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Adoption Financial Aid“We cannot afford to adopt” is a statement often heard by our adoption counselors. Because of this statement, made in frustration, many childless families, who could qualify for adoption financial aid, are brokenhearted and children remain in orphanages. While we cannot change the fact that adopting internationally is expensive without any kind of adoption financial aid, we are concerned that the expenses often make adopting prohibitive for wonderful families desiring to love a child. However—there is good news! Awareness of adoption, especially international adoption, has risen dramatically within the last decade, thus making adoption financial aid more readily available. And because of raised awareness and the efforts of many wonderful people, legislators, company executives, adoptive parents and others, more and more adoption financial aid has become available to make an adoption work for you. We want to pass that information about adoption financial aid along to you.
Finding Adoption Financial AidEmployee & Military Benefits A growing number of companies and government agencies are offering adoption benefits to their employees. Many states offer their employees generous reimbursements—this affects state employees of all kinds—including school teachers. Check with your employer to find out your company's policies. Benefits may include:
There are adoption benefits available to military families, as well as many other federal employees. The military provides active-duty personnel a reimbursement for most one-time adoption costs, up to $2000 per child. The maximum amount available in a given year is $5000, even if both parents are in the military. Reimbursement is made after the adoption is finalized. Here are some relevant links:
Adoption Friendly Workplace is a program which provides information about adoption benefits to employers and employees in both the public and private sectors. Funded by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, the project maintains a database of employers with adoption benefits—financial reimbursement, paid and/or unpaid leave time, and resource and referral services. This list is updated regularly and can be found on their website. State Subsidies Many states offer a tax credit or subsidy in addition to the federal tax credit. There is often an added benefit program for those who adopt children classified as “special needs” (often considered correctable). Sometimes these subsidies can apply to international children. Ask your home study social worker for information of possible state credits. Loans Some banks and financial institutions offer low interest loans with special terms strictly for adoption expenses. Start with your bank, then call around, and/or search the internet. Many people will take out a loan to fund the adoption and find that upon receiving tax reimbursements and employee benefits that much of their loan can be paid back quickly.
Additional Ideas
Think about it: Every family finds a way to purchase automobiles, pay mortgages or rent, yet think it's wrong to finance their adoption. The child you adopt will be with you forever!
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Financial Aid LinksThe Abba Fund exists to glorify God as one of His instruments in helping the fatherless by helping Christian families grow through adoption. America's Christian Credit Union While many financial institutions do not understand the unique situation surrounding the adoption process, we do. As part of our continuing effort to "reach, serve and teach," America's Christian Credit Union is happy to offer adoption loans. A Child Waits Foundation offers both adoption grants program, and low interest adoption loans. Their grant program is specifically designed to help older children and children with special needs who are still living in international orphanages. Christian Advocates For Adoption CAFA is dedicated to seeing the fatherless children of the world find their place in loving Christian homes. CAFA exists to promote adoption within the Christian community through inspiration, education and provision. Gift of Adoption Fund turns the dream of adoption into reality for those who could not otherwise afford to adopt. The Gift of Adoption Fund provides adoption financial aid assistance to moderate and low-income families seeking to adopt. FamilyBuilder Fund Grants (Christian World Foundation) is a response to the financial needs of parents who are registered clients with Christian World Adoption. Grants are made to families on a case-by-case basis according to need and funds available. Show Hope (formerly Shaohannah’s Hope). In 2003, Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman founded the ministry of Shaohannah’s Hope to help reduce the financial barriers of adoption so that more orphans would have families. Show Hope continues to provide grants to connect waiting orphans with loving, Christian families. The Sparrow Fund is an organization committed to encouraging and supporting these families as they prepare for the adventure of adoption. We do this by providing grants to families in financial need to enroll in programs specifically designed to provide counsel and comprehensive medical reviews of their referred child. Pathways for Little Feet is a 501c3 not-for-profit charitable organization that provides interest-free loans to qualified families already in the process of adopting. Our Mission is to help families adopt children through financial assistance. Our Vision is to create a world in which every child belongs to a loving home. LifeSong For Orphans helps remove financial roadblocks by offering matching grants which encourage an adopting couple's church family to financially and prayerfully support the adoption. National Endowment for Financial Education “How to Make Adoption an Affordable Option” provides information about financial assistance and tax breaks available to adoptive parents. Don’t let myths about adoption costs deter you. By careful financial planning, you can make adoption an affordable option for your family. The National Adoption Foundation A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial support, information, and services for adoptive and prospective adoptive families. We Care for Orphans and LifeSong for Orphans have partnered together to make a difference in the lives of orphans. We Care for Orphans is designed to help assist families with the resources needed to fund their adoption and Lifesong helps us review applications, and distribute the funds available to qualifying families. Adoptive Families Magazine offers an online article about where to look for help concerning adoption financial aid, what subsidies are available, and where loans and adoption financial aid grants may be found. |
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Christian World Adoption is a licensed, 501c3 non-profit international adoption agency. CWA is Hague accredited through the Council On Accreditation, which qualifies CWA to place adoptable children from other Hague Treaty adoptive countries. CWA offers free, monthly international adoption webinars and home study services. CWA's friendly and professional staff provide a full range of international adoption services. Contact our international adoption agency today for free adoption information online, which includes current adoption program expense estimates, fees, parent eligibility, travel requirements, and much more. |
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