Four Adoptions

We loved this beautifully written blog post about the joy and pain of adoption.  Someone recently said “Just because something is beautiful, does not mean it is easy.”  Get your Kleenex ready.

http://flowerpatchfarmgirl.blogspot.com/2012/03/one-side-of-heart-adoption.html

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Beattie

Both of these boys were adopted with the help of Christian Adoption Consultants!

If you’ve been thinking about adoption and just haven’t taken the plunge, I can’t think of a better Valentine’s Day gift than saying, “Yes,” to adoption and opening up your hearts and your home to LOVE a child that needs a family!

In celebration of LOVE DAY, we’re offering 14% off our regular consulting services  and an additional 14% off our minority program (making it an awesome 28% off) for a very LIMITED TIME.
This offer is good on new client applications received February 14th-29th only!

Don’t miss out on this awesome discount.
SHARE YOUR LOVE!
Say, “YES” to adoption TODAY!

Sorry for the inconvenience, but the Adoption Information Meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening is being rescheduled…Email us if you have any questions caroline@christianadoptionconsultants.com.

Once you have made the leap of faith and said “yes, we are going to adopt”  the next question is most often, “how on earth are we going to pay for this?”

First, we want to address the fact that there are ways to adopt that cost very little money.  In most states, if you feel called to go through the state foster-to-adopt system, your adoption could cost very little.  However, not everyone feels called to this path and there are certainly children in this country, (outside the foster care system), and around the world who need families. If you have decided to bring one of these children into your home,  you are going to have to answer the question,”how do we pay for this?”

The following are just some of the ways adoption can be made affordable.

Federal Adoption Tax Credit.  The Adoption tax credit for 2012 i s $12,650 for eligible families. This is not a refund (as it was in 2011) but rather a credit towards  your taxes owed.  Understanding the tax credit can be tricky, so we advise you to speak with your accountant or tax attorney or visit www.irs.gov for further information.  The tax credit cannot be claimed until your adoption is final, but can in the end be a way to recoup a significant  amount of your adoption expenses. There is still pending legislation that would extend the tax refund available in 2010 and 2011. But as it stands right now, the tax benefit for adoption will revert to a credit.

Grants.  All sorts of ministries and organizations are offering grants to help families cover a portion of their adoption expenses. They typically require an application process that includes information on your financial status and your motivation to adopt.  Taking the time to pursue these grants is well worth the effort as they can be a source of thousands of dollars. Grant organizations can be found by combing through the internet.  As a client  of CAC we share with you an extensive list of grant opportunities we have researched and know are viable options.  Caroline and her husband applied for a matching grant through one of these organizations for their second adoption and received $3000.

Loans  Taking out an adoption loan may seem like the easiest and fastest way to fund your adoption, however we would urge you  to consider and investigate all other avenues of funding first.  Adoption loans, like all other types of loans have to be paid back with interest.  As a new parent or parent again you will have enough on your plate without the added burden of another bill to cover. If you are nearing to completion of your adoption and still have a gap in your funds, taking out a loan can close that gap, but it is best used as a last resort.   If you have decided to take out a loan do your research.  There are loans out there at a lower rate to help adoptive families and also several interest free loans for adoptive couples.  CAC can help locate some of these loans.

Fundraising   The dreaded “F” word!  I could write all about it, but one of the best responses to the fundraising question I’ve ever read is here. We encourage you to THINK BIG.  Both Caroline and I have raised a lot of money for both of our adoptions and assisted other adoptive couples. We have held events, garage sales, online auctions etc… Raising funds for adoption is absolutely possible.

Employers matching programs  Many companies today offer adoption assistance in the form of matching grants or, in some cases, a straight-up monetary gift!  Check with your employers.

Money you already have  You feel called to adopt and have taken the plunge.  In most cases, your entire adoption journey will not happen overnight.  You have time to restructure your finances and save.  Take  a good, hard look at what you pay for monthly. Can some of it go?  If you could save $1200 over the next year could you live without cable?  If you could sock away $750 just by giving up that Venti Latte would you brew up some coffee at home instead?  Scour your house for things you have, but no longer need.  Ebay, Craigslist and other sites can be a great way to make a little money and make room in your house the new addition!

Additional income streams Take a look at what you might be able to save if one or both of you took on a 2nd part-time job, just for a season.  Does one or both of you have a hobby  you could turn into a money-making online business?  Working an additional 10-12 hours a week, part-time for a year could net you $5-7K or more!

One of our passions here at FourAdoptions is to see couples adopt DEBT FREE.  We know it is possible, because we have done it – FOUR TIMES!  As a client, we would love to sit down with you and brainstorm how some of the ways listed above could be brought together into a plan to help  you adopt debt free as well.

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, Adoption is God’s heart.  I have seen time and time again people with a huge heart and a calling for adoption, but a very small budget adopt debt free.  None of them did it without hard work,  creative thinking,  prayer and commitment, but they did it and so can you!

Our friend and adoption super-advocate ,Randy Bohlender, works tirelessly to educate others about adoption.  He and his wife have adopted 3 girls, started an adoption agency and a nonprofit foundation and travel the country speaking, educating and encouraging.  On top of all that we puts out “The Daily Shorts”   — short audio clips designed to educate and inspire!  Today’s Daily Short is about putting in place a team of people to support you as you adopt.  I particularly enjoy his thoughts regarding the fact that not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone is called to support adoption.

Enjoy!

The Daily Shorts

If you are interested in our services we hope you will be able to make this meeting! This is a first step in learning more about what we do and how we may be able to help you adopt! Tell a friend and we hope to see you there!