Adoption Answers, Inc.

Adoption Knowledge Affiliates

Books written and recommended by adoptees 📚

The Adopted Life

"Adoptees all over the world live under a curse: their bad qualities and behaviors get attributed to their birth-family genetics, and their good qualities and behaviors get attributed to the environment created by their adoptive parents."

https://medium.com//the-hart-children-curse-of-the-adoptee-958dde356621?aduc=RsiBlP81550022604055

Adoption Keepsake Gifts from Many Hearts One Beat

This is a great website if you are searching for adoption related gifts.

https://manyheartsonebeat.com/

manyheartsonebeat.com

Families with Children from China - Greater NY

Repost from with and , author of “All You Can Ever Know” wants more people to talk about race within the transracial adoption process. https://on.cc.com/2Ol5CH9 🙌🏼

What Is the History of “Putting a Child Up” for Adoption?

https://adoption.org/history-putting-child-adoption

adoption.org The world of adoption has changed dramatically since the mid-1800s, but the language we use has not,...

A letter to the woman who gave me my daughter: 'When we talk about hard things, we talk about you'

This is beautiful!

http://community.today.com/post/dear-miss-danielle?cid=sm_npd_td_fb_ma

community.today.com You are one of the bravest and strongest women I've ever met and I cannot thank you enough.

Play Therapy, Psychological Assessments, Parent Coaching

Wonderful new counseling resource!

http://blossomdfw.com/

blossomdfw.com

BraveLove Birth Mom Dinners

Do you know a birth mom in Dallas who might want to attend this free event that allows them to be connected with other birth moms?

https://www.bravelove.org/dinner?utm_campaign=all_apr18_v2&utm_medium=email&utm_source=bravelove

bravelove.org The night is simple - it's about enjoying a meal together and connecting with another birth mom so you know that you're not alone in this adoption journey. There's no pressure to share your adoption story. No pressure to do anything but show up and enjoy the evening.

Adoption Conference • Lake Pointe Church

Wonderful FREE conference.

https://www.lakepointe.org/adoptionconference/

lakepointe.org FEBRUARY 24 8:15AM – 3PM LAKE POINTE GYM Join us Saturday, February 24 for a FREE Adoption Conference. Many different adoption agencies will be represented at this conference and we look forward to you getting to know some of these great folks. We will have a great keynote speaker and a variety of...

Social Media and the Adopted Child

Great webinar opportunity!

https://webcasts.adoptionlearningpartners.org/session/social_media_and_the_adopted_child_

webcasts.adoptionlearningpartners.org Social media has revolutionized the way we connect with one another. This has meant that open adoption communication is more convenient than ever before. Social media, along with tools such as Google, can also mean that your tween or teen may be searching for information or birth relatives online. I...

Great news!

We are deeply appreciative that the House Committee on Ways and Means has reversed its proposed elimination of the adoption tax credit and has taken a step to support American families by retaining the adoption tax credit as part of H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Additionally, we are pleased the Senate Republican’s proposal has also retained this important tax credit.

As the legislative process for tax reform moves forward, Congress should ensure that any final bill maintains the current availability and amount of the adoption tax credit for all Americans that currently qualify. Anything less would result in Congress picking winners and losers among children and their families. Beyond retaining the current credit, improvements should include reinstating refundability of this credit so more middle and lower income families can benefit as they welcome a child into their home.

On behalf of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group, a coalition of more than 150 adoption and family building advocates, nonprofits, attorneys, and religious organizations across the United States, we appreciate the work that Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady, Representative Mike Kelly, Rep. Diane Black, Congressman Trent Franks, and Congressman Danny K. Davis did to reinstate the adoption tax credit in the House bill. We look forward to working with all Members of Congress to preserve and enhance the credit. All children deserve a forever family.

The Archibald Project

We sat down with Dominique and to be completely honest I had no idea what to expect. Would she break down, would she share her thoughts...what was going on in her heart, I mean she had literally just given birth a few hours previous...
As she began to get more comfortable with us all of the questions and preconceived thoughts I had in my mind began to fade. There she was, right in front of me, a woman, a mother, trying to do the absolute best thing she could do for her birth son. She was choosing to put herself aside and give him the best life she believed she could. She was placing her birth son in the arms of another woman who he would one day call mother.

She cried, she laughed, she looked down at this little boy.

"He almost wasn't here." She cried, "he was almost gone."

A few moments went by and she gathered her thoughts.
"He's so cute," she repeated over and over again, as if she were almost to afraid to whisper, 'I love you,' for fear of what it would do to her heart. But as we left the room and gave the two of them some time alone I realized that she didn't have to say those 3 words, as her actions physically lived out her love more than her language ever could.

Adoptive families and adoption professionals - can you share your favorite resources? Resources for coping with infertility, with the adoption process, and with answering the difficult questions your adopted child has. Any resources for when a family is struggling? We are making a resource sheet and would appreciate any input!!

Time to do something if you want to help save the adoption tax credit.

Last night, the Senate narrowly passed the 2018 budget, but this isn't the final vote. As the bills enter markup in both chambers of Congress, NOW is our last chance to ! We sent a letter to the "Big Six" and all offices on Capitol Hill telling them why they should retain the ATC in legislation produced under this framework. Let them hear YOUR voice, too!

Read:https://adoptiontaxcredit.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Adoption-Tax-Credit-Working-Group-Letter-to-Congress.pdf

Kids for sale: ‘My mom was tricked’

Heartbreaking for all involved.

http://fox8.com/2017/10/13/kids-for-sale-my-mom-was-tricked/

fox8.com The 7-year-old girl, dressed in bright pink and holding one of her favorite stuffed animals, sees her mother for the first time in nearly a year. A brilliant smile spreads across Namata's face, punctuating her excitement. She and her mother are speaking via Skype more than 7,400 miles apart. Namata,...

C.O.A. to Terminate Their Role as a National Accrediting Entity

This is concerning.

http://adoptioncouncil.org/blog/2017/10/coa-to-terminate-their-role-as-a-national-accrediting-entity

adoptioncouncil.org The Council on Accreditation intends to transition out of this role over the next 14 months, citing the U.S. Department of State's Office of Children's Issues's "significant" policy changes as "inconsistent with COA’s philosophy and mission." Here is our take on...

Green Bay Packers star Jordy Nelson adopts SA baby days before Cowboys game

Still not happy about the Cowboys' loss, but this article does take away some of the sting.

https://www.ksat.com/sports/green-bay-packers-star-jordy-nelson-adopts-sa-baby-days-before-cowboys-game

ksat.com “We just figured adoption was a great way for us to grow our family.”

Pure love

Read this beautiful blog written by a birthmother.

https://giftfromgod0704.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/pure-love/

giftfromgod0704.wordpress.com In the days since I revealed my story to those around me a lot has happened. The support I have gained is by far phenomenal! I have learned just how much love there is, not only for me, but Weston …

Looking for an adoption support group in the Rockwall area? Send us a message, and we will connect you with a group.

The Adoption Tax Credit is on the chopping block.

Although the adoption tax credit was made "permanent" in 2013, it is at serious risk of being eliminated if comprehensive tax reform moves forward in Congress.

THE TIME IS NOW. Tell Congress how the ATC will help families like yours. at https://adoptiontaxcredit.org/take-action/

Adoptive Families

Great article!

"About a decade ago it was popular to say, 'Love sees no color.' I hope we’ve moved away from that, because it’s just not true. That’s a really big part of white privilege—not recognizing that you have white privilege. We all notice differences, and, if we say we can’t, we’re denying something. Not only does this diminish the power and energy of diversity, this denial sends a message that being different is bad or shameful or something that needs to be ignored."

An adoption therapist and adult transracial adoptee discusses the damaging effect of pretending to be "color blind" when talking with children, and how to make race a part of the family conversation. http://bit.ly/2xEOUqK

FamilyWorks Together & Adoptions Together

More than 1,200 foster children have been displaced by the tragic impact of Hurricane Harvey. For these children, the trauma of the storm adds a new level of trauma where it already exists. http://www.kens5.com/weather/harvey/1200-foster-kids-displaced-becuase-of-hurricane-harvey-flooding/469773329

BraveLove

"I didn’t give my children up for adoption. I placed my children for adoption. I didn’t give up on them. That’s all I think of when I hear this term. It sounds like I gave up on them, when in reality all I wanted was to give them more. I love those children more than I could ever express. They deserved so much more than what I could have ever given them at the time. I literally placed them into the arms of the woman who was more than capable, ready and willing to become the best possible mother for these children."

- Melinda, a very beautiful birth mom

American Adoptions

A beautiful read from an adoptee:

American Adoptions

Words matter.

Yes!

Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development

Happy Tuesday! How about a FREE printable to start the month?

Feel free to download and print this set of TBRI Life Values to use in your home, classroom, or workplace. Enjoy!

The War That Saved My Life

I just read the best book. I would recommend that anyone adopting an older child read this book. Although it is not about adoption, it deals with why neglected/abused children act as they do and addresses how trauma affects children. It was fantastic!!

Any book recommendations from you?

https://www.amazon.com/War-That-Saved-My-Life/dp/0147510481

amazon.com *2016 Newbery Honor book*Winner of the 2016 Schneider Family Book Award This New York Times bestseller is an exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2. For fans of Counting by 7s. Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her moth...

Anne with an E | Netflix Official Site

Finished watching Anne with an E. If you have adopted an older child or a child with a trauma background, I highly recommend you watch this. It does a powerful job of showing how trauma can affect a child and also how a parent's own history can affect their parenting. If you are a lover of Anne of Green Gables, it helps to watch this with the expectation that it will be different than what you have seen and that there will be some changes made in the storyline. I thought it was fantastic! Have you seen it? What do you think?

https://www.netflix.com/title/80136311

netflix.com A plucky orphan whose passions run deep finds an unlikely home with a spinster and her soft-spoken bachelor brother. Based on "Anne of Green Gables."

Great resource for families in the San Antonio area!

www.chosen.care

Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys

http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/take-action/

SAVE THE ADOPTION TAX CREDIT

Adoption Learning Partners

Raising Black Girls is this Thursday at 8 PM Central. Register now!

Considering Adoption

Recent statistics may not be telling the whole story.

For those interested in hosting:
Do you want to help an orphan from Eastern Europe this summer? Do you have a spare bedroom or bed in one of your kids' rooms? Orphans from Ukraine and Poland are waiting to come and spend five weeks in your home with your family.

Through "orphan hosting" these children are able to take a "vacation" from their orphanage and learn about the love of a family. Some children are adoptable. The cost is $2700 (tax deductible) and the deadline to be matched with a child is May 15th. We still have over 100 orphans waiting to be hosted this summer from mid June to late July.

For more information visit http://www.bloomworldwide.org/hosting/ and to see a list of children waiting for host families, email [email protected]