Adoption Grants?

Question

Hi. I've heard about adoption grants for couples trying to adopt. We've been trying to adopt though social services and we keep hitting walls. We started January of 2006, and by the time we got our paperwork done, our worker had retired. Her replacement was a joke, so a friend recomended her county worker, who's been trying to place county kids who just don't fit with what we're looking for (we want school aged/she's trying to put toddlers here...we're not set up for little kids!) There are several out of state kids that we're interested in, but the costs of this just intimadates us! The grant sites that I've looked at tell how to donate to their cause, but not how to apply to recieve one. Does anyone know how I'd go about doing this?

Answer 1

I've never heard of an adoption grant. I know you can get most of your money reimbursed through taxes when you file taxes (as long as not a step parent adoption or something like that).

Costs can be high.

You may look on some other state websites like in Texas it is the department of family services and see if any kids on there match your lifestyle's. I am sure if you went directly through the agency in the state you find a child in they would work with you on placing the child. There may be some extra paperwork fees, faxing, mailing, etc. then of course travel to meet the child and finalize the case in court. I can't imagine it would be that much more. Maybe check out states that you can drive to comfortably also.

Remember the main goal of these agencies is getting these wonderful kids a place to call home. IF they are reminded of that (in a nice way) maybe they could help you out a little more also!

Answer 2

There are several different grants that are out there, but frankly speaking, I've never heard of anyone actually being awarded one of these. I'm not saying they're bogus, but I guess there are thousands of people out there trying to get a few available grants. As for where to find a list, there are lots of places but the most comprehensive one I found was on Children's House International's website. They have a pretty good list of options.

On a different note:

You can totally adopt over state lines. No worries and there shouldn't be high fees (unless you consider a few thousand for lawyer fees, documents, etc high, plus, you'll probably need to get your home study updated since you started over a year ago).   Especially if you want to adopt an older child! Most kids over 7 are considered special needs, not that they have any medical problems, but that usually people want the toddlers. So, try .... adoptUSkids. That is a great website and they are very friendly. There are also links on the page to help you find places that are closer to your state (which you didn't mention). If you are paper ready, you should be able to get matched fairly quickly. Be advised that you may have to travel once or twice to have a "get to know you" period with your child since s/he is older, but I think you should have no trouble.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Contact your local social service department and ask for a supervisor.  Explain your situation.  These people should be jumping through hoops to help you find a child - especially since the age group you are looking for is hard to place.  In addition, you can adopt a child from another state.  If you have found one and are interested, contact their social service agency (if that is where they are currently) and see what options are available to you.  

Adopting through an agency can get expensive.  However, there is money available through your state to help with special needs adoptions (and typically older children will have some type of special need).  You would need to contact your social service agency though to get more info and it seems like you might be hitting a wall there.  It's sad that some states have a horrible social service program.  We worked with NJ's Division of Children & Youth and it was a joke when we were adopting our son.  But when I worked with the PA Children & Youth division, they are/were wonderful.  They are the ones who helped us get additional monies for our son's adoption (even though it was in NJ).

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Here's a site I found with an application form on it.

http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/...

hope it helps! Good luck with your adoption!

Answer 5

adoption is good. you will for sure find a wonderfull child. i hope you will love it like your own. god be with you

Answer 6

You can get up to $10,000 of adoption expenses as a tax credit.  Please keep in mind you will have to come up with the money up front and then claim the adoption expenses through your federal tax return.  What happens is that you get a larger federal income tax refund than you otherwise would receive.

Former Chicago Bear football player Gayle Sayers set up a foundation to promote adoption within the black community.  I am not familiar with the specifics.  Maybe you can Google Gayle Sayers Adoption Foundation, or something to that effect.

I believe Catholic Charities has limits on adoption fees and are less expensive than a private agency.

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

These are often the pitfalls of adoption. I have trun into the same road blocks trying to adopt a child I was a foster parent to in a neighboring state. It really stinks.

Check this site out for possible grants. There are thousands of people applying for grants and only so many available. http://www.affordingadoption.com/grants....

I do have  a couple suggestions for you. If you attend church you can speak with your church pastor or leaders about possibly taking a Love offering on your behalf to cover the adoption expenses. We had a family who adopted a sibling group of 6... yes, six kids. The couple was by no means wealthy but the church threw them a "Children Shower". They received toys, books, clothes for all of the children. Which was the only way they could adopt the entire sibling group. You wouild be surprised at what your church family will do for you.

One other thing that worked for me was to estimate how much I would spend on a child each week. I put that amount of money back every week. Do both parents work? Will you need to pay for before or after school expenses? You'll also have to pay for clothes for this new child, OTC medicines, shoes, etc. Start putting the money you will pay for the child into a savings account to cover expenses. You will be surprised at how fast that money accumulated.

I am really surprised it is taking so long for you to get  a placement. The average age of children in foster care is 9 which would be third grade. If you are looking for school aged kids it shouldn't be a problem.  I know each state works differently and each county within each state works differently. It's kind of nuts the way one hand does not know what the other is doing. If your county is one of those that are not helping you (which means they are not effective in helping the children) I would contact the child protective services in neighboring counties and explain to them that you have a home study done and are paper ready (provided you are paper ready) and inquire whether they have any children in their county that matches what you are looking for. In state is always easier than trying to cross state lines.

Good luck! I feel your pain.

Answer 8

Isn't that sad? So many kids need families, but high fees, and all the hoop jumping can make it so difficult. I know lots of people that can afford to raise a child in a wonderful life, but don't have $30,000 in one lump sum. In my area, school aged kids are usually available for adoption through the local foster care system, and the fees there are very family friendly.