Financial Aid for Adoptive Parents

Have you wondered if there is financial aid when adopting?  There are many different resources available and it's definitely worth looking into!  Below is a list of possible resources. 

 Disclosure: I do not know how current or accurate this list is.  LDS Family Services and FSA has no relationship with these organizations. We just provide this list as a resource for families. There are many more adoption financing resources.

Deseret First Credit Union

www.ldsfamilysrvices.org click on “FSA Member” , enter password: adoptabluv, click on the “Low Interest Adoption Loan” link on the left of the screen. You can also call 800-326-3328, Ext. 1552, 1556 or 1587. Low cost adoption services loan that offers affordable monthly payments.


The National Adoption Foundation

www.nafadopt.org, 100 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury, CT 06811, 203-791-3811. They provide grants, low interest loans and other programs to assist with adoption expenses.


The Gift of Adoption Fund

www.giftofadoption.org or info@giftofadoption.org , 101 E. Pier Street, 1st Floor, Port Washington, WI 53074, 877-905-2367. It is a public charity. The Fund provides financial assistance in the form of grants for adoptive parents.


Show Hope

www.showhope.org , P.O. Box 647, Franklin TN 37065, 615-550-5600. They award financial grants to qualifies families already in the process of domestic and international adoption. Grant applications must be submitted on-line.


A Child Waits Foundation

www.achildwaits.org ,1136 Barker Rd., #12 Pittsfield, PA 01201, 866-999-2445. Provides low interest loans to cover a portion of adoption fees.


North American Council on Adoptable Children

www.nacac.org , 800-470-6665. They provide adoption financial assistance information by state.


The Orphan Foundation

www.The OrphanFoundation.org 877-41-orphan. They provide grants of $1,000 for each child adopted, and $1,500 for each “special needs” adoption.


World Association for Children and Parents

www.wacap.org 206-575-4554. They have set up special funds and programs to help parents cover the costs of certain adoption.

1. African-American Infant Revolving Loan Fund

2. Promise Child Fund – children may be waiting because of age, medical conditions or part of a sibling group.

3. All Together Now Grants – For families who adopt a group of three or more siblings from Washington State Foster care.


HelpUsAdopt

www.helpusadopt.org A national non-profit financial assistance grant program.

The ABBA Fund

www.abbafund.org PO box 78800, Charlotte, NC 28271, Interest free loans for international or domestic adoption expenses for Christian families.


Brittany’s Hope Foundation

www.brittanyshope.org 1160 N. Market St., Elizabethtown PA 17022, 717-367-9614, Grants for adoption expenses for international waiting or special needs children.


God’s Grace Adoption Ministry, Inc

www.ggam.org or info@ggam.org , PO Box 4, Modesto, CA 95353, 209-572-4539. Seeks to help Christian families through grants and assistance with adoption fundraising.


Grant Me a Chance

www.grantmeachance.com , 1525 Cypress Rd., Suite H #113, Cedar Park, TX 78613. Grandt Given to families adoption siblings, older children, and special needs children.


Oxford Adoption Foundation, Inc.

www.oxfordadoption.com , 4309 Crayton Rd., Naples, FL 34103, 239-430-6240. Low interest loans for families adopting internationally.

Child Welfare Information Gateway

www.childwelfare.gov ,1250 Maryland Ave., SW. Eighth Floor, Washington, DC 20024 800-394-3366.

Site links to adoption financing information.


Caroline’s Promise

www.carolinespromise4u.org or info@carolinespromise4u.org, 1950 Beeson Rd., Kernersville NC 27284, 336-993-9046. Provides grants to Christian Couples living in North Carolina.


China Care Foundation

www.chinacare.org or info@chinacare.org, PO Box 607, Westport, CT 06881, 203-227-3655. They provide grants and/or low-interest loans for families who qualify by adopting special needs or older children.

Hadassah’s Hope

www.hadassahshope.org or customerservice@hadassahshope.org 20472 Crescent Bay, Suite 100, Lake Forest CA 92630. Strive to help families with the financial burdens of adopting internationally.


Hebrew Free Loan

www.hflasf.org or info@hflasf.org, 131 Stewart Street, Suite 425, San Francisco, CA 94105,

415-546-9902. Providing interest free loans for adopting families in Northern California.


I CARE Foundation

www.inticare.org or info@inticare.org , PO Box 19020, Baltimore MD 21284, 800-513-9896. Provides grants for international adoptions.


International Adoption Resources

www.theiar.org , 1080 Boranda Ave., Mountain View CA 94040, 650-969-1819.

International adoption grants.


Lifesong for Orphans

www.lifesongfororphans.org or info@lifesongfororphans.org , PO Box 40, 202 North Ford Street, Gridley, IL 61744, 309-747-3556. Christian organization provides matching grants and interest free ‘covenant’ loans to adopting families.


National Council for Adoption

www.adoptioncouncil.org , 888-628-7700. They have established an adoption loan program with Bank of America.


Northwest Airlines Special Delivery

www.nwa.com/features/adopt.shtml , Providing significant fare discounts for international adoptions.

Promise the Children

www.promisethechildren.orgptcstaff@swbell.net , 11939 Manchester Rd., Suite 136, St. Louis, MO 63131.


Sea of Faces Foundation

www.seaoffaces.org or director@seaoffaces.org , 6920-B Bradlick Shopping Center #200, Annandale, VA 22003. Christian families adopting from a developing country.

Adopting families should also consider:
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

The federal FMLA and the California counterpart, the California Family Right Act of 1993 (CFRA) provide employees with the right to an unpaid leave of absence for up to 12 weeks with in a 12 month period, for family and medial responsibilities, FMLA can be taken in the event of an adoption. Employers who regularly employ 50 or more employees may be eligible. One must have been employed for a least 12 months and worked at least 1250 hours during those preceding 12 months.
Employee Benefits

A growing number of companies and government agencies including the military now offer adoption benefits. Employer provided adoption benefits may include financial reimbursement, paid and unpaid leave and resource and referral services. Contact your employer to verify adoption benefits. For information and advice on seeking adoption benefits call 877-777-4222 or visit http://www.adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org/.
The Adoption Tax Credit

The tax credit grants adoptive families an income tax break of $12,150 (for tax year 2009) for adoption expenses, and expenses incurred in domestic adoption of children with special needs. Adopting families should consult tax advice from a legal or tax professional to claim the Adoption Tax Credit. To learn more about tax benefits, please review the IRS publication “Instructions for Form 8839” available through the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-3676 or www.irs.gov.
Banks & Credit Unions

Most banks and credits unions offer home equity loans or equity lines of credit with the interest qualifying for a tax deduction. Check with your financial institution concerning eligibility for loans and with your tax professional for the tax deduction.
Bank of America offers unsecured personal loans for a variety of purposes, including adoption. Bank of America may be contacted 888-457-2543 or http://www.bankofamerica.com/.

Beautiful Heartbreak

You might have heard this song, I've seen it passed along on facebook a bit but hadn't had a chance to listen to it, and it was just as wonderful as everyone said it is.

I personally can't think of a more beautiful heartbreak than the road of infertility that leads to adoption.  Heartbreak getting there?  Yes, most definitely. But, I can't think of anything more beautiful than the joy of adoption.

Enjoy!