Adoption Blog

The Adoption Tax Credit Information

The National Council for adoption has released a helpful, practical guide to the adoption tax credit.  The Adoption Advocate No. 21 entitled, “Tax Benefits for Adoption: The Adoption Tax Credit includes a complete explanation of and examples of how to apply the tax credit, as well as details on:  the history of the tax credit; current status of the tax credit; and pending legislation to extend the tax credit.  Please Click Here to read Adoption Advocate No. 21. Families who have questions on the tax credit should contact their tax advisor as America World is unable to provide tax advice. Families are also welcome to contact their representative and ask them to work to increase the tax credit for 2011 and the years to follow as it is a very important resource for many families.  You can find your representative’s contact information at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.

Heritage Events at Dillon International

Dillon International hosts heritage events for children who were adopted internationally.  Our events are open to all families regardless of the placing agency.  Please feel free to forward this email to families or anyone who might be interested in attending. 

For 25 years, we have provided opportunities for adoptees to learn about their birth heritage through our annual camps. Our experience over the years has taught us that adoptees who have a greater awareness and appreciation of their dual heritage grow up to become well-rounded adults who are better equipped to succeed in life. We  invite all children who are in the family to attend our events, not just adoptees.

You can learn more about our events at http://www.dillonadopt.com/heritagecamp.htm .  If you have any questions my name is Whitney McIntire and I can be reached at whitney@dillonadopt.com .

C.A.S.E. WEBINAR: Understanding Adopted Teens

An online workshop will be hosted by C.A.S.E on Thursday, January 28, 2010 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)

“Join the author of BENEATH THE MASK, Debbie Riley, for this educational and inspiring webinar!  Adolescence is a time when adoptees struggle with an extra layer of challenges related to their identity, their future and their past. Ms. Riley will discuss the normal tasks of the teen years as they are intensified by adoption.

Families can call 301-476-8525 or register online. The fee is $25 and the Registration deadline: Tuesday, January 26th The registration link is: http://www.adoptionsupport.org/cal/index.php

Adoption Tax Credit Changes

The adoption tax credit is going through some changes. The maximum tax credit will be $12,170 through the year 2010.  However, after this year the credit will be dropping to $5,000 for a healthy child and $6,000 for a special needs child.  In order to qualify for the 2010 credit, your adoption must be finalized in the year 2010.  Families who have questions on the tax credit should contact their tax advisor as America World is unable to provide tax advice. Families are also welcome to contact their representative and ask them to work to increase the tax credit for 2011 and the years to follow as it is a very important resource for many families.  You can find your representative’s contact information at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.

Online Chinese Language Course for Parents

Chinese For Parents is a “social venture providing parents adopting children from China with a Hague compliant linguistic cultural training. Using the online training, adoptive parents learn how to communicate with their newly adopted children, express gratitude to social welfare workers in China and sing Chinese lullabies.” They are offering reduced fees to AWAA families who are preparing to travel to China through January. Families interested in taking the course can email Grant Pemberton at grant@chineseforparents.com and view the course overview at www.chineseforparents.com

Love Without Boundaries Conference Call

America World is excited to announce we will be hosting a conference call with Karen Maunu the Associate Executive Director of the Love Without Boundaries Foundation (LWB).  “Love Without Boundaries Foundation is a worldwide group of volunteers dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned and impoverished children in China. They provide humanitarian aid in 5 main programs – medical, education, foster care, healing homes, and orphanage assistance -enabling children to receive a family through adoption or to become self-sustaining members of their communities.”

This conference call opportunity will take place on Wednesday November 18th at 1pm EST and is open to any America World family- whether in the applicant stage, paper-chasing, waiting or post placement phases. While LWB focuses their work with orphans in China, a family in any America World program is invited to learn more about this organization and their education efforts for all adoptive parents, regardless of the country where they have adopted. The conference call will include information regarding the following 1) educational resources adoptive parents can utilize if they are considering adopting a waiting child or are preparing to bring a waiting child home 2) webinars, blogs and other resources families can use when they are home with their children and need support and education 3) learning about the advocacy efforts and programs of LWB

You can view the LWB website here: www.lovewithoutboundaries.com. Those who want to join the conference call are invited to email waitingchildren@awaa.org. An email will be sent on Tuesday November 17th to confirm with those families who registered how they can join the conference call. We look forward to this opportunity to partner with LWB and learn more about their educational and advocacy work on behalf of orphans and adoptive families!

Your Church and the Orphan Workshop

Join us for Family Life’s Your Church and the Orphan workshop on October 3, 2009 at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, VA. We know from the Word that we are to plead the case of the orphan, the poor, needy and destitute. As the Lord opens our eyes to the millions of orphans around the world, but especially those in Africa due to the AIDS pandemic, we hope to affect a long-term solution of involvement among God’s people here in America through God’s means of grace such as this seminar. 

If you have not been to the Hope for Orphans website, please visit it (http://www.hopefororphans.org/Display.asp?Page=churchandorphan) to see the Ten Ways we can help the Orphan (it isn’t just adoption) and the seminar information/registration. If you have not watched it, please view a 14 minute promotional DVD: http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=e91ee405ae528cf582e1.  Family Life wants teams of 4-12 per church, each registering individually on their website. The event is $20 per person for the day (9a-4p) and does include lunch.  James 1:27

Rob Mitchell and the Castaway Kid

"Castaway Kid" is a true story of a homeless and hopeless boy who grows up to be a man who finds, not only the home and hope that he had been searching for, but more than he could have ever asked or imagined, in Jesus Christ.  The author, Rob Mitchell vividly paints the picture of his life experiences as an orphaned child and how he overcame the feelings of rejection and ultimately learned to forgive.  This book will rivet you from start to finish.  We highly encourage anyone to pick up a copy of this book and give it a read.  You will not be disappointed.

We are also very honored that Rob Mitchell will also be a guest speaker at our Orphan's Ticket Home's Orlando, FL Gala on October 30th of this year.  For more information on our Orphan's Ticket Home campaign or other galas planned in your area, you can visit our Orphan's Ticket Home website at: http://www.orphanstickethome.org/

For more information about Rob Mitchell and his book, "Castaway Kid," you may visit the website: http://www.castawaykid.com/

Transracial Adoption and the Gospel

Russell Moore offers a biblical perspective to help encourage families who are seeking support and acceptance from extended familyi members regarding their transracial adoption. Families interested in reviewing this video message can view it here:

http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/04/16/adoption/

When Waiting Is Painful

On the site Together for Adoption, Dan Cruver writes a post showing the parallels between the wait time involved in international adoption and the length of time that God waited for His own plan of adoption.  In it, he points and encourages the reader to examine first, the length of time that God waited for His plan to adopt us as His children, to help put into perspective the waiting that families struggle with through their own adoption processes.

To read his full post, simiply click here.