advocate127:

As National Adoption Awareness Month draws to a close, we want to remind you why it is important to help and how you can help those in your community and those around the world.  The next three series of posts, including today’s, will be aimed at recapping this month’s posts on adoption. 

We hear many people say that adoption is a great cause - “I’ll definitely look into it if I can’t have my own kids.”  While that is the reason many couples across the globe choose to turn to the wonderful method of adoption to bring little bundles of joy into their lives, it shouldn’t be the only reason one considers adoption. Galations 4:5-7 explains God’s heart for adoption well: God sent [His own Son, Jesus,] to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as his very own children.  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. (NLT). When we follow the biblical directive to rescue, love, and care for orphans, we are following Christ’s commandment and are acting as His hands and feet. We believe it is not just the responsibility of those who are called to full-time ministry to be concerned for orphans, but that it is the responsibility of all believers and Christ-followers. We hope that you will choose to find a way to bring hope, care and love to orphans, whether it’s in your community or across the globe. Your involvement, at whatever level, will make a difference. To read more on why you should help, click here or here.

(Source: parakletos127)

advocate127:

What is it?

Foster care adoption is the adoption of children in state care for whom reunification with their birth parents is not possible for safety or other reasons.

How does it work?
It is arranged by state child welfare agencies or by private agencies under contract with the states; however, public agencies mainly handle it. Children may be adopted by their foster parents, relatives (who may or may not have been caring for the child through kinship foster care), or adults to whom they have no prior relationship. Children in foster care have been removed from their families for a variety of reasons, including abuse or neglect, and they may have experienced trauma as a result. These children range in age from infants to teens.

How much does it cost?
Cost ranges from $0 - $2,500. If you are interested in adopting a child who is currently waiting in foster care, often not only are fees kept to a bare minimum or even waived, but many of the children will be eligible for federally-funded or state-funded adoption subsidy payments which help you meet the child’s ongoing needs. In addition, some children qualify for SSI (Social Security Insurance) payments or Medicaid coverage because of their medical conditions.

Interested in Special Needs Adoption?
Find out more information here.

What should you do now?
- Educate Yourself About Adoption
- Contact a Local Agency
- Attend an Orientation Meeting
- Understand the Difference Between Adopting and Fostering
- Read to take the next step? Apply to adopt or request to be contacted.

FAQs
- Adoption from foster care has increased in the past five years in response to a federal mandate that states take timely action to provide permanent homes for children in state care.
- Check Information Gateway’s list of State Child Welfare Agency Websites to find your local department of social services to learn about children in your area who need homes.
- Nearly 40% of American adults, or 81.5 million people, have considered adopting a child. If just one in 500 of these adults adopt, all of the 134,000 children in foster care waiting for adoption would have permanent, loving families, according to the new National Adoption Attitudes Survey.
- Common Myths about Adoption and Foster Care
- Department of Children & Family Services: Fact Sheet

Sites used:
- http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/s_cost/s_costs.pdf
- http://statistics.adoption.com/information/statistics-on-cost-of-adopting.html
- http://www.adoptuskids.org/for-families/how-to-adopt/deciding-to-pursue-adoption
- http://www.adoptachild.org/domestic-adoption-facts
- http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_adoptoption.cfm
- http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/FactOverview.html

(Source: parakletos127)