Trying to afford adoption? We can help.

Adoption can be expensive. The cost of adopting can scare anyone away. According the FY 2017 Report on International Adoption, the median cost for an adoption was $30,400. Just because adoption is expensive, doesn’t mean it’s not affordable. Adoption cases are as unique as each family. Many middle-income families have successfully financed their adoptions through grants, saving, crowdsourcing, loans, and tax credits et.al. Let’s discuss some of the options.

Affording Adoption through Grants, Loans, Crowdsourcing and more

Grants Available to WIA only families

Presidential Grant:

A generous benefactor has offered grant money to help with the cost of adoption for children currently living in orphanages in China and Bulgaria. This benefactor will gift a $2,500 grant for available each child adopted. We have several Bulgarian sibling groups available for adoption, and a grant of $2,500 per child would be a huge financial help for adoptive families. We also have children from China listed with WIA and if families are dossier ready and would like to adopt one of these sweet children, there is a $2,500 grant that is available for adopting families. Even if you are just beginning your adoption from China, a portion of the grant money ($1,000) is available at the beginning of the process and the rest of the grant money($1,500) will be available once the referral of a child is accepted. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about the grants available to contact Kathy Junk, email Kathy@wiaa.org.

To view Bulgarian waiting children who qualify for this grant click here.

To view Chinese waiting children who qualify for this grant click here.

Children Need Families Grant:

A generous benefactor has offered grant money to aid in the adoption of children from the country of Haiti. This benefactor will award grant money on a case by case basis according the family’s needs. If you are interested in adopting from Haiti and would like to know more about this grant, please email Chareyl Moyes at Chareyl@wiaa.org

Bowen Zacapa England Adoption Grant:

As adoptive parents of a child from Guatemala, these benefactors wanted to help children who were to be adopted from Guatemala. As the adoption landscape changed, Guatemala was no longer allowed to place children with U.S. families. Still having been touched by a willingness to help orphaned children, these benefactors will award two $2,500 adoptions grant each fiscal quarter. There is no country requirement for this grant. The Bowen Zacapa England Adoption Grant will review all grant applications and award the grants. If you are interested in the eligibility requirements for this grant please contact Kathy Junk at Kathy@wiaa.org

Other Grants:

There are countless other grants for which prospective adoptive parents can apply. We won’t endorse any grants. However, some of the more popular grants our clients have received have been from the following places:

We strongly advise that you research out any and all grants for which you wish to apply. You may wish to reach out to adoptive parent groups for recommendations and reviews. We have a much broader list of adoption grants that clients have used over the years. This list is available upon request.

Crowdsourcing/Fundraising:

In recent years, crowdsourcing (or fundraising) has taken the internet by storm. People have funded anything from independent movies to potato salad. It’s becoming more and more socially acceptable for prospective adoptive couples to crowdsource, some if not all, of their adoption expenses. We have listed a few of the more popular crowdsourcing sites. The mention of the popular ones is not an endorsement of any of the following crowdsourcing sites. Prospective adoptive parents should look at each site carefully and do research as to which will be the best for them.

Factors to consider when looking at crowdfunding sites:

Do they keep a percentage of the money you raise as a fee? If so, how much?
Are they a for-profit for a not-for-profit entity?
Will donations made to them by others be tax deductible?
Are they transparent with their financials?
If your adoption is not completed, what happens to the money you raised?
Is there a cap to how much you can raise? If so, why or why not?
How do they accept donations? Do they exclude some credit cards?
Are Credit Card Fees deducted from your balance?
How is the money transferred to you or to your agency?

Affording Adoption through Grants, Loans, Crowdsourcing and more

Loans:

Consider taking out personal loans to cover some of the cost of your adoption. Many banks and credit unions will offer small personal loans (less than $5,000) to help mitigate the cost of your adoption. We encourage you to talk to your financial institution to get more information.

Some other organizations, such as a Child Waits Foundation, offer loans as well as grants. Another organization is 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.

Please consider carefully the additional costs associated with taking about loans. They could significantly increase the cost of your adoption.

Tax Credits:

The tax credit was made permanent in the last tax law. We are not tax accountants and cannot give out tax advice. Please be aware that a portion of adoption expenses can be given back to you as a tax credit. We strongly advise you to talk to a tax preparation professional before the next tax season.

You can read more about the tax credit here.

Country Update - HAITI April, 2018 — Port-Au-Prince, Haiti as seen from the mountains overlooking the city.

Wasatch Adoption (WIA) is accepting new families in our Haiti program.

Although the process can seem daunting and slow moving Wasatch is seeing great success with our Haiti adoption program. We have had MANY families recently receive referrals from the Haitian Central authority (IBESR) and many families have traveled to pick up their children.

Wasatch has much experience working in Haiti, we have worked in this country for many years and are great at holding our clients hands through the process. We have handled some very challenging cases, including family adoptions. Wasatch also supports other humanitarian efforts in Haiti (see haitianroots.com) to help build and strengthen this beautiful country, we have a deep love for the country of Haiti and the amazing people there.

Please see below for a basic overview of the Haiti adoption process.

An overview of the Haiti process

Haiti adoptions under the new laws and policies generally take about 12 – 14 months from official referral/match of a child to homecoming. Families should be prepared to experience a wait of two years or longer for the referral/match of a child, particularly if they request to adopt a child with minor to no special needs under the age of three years old. After the Haitian government issues the referral of a child, the adoptive family will travel to Haiti for 15 days for the mandatory bonding and socialization trip, during this trip the family will be interviewed by an IBESR social worker and verbally approve the referral/match of their child/children. Additional visits to Haiti are permitted once a family is approved through IBESR, but must schedule those visits through Wasatch. The six-day re-acquaintance period required before the child may go home to their family may be waived if the family has visited the child during the adoption process (in addition to the mandatory 15 days).

Referrals (selection of a child for a family) are made in Haiti by the Central Authority (IBESR). Families can be referred a child who is legally free for adoption residing in any orphanage in Haiti that has been licensed to perform adoptions. Referral information comes from IBESR, it generally includes photographs with medical and social history. The referral information is given to Wasatch, who delivers the information to the adoptive families, adoptive families will review the information and accept the referral (in writing), they will then travel to Haiti to meet the child (this trip is planned with your Wasatch case manager), it is a very important time for the adoptive families to meet and spend time with their child, it is also required by the Haitian government (both adoptive parents must travel for 15 days).

Children available for adoption from Haiti are aged one year through fifteen years (at the time of referral), these children are in need of permanent, loving families. The most typical ages of children available for adoption are toddlers between 3- 6 years of age. Most of the children being adopted from Haiti have no permanent health or developmental concerns, but families are VERY needed for children with special needs as well. Children with special needs include sibling pairs and groups, single children ages six and older, or children with medical needs. IBESR determines the eligibility of adoptable children. Children are typically tested for HIV and Hepatitis.

Once you decide to adopt from Haiti, Wasatch will be there to help you through every step of the process, through the home study and dossier paperwork, through visits to Haiti and the legal process to complete the adoption in Haiti and to file the appropriate paperwork and approvals with the US government.

For more information about our Haiti program please contact Kathy@wiaa.org

China Country Update April 2018

China Country Update - April 2018

“The more things change, the more they stay the same” – Alphonse Karr

You may have heard about all the changes to how adoptions are processed in China. Even though the changes may seem significant, rest assured the changes are not as dire or as drastic as they seem. China has had a reliable adoption program for a number of years. We continue to believe that China is a strong option for people who wish to adopt internationally.

The Changes

In an announcement from the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) dated July 18th, 2017, CCCWA terminated the One-to-One Program, Journey of Hope Program and the Summer/Winter hosting program. CCCWA allowed agencies to continue to have children assigned to them through December 31, 2017. Children who were once assigned to individual agencies through these programs are now available to all agencies. This creates opportunities for more agencies to advocate for special needs children in China. We expect the number of available children to increase each month.

In an announcement from CCCWA dated December 7, 2017, CCCWA terminated the required orphanage donation fee. Traditionally the fee was 35,000 RMB or approximately $5,600. This fee was paid as part of your foreign fees to complete the adoption of your child. Under the new CCCWA guidelines, families are no longer required to pay this fee as part of their adoption expense.

The donation shall be made on a voluntary basis, the donors shall have the right to decide on the quantity, purpose of use and form of donation, and the two parties shall make a donation agreement. Adoption agencies shall not coerce or induce adopters to make donation to child welfare institutions against their wishes. If such a case happens, CCCWA will suspend the cooperation with this adoption agency.”

Under these new guidelines adoptions from China have become less expensive for adoptive families.

In an announcement from the Department of State, Office of Children’s Issues dated March 16th, 2018 the DOS provided guidance for what they term “soft referrals”. Under this guidance (listed below) families must have a completed home study before the child can be held for adoption. Children assigned to individual agency lists can no longer be held exclusively by that agency. Agencies may request any agency to transfer any file to them, provided they have a home study or LID ready family.

Department of State Guidance

Soft Referral that occurs before a PAP completes a home study:
This more common type of soft referral involves ASPs matching an eligible/adoptable child to a PAP who does not have an approved home study, in a manner that removes that child from consideration by other families that the Central or competent authority may wish to consider. This is sometimes referred to as “holding” the child.

Country of Origin Activities:
Generally, country of origin authorities will only approve referrals of a child deemed eligible for intercountry adoption to a PAP who has been found eligible and suitable to adopt. In exceptional circumstances, those authorities may determine that it is in the best interests of the child to “hold” the child for adoption by a PAP who has not yet completed a home study, even when other PAPs with valid home studies are waiting for a referral. This may occur when, for example, the PAP is the child’s relative or has specific experience with a child’s unique special need.

The Department of State has no role in determining what the Central or competent authorities of the other country should or should not do in this situation. This guidance, however, relates to the roles of U.S. ASPs in the use of soft referrals. Regardless of the actions of a foreign country, some actions by U.S. ASPs may be incompatible with U.S. laws and regulations for accredited or approved ASPs.

Example of Special Focus children from China:
The issue of ASPs making soft referrals to PAPs who do not yet have an approved home study recently came to the forefront in China. We are aware, however, that the issues are not unique to China, and this guidance is applicable for every country.

Recently, several ASPs approached the Department to share their experiences related to soft referrals in China. Home study agencies report that some ASPs have pressured them to approve families who have already received soft referrals of special needs children in cases where the home study agency concludes that the PAP may not be suited for the child they wish to adopt. At least one home study agency has reported that it chose to withdraw from preparation of home studies for intercountry adoption from China to avoid this pressure.

In addition, the Chinese Central Authority (CCCWA) allows ASPs to request that a Special Focus child’s file be added to an ASP’s individual list for advanced child recruitment. Under China’s procedures, ASPs may engage in recruitment activities for up to three months when searching for an appropriate prospective adoptive placement for that child. Once the CCCWA grants a Special Focus child’s file to an ASP for recruitment, other agencies cannot view the child’s file on the CCCWA system; they and prospective adoptive parents can only learn about the child through photolistings and other similar recruitment strategies undertaken by the ASP whose has the file on their individual list. China has clarified, however, that even though a child’s file is placed on one ASP’s individual list, any ASP who has an interested family can propose a match to CCCWA and request the file be moved to their individual list.

ASPs should not reserve Special Focus children’s files for their clients if a suitable family is ready to proceed with a child’s intercountry adoption with another ASP. The Department has received reports indicating that some agencies are restricting referrals of Special Focus children to their current or prospective clients only. If another ASP approaches them with a family that may be a suitable match for that child, the ASP who has the child’s file should not prevent or discourage the other ASP from requesting that CCCWA transfer the file. The Department has received reports that some ASPs have been requiring families to change agencies instead of working within the CCCWA system to transfer the file, or to wait until the recruiting ASP’s three month timeframe has passed. These actions are improper, even if the recruiting ASP has proposed a match for the child, as they prevent CCCWA from considering referring the child to other families and may result in children remaining in institutional care longer than they otherwise would.

“Holding” Files:
While the Special Focus system might be unique to China, the issue of “holding” children’s files is apparently not. Numerous reports indicate that, in several countries, ASPs working with families to adopt special needs children are “holding” children for PAPs who have yet to complete a home study. This practice effectively deprives the Central or competent authority of the opportunity to make the decision to place that child with another PAP when such placement may be in the child’s best interest.

In short, U.S. accredited or approved ASPs should not take any action to “hold” children for PAPs who have not yet been found suitable in any way that prevents other agencies from referring the child to other families, that prevents or dissuades other suitable families from adopting the child, or that prevents a Central or competent authority from either learning of other eligible families or considering alternative placements. Such actions place the interests of the ASP and PAPs ahead of the interests of children.

The entire guidance can be accessed here.

Silver Linings

On a positive note, more children may be available for agencies to advocate for. Adoptions may have become cheaper with the reduction of a mandatory fee. However, they may still cost the same if you voluntarily pay a large orphanage donation fee. Generally, being required to have a home study or an LID, will greatly speed up the adoption process. Gathering paperwork beforehand will allow the match to go much quicker and smoother. Families can expect to travel within three months after being matched, provided they have an LID.

If you would like to talk more about these changes, or are interested in becoming LID ready, please contact Kathy Junk at kathy@wiaa.org or call the office at (801)334-8683