AdoptUsKids blog

discontinuing the AdoptUsKids blog

2009-01-09T09:01:00.000-05:00

A Message to All Who Have Used This Blog:

Thank you for your enthusiastic participation in our blog over this past year. The support that you have offered your peers and the insight you have provided to professionals has been invaluable.

We are discontinuing the AdoptUsKids blog effective immediately, now turning the efforts of our small staff to working more closely with the States and Tribes to resolve the systemic barriers that you, our bloggers, have helped us to better know and understand. Effective immediately with this posting, no new comments can be posted here, but the existing posts can still be viewed on this space.

We have heard and have learned from the concerns you have expressed about the challenges you have encountered as you have worked to become foster or adoptive parents, as well as the things that you have told us that work. After much consideration, AdoptUsKids will now work to translate what you have told us into action on a macro, or systemic, level. The staff who have administered our blog will add their efforts to those of other staff as AdoptUsKids redoubles our efforts to support States and Tribes to address concerns that have been identified in this space and by the University of Texas (Barriers and Success Factors in Adoption from Foster Care: Perspectives of Families & Staff. For a 15 minute video presentation and the full report on CD-rom, send your complete mailing address to info@adoptuskids.org).

We understand that your experiences with adoption and foster care are not always positive. If you are having difficulty with the adoption and foster care process in your state, please contact your State Adoption Program Manager or State Foster Care Manager. Their contact information is located at childwelfare.gov.

As we designed our plan to discontinue the AdoptUsKids blog, we researched other sites where you can continue your conversations, connect with your peers and seek professional support. Two that we have identified are: www.AdoptiveFamiliesMagazine.com and www.Families.com. Both of these websites link to blogs. Although neither is exactly the same as the AdoptUsKids blog, both offer information and resources that may be helpful to you.

It has been our pleasure talking with you on the blog! If you need further support or assistance from AdoptUsKids, you can find us at 1-888-200-4005 or info@adoptuskids.org. Our best wishes are with you all, and remember, no matter what stage of fostering, adopting or parenting you are in, You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent!

holiday feelings

2008-12-23T11:30:00.003-05:00

The holidays can be an especially difficult time for those who have experienced a loss or disappointment or who are in a time of uncertainty. This is especially true for children who are living in temporary foster care and those who have been adopted and have memories of their families of origin.

Some children in foster care or adopted from foster care have painful memories of having been removed from their families at the beginning of a holiday break from school. There is strong documentation that reports of child abuse and neglect by school officials increase dramatically just before school breaks as caring teachers worry what will happen to their students whose wellbeing they will be able to monitor on a daily basis. Even years later, children who were placed into foster care around the holidays may experience mood swings and anxiety.

Keep these factors in mind this year and in the years to come as you parent a child who may have these memories and seek professional guidance – either by contacting an adoption professional or reading some of the expert guidance that is available.

Likewise, if you have been waiting for a child to join your family, the holiday season may bring disappointment to you. Perhaps you will be sharing a meal or party with others who have fulfilled their dream to adopt. Be aware of your emotions and prepare in advance for difficult questions or situations. Continue to remember that although the process may be longer than you hoped, we are here to support you.

If you have questions about the issues facing children in foster care or the disappointments you may feel, please feel free to contact us at 1-888-200-4005 and we will connect you with your state expert.

you don't have to be perfect

2008-10-10T15:17:00.001-04:00

As you know, AdoptUsKids is dedicated to increasing the public awareness of adoption and foster care. Our work with the Ad Council to create and distribute our public service announcements is intended to encourage the public that "you don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent" - that although active parenting does involve appropriate, positive interaction with a child, it also requires the parent to "just be there" and provide for the daily living needs of a child (such as laundry, cooking, and relaxing together). This undemanding adult presence is very reassuring to a child who has never had a reliable family.

We'd love to hear from adoptive families whose journeys were set into motion by seeing a TV or print ad or by hearing a radio spot with the message, “You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent”

Share your stories here! Please tell us when you first heard or saw that ad, why it moved you to act, how you responded, and where your response led you.

We are currently working to create and distribute a new series of public service announcements focused on the large number of teenagers available for adoption in the United States. Look for them on your local TV station this November!

national adoption month

2008-10-10T14:47:00.002-04:00

November is National Adoption Month, a month set aside to raise awareness about the adoption of children from foster care. This year's theme of adopting teens from foster care builds on the Ad Council's public service announcement (PSA) campaign "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who would love to put up with you!" Find out more about National Adoption Month celebrations in your state at the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.

If you have questions, contact us at info@adoptuskids.org.

adoption by single persons

2008-10-08T08:31:00.001-04:00

It is more common today than ever before for single adults to adopt and provide foster care for children. Although many singles have adopted children from foster care and are successfully parenting them, some agencies are hesitant to place children with single persons. Once the family profile had been completed, single prospective parents need to be proactive in following up with their caseworker. Be prepared to talk about the support services you have in place. Maintaining current training is also vital! Although single parenting brings unique challenges, it also is very rewarding. Let’s talk here about some of the issues you have faced or are preparing to face as a single adoptive or foster parent. Let’s also share resources and ideas!

If you are a single person who is pursuing adoption or foster care and have questions, contact us at 1-888-200-4005 or info@adoptuskids.org.

kinship care

2008-10-07T16:03:00.002-04:00

Formal kinship care - the number of children living with relatives who are not their parents - has increased in recent years due to changes in law and policy. Informal kinship placements have been prevalent for centuries. The majority of kinship care providers are the child’s grandparents. Kinship providers who meet the licensing requirements are generally eligible to receive a monthly subsidy. Are you a kinship caregiver or are you considering caring for a relative? Let’s talk about the challenges associated with kinship care and maintaining relationships within your family.

If you are considering kinship care and don’t know how to get started, contact us at 1-888-200-4005 or info@adoptuskids.org.

adoption finalization

2008-10-07T16:03:00.001-04:00

Although families are eager to finalize the adoption of their children, they also can feel apprehensive about the process. Although each adoption has unique circumstances, it usually takes about 12 months from the time a family first calls an adoption agency to the time when a child is placed with the family. Adoptions are usually finalized less than a year after the child is placed with the family. In almost all cases, you will need an attorney to finalize an adoption but not all finalizations take place in a courtroom. Your agency will be able to answer specific questions about legally finalizing your adoption. The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy is a resource for legal information related to adoption.

If you are a preparing to finalize an adoption and are seeking resources in your state, contact us at 1-888-200-4005 or info@adoptuskids.org.

helpful resources

2008-10-01T21:00:00.007-04:00

Here's a brief list of resources that offer information and support for you. If you are aware of additional books, newsletters, groups, or organizations that could benefit prospective adoptive families, please let us know!

Child Welfare Information Gateway: Provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families.

North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC): NACAC helps to reform systems, alter viewpoints, and change lives through advocacy, education, adoption support, and leadership development.

Adoptive Families Magazine: This award-winning national adoption magazine is an adoption information source for families before, during, and after adoption.

Dave Thomas Foundation: A non-profit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 114,000 children in North America's foster care systems.

Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: Brings together authoritative information from government agencies like the national Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine.

The Basics of Adoption Practice: A Bulletin for Professionals: Provides an overview of adoption practice and the responsibilities of adoption workers.

National Adoption Directory Search: This search includes State-by-State contact information for a variety of adoption-related organizations and services including public and licensed private adoption agencies, support groups, State reunion registries, and more.

Heart Gallery of America, Inc.: The Heart Galleries across the US provide public awareness of the need for adoptive families. Volunteer professional photographers take portraits of children waiting for adoption. Their photographs present the children in a way that a description alone never could!

Families Like Ours, Inc.: The independent Adoption Exchange with a focus towards gay and lesbian adoptive families. We welcome the diversity of all pre and post adoptive-foster families, creating permanent families for children in the US foster care system.

Family Stories: Inspiring foster care and adoption stories are featured in the words of a family on adoptuskids.org.

Parent Support Groups: Search for a variety of foster care and adoption services and parent support resources by state on adoptuskids.org.

Another Mother by Sarah Gerstenzang

A Child's Journey Through Placement by Vera Fahlberg

Our Own: Adopting and Parenting the Older Child by Trish Maskew

Adopting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck and Regina Kupecky

Parenting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck and Regina Kupecky

If you would like to find out more information on adoption and foster care, please contact us at 1-888-200-4005.

picture perfect

2008-09-04T21:38:00.001-04:00

I encourage you to submit a photo to go with your profile on adoptuskids.org. Research shows that profiles with photos are much more likely to be viewed by case workers than those without a photo. Currently more and more workers are searching for families on adoptuskids.org, and having a photo may increase the interest in your profile.

Please send one clear photo of your family. Do not include children in foster care in your family photo unless you have permission from the child’s caseworker. Avoid busy backgrounds.

When submitting your family photo, include your first and last name, your email address, and your city and state of residence. Please email one digital photo to photos@nwresource.org.

If you have questions, contact us at 1-888-200-4005.

the empty nest and adoption

2008-08-26T14:21:00.001-04:00

Just as children who need adoptive families have a variety of experiences and needs, so too do the families seeking to adopt these children bring with them a wide variety of experiences and characteristics. Some families pursue adoption as an alternative to having birth children, often after learning of their infertility, while other families pursue adoption when some or all of their children have grown up and left home. When you are seeking to adopt or simply exploring the option, no matter what your experiences or motivations, your adoption worker will want to explore with you how you have addressed and come to terms with any losses you have had.

Let's talk here specifically about your decision to pursue adoption after some or all of your children have grown up and left home. What motivates you at this stage in your life to adopt? How could these life experiences benefit you as an adoptive parent? How could they benefit a child placed with you for adoption?

infertility and adoption

2008-08-26T14:18:00.002-04:00

Just as children who need adoptive families have a variety of experiences and needs, so too do the families seeking to adopt these children bring with them a wide variety of experiences and characteristics. Some families pursue adoption as an alternative to having birth children, often after learning of their infertility, while other families pursue adoption when some or all of their children have grown up and left home. When you are seeking to adopt or simply exploring the option, no matter what your experiences or motivations, your adoption worker will want to explore with you how you have addressed and come to terms with any losses you have had.

Let's talk here about your feelings of loss connected with fertility issues. What could or have you learned from this experience? How could these lessons benefit you as you are considering adoption? How could they benefit a child placed with you for adoption?

just click!

2008-08-25T10:54:00.002-04:00

Two great new features of the blog include:

1) An AdoptUsKids "hugger" logo that links to adoptuskids.org.

2) A photo that links to the AdoptUsKids "meet the children" page.

Just click and you can access these great AdoptUsKids resources!

Also, a research team is tracking each topic that is raised and each question that is addressed on the blog! This will encourage prompt and accurate responses by professionals.

As always, call us at 1-888-200-4005 with questions.

finding out about your state

2008-08-05T11:49:00.003-04:00

Our Training and Technical Assistance Team is eager to teach the professionals in your state! We're interested in knowing what you have experienced and what would make the adoption and foster care process easier for you. Tell us what strengths and areas of improvement are evident in your state.

If you have 1) already started the foster or adoption process or 2) spoken with your AdoptUsKids Recruitment Response Team, and you want more information, here’s another resource: The AdoptUsKids State-by-State Map!

This map provides additional information. It shows a map of the U.S., and you click on your state to learn more. If you can’t see our link to the map, call 1-888-200-4005 and we'll walk you through it.

Are you just getting started or trying to learn information for the first time about adopting or fostering? If you haven’t spoken with an AdoptUsKids Recruitment Response Team, you can also call us at 1-888-200-4005. We can connect you to your RRT and then the RRT can help you to use the map.

You can email AdoptUsKids for more info about this at info@adoptuskids.org.

learning while you're waiting

2008-07-25T09:39:00.005-04:00

Are you interested in learning more information that may not have been offered in your foster and/or adoptive parent classes? It's a great way to increase your knowledge during the search process. After your child is placed with you, your available time for continuing education will be very limited!

AdoptUsKids cannot recommend one program over another. Here are 2 online programs that have been helpful to other families like yours:

1. Adoption Learning Partners (the classes range from $25 to $45 per person)

The topics include:

-Let’s Talk Adoption: A Lifetime of Family Conversations

-The Journey of Attachment

-Finding the Missing Pieces: Helping Adopted Children Cope with Grief and Loss

-Adopting the Older Child

-Foster Family to Forever Family

2. Foster Parent College (the classes range from $8 - $32 per person)

The topics include:

-ADHD, ADD & ODD

-Working with Schools

-Sexualized Behavior

-R.A.D.

-Working with Birth Parent Visitation

Increasing your understanding of these issues will benefit your child and you! If you are interested in finding out more about training, please contact us at 1-888-200-4005.

share special ideas that may help other families

2008-07-02T08:51:00.000-04:00

Can you please share your foster or adoptive family story with us? Other families who are waiting could be greatly encouraged to hear from you. Please don’t include identifying details but you can name your state/county/agency at your discretion.

Share special ideas that may help other families. It would be helpful for you to offer tips and advice too. For example: Do you have children with specific challenges? Is your family culturally diverse? What experiences led you to adopt?

If you have time, read the comments that are posted on the blog. So many families are ready to give up on adoption because they are discouraged and disillusioned. Hopefully your family “success” story can give them the hope they need to continue in the process.

Contact AdoptUsKids at 1-888-200-4055 if you need support and assistance.

AdoptUsKids has a blog for our Latino families

2008-06-16T10:18:00.003-04:00

This is exciting news! AdoptUsKids now has a blog especially for Latino families.
Adopte1.blogspot.com is directed at answering the foster care and adoption questions of Spanish-speaking families. Resources and support are available…so check it out and refer your friends!

To check out the blog:

1) Go to adopte1.blogspot.com (you don't need to register or be a member)

2) Click on the posting that interests you

3) Scroll to the bottom and click on the 'post a comment' link

4) Type your comment

5) Click on the 'publish your comment' button

Adopte1.blogspot.com is moderated by Carmen Hernandez, the AdoptUsKids Latino Family Recruiter and Youth Coordinator.

adoption stability and adoption disruption

2008-06-03T20:21:00.001-04:00

Research has indicated that certain child and family characteristics appear to be associated with adoption stability and adoption disruption. Adoption disruption occurs when a child leaves the adoptive family before the adoption is finalized.

• Most adoptions do not disrupt. In fact, over 80 percent of all adoptive placements remain intact.
• Adoptions are more stable when parents are tolerant of a wide range of behaviors and have flexible and realistic aspirations for their children.
• Adoptions by single parents are no more likely to disrupt than adoptions by two parents, even when single parents adopt older children.
• The fact that both parents work outside of the home seems to have no effect on disruption rates.
• There appears to be no relationship between adoption disruption and the size of the family or the parents’ fertility history.

Children whose adoptions have disrupted have gone on to be successfully adopted by other families, and families who have experienced a disruption have successfully adopted other children. It is clear that adoption disruption should not be used to screen out families who have been approved or to screen out children as candidates for adoption.

the child you feel prepared to parent

2008-06-03T20:15:00.003-04:00

Part of the homestudy process involves establishing criteria for the children you feel prepared to parent. Traits that have been considered for matching children with families include abilities such as musical or athletic talent and general interests such as reading or sports. It’s important to point out that many birth children do not share the interests and talents of their parents, and that birth siblings, although often sharing some common interests and talents, have talents and interests of their own. Many adoption professionals state that personality is the most important area on which to focus in determining a good fit between children and families. Common interests often are a bridge to developing a relationship between a parent and a child. Many adoptive parents, however, note that children are ever changing and that parents need to be prepared to adapt to their child’s emerging personality and changing interests. Parents’ commitment to parenting is most important.

Because children enter foster care on an emergency basis, they are often placed with foster families on the basis of availability rather than on the basis of a careful assessment. Many foster parents open their homes to children whom they did not originally envision fostering. And, many of these foster families go on to adopt children who would not have been a “match” based on the foster parents’ initial thoughts about the children who would be a “good fit” with their families.

What child would best fit into your family? Consider the following:

• A child who is older than any of the current children in the family may be successfully added to a family.
• A child can be placed successfully with families who already have another child of the same age.
• A child often can be integrated into a large family as well as a smaller family.
• Adoptive parents who have a child with special needs may be able to handle another child who may or may not have special needs.

I encourage you to use broad parameters when making the decision about what child will join your family through adoption but don’t stretch beyond what you honesty believe you can handle.

your past challenges can benefit your family's future

2008-06-03T14:46:00.005-04:00

Sometimes what you consider a hindrance to adoption may actually be a benefit! Don’t be afraid to share with your caseworker and include in your homestudy the challenges that you have faced. Look what research has shown:

• Families who have experienced challenges in their lives and have handled them successfully are often just the right people to adopt waiting children!

• Families without a lot of parenting experience can parent successfully.

• Working outside the home should not be seen as a deterrent to being good adoptive or foster parents.

• Families coming from all different backgrounds (social, economic) make good adoptive and foster parents.

• Out-of-state families can be good resources for children. These families can maintain contact with former foster families and other relatives of the child despite distance.

• Medical problems, disabilities, and obesity do not necessarily interfere with parenting abilities.

• Parents who are recovering alcoholics or recovering drug addicts and who have been in recovery for a period of time can be effective parents.

• Effective parenting is not dependent on one’s marital status (nor on religious affiliation, financial status, or where the family lives).

If you have questions about what should be included in your homestudy visit adoptuskids.org or call 1-888-200-4005

May is National Foster Care Month

2008-05-02T11:26:00.000-04:00

May is National Foster Care Month

There are currently 510,000 children in the United States foster care system. In addition, there are an estimated 12 million alumni of foster care in the U.S. from all walks of life.

No matter their age, all youth in foster care need a meaningful connection to a caring adult who becomes a supportive and lasting presence in their lives. Without families or stable relationships, too many of these formerly abused and neglected children and teens will face life’s challenges all alone.

Visit the National Foster Care Month website at fostercaremonth.org, which features:

• Information about foster care
• History of National Foster Care Month
• Success stories
• Ways to get involved
• Events and promotions

For additional information and other foster care resources, visit adoptuskids.org.

your family lives outside of the child’s state or county

2008-05-02T09:17:00.005-04:00

Who can you contact if a child’s worker says they will not consider a prospective adoptive family outside of the child’s state or county of residence?

If a child’s narrative does not indicate that the child has a preference about location, then families outside of that state or county must be considered in order for the public agency that holds guardianship of the child to be in compliance with federal law. If you are aware of a worker who is telling you s/he will not or cannot consider out-of-state families or who might be interested in receiving training or information on how to achieve interstate placements, call AdoptUsKids at 1-888-200-4005 with the child’s case number and tell us your story. When we talk to the worker, we can encourage the worker to move in the direction of considering out -of- state families. We’re glad to mediate and educate!

get more involved

2008-04-27T07:59:00.003-04:00

Want to become more involved in the adoption process and finding a child? Follow these steps!

Spread information about your interest in adopting - tell all your family members, your friends, your neighbors and your co-workers.

Reach out to agencies and adoption exchanges throughout the country – if you are interested in a child, contact the caseworker to introduce yourself.

Learn about the children featured on AdoptUsKids.org and similar state photolistings – read all you can to become prepared and knowledgeable.

Review your homestudy - it should describe your preparation, background, motivation, support circle, and relevant experience.

Keep notes on every child about whom you inquire - the date of the call, participants in the call, and substance of the conversation are all important.

Journal your feelings and experiences - children like to hear how they became part of their family; this journal will help you tell their story.

Make sure your caseworker sends out copies of your homestudy - if your worker says s/he's too busy, offer to come in and help.

Monitor the child’s photolisting even if you have not been matched - if the child is still waiting after three months or so, contact the worker again.

If you’d like to learn how to use AdoptUsKids.org to send inquiries to children’s workers and receive responses back from them, please call 1-888-200-4005 to talk to an AdoptUsKids Child and Family Advocate.

choosing an agency

2008-04-15T15:06:00.001-04:00

How do you know which agency to choose? Should you work with a public or private agency? Should you ever leave your agency? These are all important questions that can greatly affect the timeliness and efficiency of your adoption training and placement. Be sure the mission statement of the agency you choose reflects your beliefs about adoption and foster care. It's best to get all the available information that the agency can offer. Before you commit to an agency, ask the following:

What is the average time it will take for you to complete my Family Profile (Home Study)?
Once my Family Profile (Home Study) is complete, what is the average time it will take before a child will be placed in my home?
How long have you been working with families?
Are you familiar with the process of interstate adoption?
Do you offer adoptive parent support after placement?
Can I speak with families who have worked with this agency in the past?

If you are not pleased with your current agency, ask to meet with your caseworker. Explain your concerns. Make sure your expectations are realistic and within the scope of the agency's services. If necessary, ask to talk with the supervisor. Documentation is key: be sure to keep record of all the calls with date and with whom you spoke. Make copies of all the paperwork that has been submitted! If you decide that you need to begin work with another agency, request a copy of your family profile (aka Home Study) - including documentation of adoptive parent training- so that you can provide it to the new agency as a point of reference. Expect that your agency will give you a copy of your Family Profile (Home Study) or at least allow you to read it in the office! You may be able to avoid completing the formalities twice!

Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Not every agency will be able to meet your needs. Find one that does!

Call 1-888-200-4005 or email info@adoptuskids.org or request to be connected to a Recruitment Response Team (RRT) in your state. The RRT will know about all of the agency options and help you pick the right one for you.

reward those who are helping

2008-04-11T20:52:00.005-04:00

It's been great sharing all the stories, questions and comments but sometimes knowing that others are facing your same obstacles can be disheartening. I know you often feel like giving up because you aren't finding the answers you need or the support that you are asking for from professionals. The Department of Health and Human Services is now accepting nominations for the 2008 Adoption Excellence Awards. It's a great opportunity to honor those who ARE making a positive difference in the lives of kids and families that are involved in the foster care and adoption processes. Can you think of someone deserving of this award? If we praise those who are doing things right, maybe others will follow their great example.

Look at these award categories (below) - they are the very issues we have been discussing!

Adoptions of Older Children
Inter-State Adoptions
Faith-Based Initiatives
Support for Adoptive Families
Judicial or Child Welfare System Improvement
Media/Public Awareness of Adoption from Foster Care

For more information about the awards and past recipients visit the Children’s Bureau website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/current_initiatives/aeawards.htm.

adoption professionals are listening

2008-03-17T14:21:00.002-04:00

Did you know that each time you mention your state I notify the adoption program manager and recruitment response team in your state? Sometimes they respond on the blog and other times they email me clarifying state policy and law. Bringing your comments to the attention of the adoption professionals in your state is a great first step toward improving adoption and foster care practice! Thanks for all your advice and questions. Keep ‘em coming!

understanding adoption and foster care language

2008-03-03T12:17:00.002-05:00

Sometimes the lingo used by caseworkers can be confusing! The Child Welfare Information Gateway has an updated version of its glossary of child welfare terms which might be helpful to you. The glossary now includes definitions for more than 230 child welfare terms and common acronyms, as well as links to related terms and information on significant Federal legislation. The glossary is available online at: www.childwelfare.gov/admin/glossary . Check it out. If you still have questions about the information you are receiving from your agency or the child's caseworker, call us at 1-888-200-4005.

foster and adoptive parent support groups

2008-03-03T11:56:00.002-05:00

A parent support group provides a way for families to come together and learn from each other. Some parent support groups are involved in planning meetings, collecting and distributing clothing, organizing summer camps, and coordinating respite care. There are often presenters that come to the group meetings to discuss relevant topics that are of concern to the parents. Most importantly, parent support groups provide a reliable network for the adoptive and foster families. Every state has established parent support groups. AdoptUsKids has a nationwide list of the parent support groups that received a sponsorship from us. You can view it online at http://www.adoptuskids.org/. Consider joining a parent support group in your area. It just might surprise you to learn that other prospective parents have the same questions and concerns as you!

adoption tax credit

2008-02-28T13:11:00.002-05:00

You may be able to take a tax credit for expenses paid to adopt a child. The credit generally applies to the year the adoption is finalized in court. Obviously the adoption credit is not available for any expenses that have already been reimbursed to you by the agency or state. In addition to the credit, certain amounts reimbursed by your employer may qualify for an exclusion. For both the credit or the exclusion, qualifying expenses include adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, traveling expenses (including amounts spent for meals and lodging while away from home), and other expenses directly related to the adoption of a child. Under certain circumstances, the amount of your qualified adoption expenses may be increased if you adopted a child with special needs. The credit and exclusion both have a dollar limit and an income limit.

If your adoption is finalized and you have questions about this tax credit, please contact us at 1-888-200-4005.

adoption subsidy

2008-02-15T12:44:00.001-05:00

If a child is described as having special needs (determined by these factors: ethnic background, age, part of a sibling group, medical conditions or physical, mental, or emotional disabilities) he may qualify for adoption assistance (also called "adoption subsidy"). This financial assistance is intended to help you provide for the child's ongoing therapy, treatment, or special support. There are two major funding sources for adoption assistance: the Federal title IV-E program under the Social Security Act and State specified programs. The amount of subsidy that you receive for caring for your child will be determined by the cost of living in the state that the child is coming from (the "placing state") and the level of the child's needs. There are three different types of subsidy. First (this is the one most often referenced when people speak of ‘subsidy’) is the monthly maintenance amount paid to the family. This monthly amount cannot be more than the foster care rate the child would qualify for in the placing state. The second type of subsidy is non-recurring expenses or one time only money for expenses related to the adoption. The cap on this is usually $2000 for each placement. The third type of subsidy is medical subsidy which includes a medical assistance card for the child and perhaps additional funds for extraordinary medical expenses. These subsidies are a great benefit for families but are not meant to cover all the expenses associated with raising a child. The specifics of each child’s placement will determine the subsidy amount.

If you have questions about adoption subsidy, please contact us at 1-888-200-4005.

foster care and adoption in your state

2008-02-14T10:34:00.004-05:00

You asked for it and we got it! We now have state-specific information on the next steps for adoption and foster care. It's on our website adoptuskids.org. Each of our state Recruitment Response Teams provided the information for their state - so we know it's accurate and current! To see this new feature on our site, click here:
http://www.adoptuskids.org/resourceCenter/rrtPackets/chooseState.aspx. If you have trouble accessing this interactive map, please call us at 1-888-200-4005.

Do you have any information about the licensing and homestudy process in your state? Tell us!

accessing information on adoptuskids.org

2008-02-13T15:57:00.002-05:00

Is your homestudy compete and current? Does it approve you to adopt children from U.S. foster care? Are you interested in children who are photolisted on AdoptUsKids.org? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you can register with AdoptUsKids.org to be able to contact children's case workers. To register, go to http://www.adoptuskids.org/family/FamilyCaseRegistration.aspx. Wait three business days after completing the website registration form. Then, come back to http://www.adoptuskids.org/ with your User ID and password and log in. Registered families who have logged in can view the contact information for children's workers and much more!

the child narrative and photo

2008-02-12T16:57:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you don't feel like enough information is written in a child's narrative. Here's why . . . the goal of a narrative (with photo) is to introduce the child, not tell the child’s entire story. Caseworkers must maintain a balance between confidentiality and disclosure when writing these narratives. The information that is on adoptuskids.org is written by those who have worked closely with the children they are describing. The narratives are intended to be a highlight of the child and do not contain every detail. These additional details and history are shared with you when you are matched with the child. In fact, full disclosure is legally required at that time. State and federal laws require that certain information be treated as confidential - a child’s last name, the name of his foster family, or the name of the group or residential placement facility where he is living should never be disclosed in a photolisting description. When done well, photolistings personalize the child through an engaging picture, an individualized description, and information on “next steps” for you - the potential adoptive family. Because photolistings reach the general public, they may generate the interest of several families - that is why you often wait to hear back from the caseworker. Always keep in mind that this information sharing is a process that occurs over time. Try to stay patient and positive!

If you have questions about a child's narrative that is listed on adoptuskids.org, call us at 1-888-200-4005.

open, semi-open, and closed adoption

2008-02-06T21:37:00.000-05:00

If a caseworker suggests that a child's adoption will be open, semi-open or closed, what does that mean? Most times, it will be required in an open or semi-open adoption that the child maintains contact with a specified member of the birthfamily. The guidelines for contact are varied and will be determined on a case by case basis (ex. sending letters/email or having face to face contact). If a 3rd party is required to monitor this approved birth family contact, it's called a semi-open adoption. Those who support openness in adoption believe that this continuity of relationships will minimize the child's losses. A closed adoption requires absolute confidentiality and most often the adoption records are sealed. Those who advocate for closed adoption state that not only are the on-going birth family relationships not in the child's best interests but access to the child's own adoption history should be limited or denied entirely.

Have you had an experience with an open, semi-open, or closed adoption?

To talk with an AdoptUsKids staff member, please call 1-888-200-4005.

contacting the child's caseworker

2008-01-30T20:39:00.000-05:00

AdoptUsKids encourages children's caseworkers to respond promptly to inquiries. Each state sets their own policy for the time and procedure for contacting families. Some workers manage their cases on a daily basis and are very prompt in responding to inquiries from prospective parents. Some caseworkers may only respond to families they feel are appropriate for a specific child because of the large number of inquiries that they receive. If you do not get a response to your inquiry it may be that the child has been placed and the worker has not updated the status. Most caseworkers prefer that you send your homestudy only if they request it. Some will not acknowledge the receipt of the homestudy unless, after reviewing your homestudy, you are actually being considered as a family for the child. If you do not hear from the caseworker in roughly a week after they would have received it, it is reasonable to contact them by phone or email.

What are some effective ways you have used to contact and stay in touch with a caseworker?

If you are having difficulty reaching a caseworker and would like assistance, please go to this Request to be Contacted Link and complete the form.

legislation that may impact your adoption

2008-01-30T20:26:00.001-05:00

A caseworker may decide that you are a match for a child based on these federal guidelines: ICWA, ASFA, or MEPA. Don't be intimidated - they are easier to understand than you think!

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) regulates the placement of Native American
children. In the recent past, most Native American children were being placed outside tribal communities, which reduced a child’s access to language and traditions important to their culture. Under ICWA, in any adoptive placement of an Indian child under State law, a preference shall be given to a placement with (1) a member of the child’s extended family; (2) other members of the Indian child’s tribe; or (3) other Indian families.

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) supports permanency for children in foster care by
reducing timeframes for courts and child welfare agencies in working toward adoption. ASFA prohibits denial or delay of the adoptive placement of a child with the approved adoptive family based on the geographic location of the family. (This realtes to the ICPC that was discussed in a previous message!)

The Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) was enacted to eliminate
discriminatory practices that denied children permanency and discouraged applicants
from becoming foster and adoptive parents. The law focuses on these 3 points:
• An agency or individual cannot delay or deny a child’s placement for foster care or adoption
on the basis of race, color or national origin.
• An agency or individual cannot deny a person the opportunity to foster or adopt solely on
the basis of race, color or national origin.
• An agency must diligently recruit potential foster and adoptive parents that reflect the
diversity of children in care.

How have you been affected by these federal guidelines? How can you ensure that these policies are being followed correctly throughout your adoption process?

If you have a question about these policies, please go to this Request to be Contacted Link and complete the form. An RRT will contact you to answer your questions. Thank you!

family profile/homestudy process

2008-01-28T21:52:00.000-05:00

During the Homestudy/Family Profile, your agency worker meets with you in your home to talk about your personal history, family relationships, reasons for wanting to foster or adopt, and the supports you have available to you. They will determine whether your home is safe and has sufficient space for a foster or adopted child. The point of this step is to help you and the agency make the best possible decisions about whether placement of a child in your home will or will not work out and to determine the characteristics of the children whom you are most able to parent.

You are responsible to:
1. Get agreement among the members of their household to proceed with the process.
2. Cooperate with the homestudy and the home visits.
3. Ensure that all necessary information is supplied completely and accurately.

The Family Profile must be honest. Although you may be tempted to gloss over what might be considered “negative” about your family, this approach will help neither you nor the child you are hoping to adopt. Instead, caseworkers should address the problem area and -
with your family's input - include in the Family Profile how the your family has grown from these challenges. Your family should be told with whom the Family Profile will be shared and should receive a copy of the final Family Profile (without the letters of recommendation which must remain confidential). The Family Profile is about you and it contains both private information as well as your personal dreams. By reviewing your Profile, you can pinpoint any inaccuracies, which then can be corrected. After your family reviews the Family Profile, you should indicate agreement with the content by co-signing it along with the caseworker.

If you would like to be contacted by your state RRT, please go to this Request to be Contacted Link and complete the form. Thank you!

Adoptuskids' recruitment response teams

2008-01-25T10:41:00.001-05:00

AdoptUsKids’ network of Recruitment Response Teams (RRTs) works exclusively for families like yours. Each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico has its own RRT staffed with experienced professionals in foster care and adoption. Sometimes they have even fostered or adopted themselves!

Your RRT will contact you within three days of your inquiry with AdoptUsKids to welcome you and provide you with helpful information and resources. If you have questions, be sure to ask. They will continue working with you as long as you need them in your foster care and/or adoption process. Your RRT is always available to:

• Give you a list of agencies in your area with information on attending the orientations as well as tips on how to pick which agency is best for you,
• Answer your questions and provide you with resources so you can increase your knowledge on your own,
• Provide you with encouragement and support,
• Link you to parent support groups where you will meet families like your own,
• Help you maneuver through any challenges that may pop up along the way,
• Be a resource and support for you in the child placement process – whether the child or children you are hoping to adopt are in your own state or out of state.

AdoptUsKids’ RRTs don’t provide foster and adoption services. They help you get the best services possible. They work for you, so contact them when ever you need assistance or support, or have good news you would like to share with someone who is really interested in your success.

You can talk directly with our AdoptUsKids staff by calling 1-888-200-4005 or you can register online at info@adoptuskids.org.

updating your information on AdoptUsKids.org

2008-01-25T09:39:00.000-05:00

If you are registered with AdoptUsKids online and need to update your information:

1. Log in to www.adoptuskids.org (your email address is your User ID and password)
2. Go to "Edit My Account Info"
3. Update your info as necessary

Let me know if you have questions!

matching families and children

2008-01-24T12:47:00.000-05:00

Caseworkers provide expertise and guidance to families and children throughout the search and matching process. Caseworkers have the very important task of determining what family is the best match for a child. Policies regarding the matching decision vary from one state to another and from one county to another. As a result, the timelines and processes that agencies use in the matching process may be quite different. As a result of the success in recruiting new families for waiting children, both through the national outreach of AdoptUsKids and state and local recruitment, caseworkers may receive several Family Profiles for a given child. The increase in the number of interested families is wonderful, but it puts additional pressures on children’s caseworker. Therefore you must be proactive yet patient in your contacts with the caseworker. Don't forget that although the caseworker's role is vital, families and children are decision-makers in the matching process too!

limiting the number of children in your home

2008-01-18T12:45:00.000-05:00

Our Massachusettes Recruitment Response Team provided the following information: It is the MA state foster care and adoption policy that a family may have up to six children residing in their home at any given time, including birth children, adoptive children, relatives' children, foster children, and children in day care in the home. For an interstate adoption, the family can get a private agency homestudy and - if accepted by the other state - could adopt from another state. There is also a waiver process that can be undertaken, but it typically is used for such things as to allow another sibling to be placed with a family who has the maximum number of children in their home.

You can talk directly with our AdoptUsKids staff by calling 1-888-200-4005 or you can register online at info@adoptuskids.org.

adopting siblings

2008-01-16T11:33:00.000-05:00

Are siblings placed for adoption together? Absolutely! This is almost always the best thing for the children. Children in foster care have experienced loss and allowing siblings to remain together can help to maintain continuity and a sense of security in the children's lives. Siblings may be separated because one child has exceptional physical or emotional needs or because of other special circumstances.

What does the process look like? You can call AdoptUsKids at 1-888-200-4005 to request a packet of information to be mailed to you. A follow-up call from an AdoptUsKids team in your state/territory will help you find a local adoption agency. Prospective parents must complete assessment and licensing requirements that vary from state to state and may include: a minimum age, verification of income to meet your expenses, a criminal record check at local, state and federal levels including finger printing (and no prior record of child abuse/neglect); a reference from a doctor (although prospective parents do not need to be in perfect health) and; letters of reference from an employer and others who know you. A typical application process would include the parent(s) attending an orientation and then following the steps listed above while attending free preparation classes (often about 40 hours spread over several weeks).

adoptions by same sex couples

2008-01-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

A great resource for gay and lesbian adoptive families is www.familieslikeours.org. Hope this is helpful!

If you have an adoption story to share, please do so! The best advocates for adoption are the families who have completed the process and built a family!

more about interstate adoptions

2008-01-10T17:22:00.000-05:00

You are right about the website being unavailable! Sorry for the mix-up. You can go to adoptuskids.org and register with us. You'll then be contacted by the recruitment response team in your state. A team member can provide your state's procedures for interstate adoptions.

Has anyone finalized an interstate adoption? Tell us about it!

adopting a child from another state

2008-01-09T19:47:00.000-05:00

Children can be adopted across state, county, and city lines. The Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children - referred to as ICPC - establishes guidelines for this process to ensure that states understand and cooperate with these interstate adoptions. The current ICPC was drafted in 1960 and has been enacted by all states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Updates to the ICPC are currently being reviewed. If you are interested in adopting a child who does not live in your state, check with your caseworker to request that the child's worker be contacted or - if you are more comfortable - contact the child's worker yourself. Ask what that state requirements are for adoption and indicate your interest in the specific child. Once you know what is needed to proceed, you can take the necessary steps. It is not difficult to complete the interstate paperwork and we are here to help you and your worker navigate through the ICPC process. Just let us know what you need!

You can talk directly with our AdoptUsKids staff by calling 1-888-200-4005 or you can register online at info@adoptuskids.org.

adoptuskids has a blog!

2008-01-01T09:16:00.000-05:00

My name is Kate Kirkpatrick and I am the National Family Network Coordinator for The Collaboration to AdoptusKids and the Adoption Exchange Association. Throughout our conversations on this blog, I will give you updates on the work of AdoptUsKids and keep you informed about our upcoming projects and events. That will all come later, but first and foremost - Congratulations on your decision to adopt! This blog is designed to answer your questions and offer support to you through the adoption process. Your feedback will guide me in choosing the issues that are discussed here....so please feel free to "talk" with me! - Kate