America World Adoption News

Russia Update

America World continues to advocate on behalf of families in the Russian adoption process in hopes that they will be able to complete their adoption throughout 2013. Russia has publically stated that the bi-lateral agreement between our two countries which was developed over the previous two years is still in effect until January 1, 2014; however, it is unclear what this means in relation to families who have been in the process to adopt. The Supreme Court in Russia has only made a decision for families who had completed court hearings in December of 2012 and is allowing them to finalize their adoptions throughout January 2013. There has been no definitive decision made regarding families who are at earlier stages in their adoption process and we continue to wait for official confirmation for these cases.

Our Russia Program is currently closed to new applicants and will remain so indefinitely. Despite this closure we will continue to submit post adoption reports for all of its adoptive families and support families who have been actively working to adopt from Russia. Please continue to pray earnestly for the children and families affected by the decisions of the Russian government. 

MLK Day

At America World we do a morning devotional every morning at 9 a.m. This morning we read from a sermon that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave the day before he was assassinated. In this sermon, he encouraged his listeners to, “develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness,” like the Good Samaritan, who in Dr. King’s words, “..decided not to be compassionate by proxy… and be concerned about his brother.” We recognize that the Civil Rights Movement and the work of Dr. King (and countless others) is part of the reason our society has changed so dramatically in the last few decades in regards to racial relations. 

We are glad our nation has set aside a day to honor the man who said:   

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Many adoptive families are closer to realizing this “dream” thanks to Dr. King’s work. Many of the families that work with our agency have adopted children of a different ethnic background and many families self-describe as being “multi-racial”. These families are much more accepted in our culture thanks to the women and men who bravely fought against slavery, bigotry, separation and discrimination.

Update on Russia

Earlier today President Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, gave the following statement regarding the recent ban on US adoptions in relation to the Russia-US Bilateral Agreement that went into effect on November 1, 2012: “The agreement is in force at the moment” and “it will be in force over the course of the year.” This leads us to believe that they will honor the bilateral agreement which stipulates that “the agreement is valid over one year beginning from the date one party informs the other via diplomatic channels about its intention to withdraw from the present agreement.”

We do not yet know how this affects families in various stages of their adoption process. We are still awaiting clarification on which families will be permitted to finalize their adoptions throughout 2013. We continue to monitor this situation and await more news out of Russia.

Adoption Tax Credit

Today, America World learned that Congress voted to permanently extend the adoption tax credit as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act. While complete details remain to be seen, the following information is known. First, we know that the bill permanently extends the adoption tax credit at $10,000. However, it is possible that the credit may once again be scaled for inflation, which would bring it near the 2012 amount of $12,650. Finally, families with incomes below $150,000 will receive the full credit, and it will gradually phase out for higher incomes (the amount of the reduction and associated income levels remains to be seen).

We will keep you up to date as more details are learned. 

Updated Adoption Tax Credit Advocacy Kit

If you have been keeping up with the blog recently, then you know that America World is actively working for the renewal and expansion of the Adoption Tax Credit. Thank you to those of you who have already contacted us about joining our efforts to renew this important tool in addressing the orphan crisis. For those of you who would like to get involved, but haven’t yet, why not email us the story of how the Adoption Tax Credit helped you bring your children home? Stories will be shared with Members of Congress when we go to the Capitol on June 12, 2012. You can email your stories HERE.  

Today, our friends at the National Council for Adoption released an updated version of their Adoption Tax Credit Advocacy Kit. This kit contains talking points on the tax credit as well as valuable information on how to contact your Members of Congress. It even includes sample letters, phone scripts, and editorials.

I highly recommend that you take a look at the advocacy kit. If you would like more information on how you can stand with America World for the renewal of the Adoption Tax Credit, please contact me by calling (703) 356-8447.

In Him,

Andrew C. Brown

Director of Corporate Governance

Adoption Tax Credit Bill Introduced in the U.S. House

On April 17, 2012, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) introduced the Making Adoption Affordable Act. The act will permanently expand the federal adoption tax credit to $13,360, an increase of $1,000 over the current credit, and make it refundable.

The current adoption tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2012. Over the last several months, many of you expressed concerns about the impact the expiration of the credit will have on your family. Congressman Braley’s bill is the first step toward ensuring that the adoption tax credit continues to be an option to help families offset the high cost of adoption. More importantly, this legislation will promote the adoption of God’s children by loving families.

As people who are passionate about the ministry of adoption, it is up to us to make sure our Representatives support this life-saving legislation. Will you take action on behalf of orphaned and vulnerable children by contacting your member of Congress to urge them to vote “YES” on the Making Adoption Affordable Act?

You can find the contact information for your Representative by clicking HERE.

The full text of the Making Adoption Affordable Act can be found HERE.

We will provide updates on the progress of the bill as it makes its way through Congress.

 

Blessings,

Andrew C. Brown

Director of Corporate Governance 

Action Alert – Help America World Save the Adoption Tax Credit

The adoption tax credit is set to expire on December 31, 2012. Current law allows prospective adoptive families to take a maximum credit of $13,360 to offset the high cost of adoption. Unless Congress acts to extend this credit, the current credit of up to $13,360 will revert to a maximum credit of $6,000 only for parents adopting children with special needs. Other adoptive parents will not be eligible for the credit.

The credit is an important tool in helping unite children with their forever families. Many of you have benefitted directly from the credit and understand why it is so critical to extend it to all adoptive families.

Will you take action to help America World protect the adoption tax credit?

There are several bills before Congress that will either extend or make permanent the adoption tax credit at it currently exists. Please take a few moments to call or write your Representative and Senator to urge them to support the adoption tax credit.

To contact your Representative click HERE.

To contact your Senator click HERE.

Our good friends at the National Council for Adoption assembled this Adoption Tax Credit Advocacy Kit. The kit provides talking points on the credit as well as sample letters and phone scripts.

While talking points and statistics are effective, please remember that the most effective tool you have as an adoptive family is your story. Be sure to tell your Representatives and Senators how the adoption tax credit helped you bring your son or daughter home.

Thank you for your faithful service to orphaned and vulnerable children.

In Christ,

Andrew C. Brown

Director of Corporate Governance

Virginia is for Adoption

We are pleased to announce that the Virginia General Assembly passed a law protecting the rights of faith-based adoption and foster care agencies.  Senate Bill 349, proposed by Sen. Jeffery McWaters (R-Virginia Beach), passed the Virginia Senate this afternoon by a bipartisan 22-18 vote! An identical companion bill, House Bill 189, proposed by Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) passed the House of Delegates 71-28 on February 3rd. The legislation now goes to the desk of Governor Bob McDonnell (R), who pledged to sign it.

This law protects the rights of faith-based adoption and foster care agencies, like America World, to continue serving children according to their religious and moral convictions. As a result, it prevents the state from discriminating against these agencies in licensing and contract decisions. Virginia is only the second state in the U.S. (behind North Dakota) to recognize and protect the rights of faith-based adoption and foster care agencies.

Over the past year, America World staff worked alongside a coalition of faith-based agencies to craft and support this important piece of legislation. We would like to thank our partners in this effort, including Catholic Charities, The Family Foundation, the Virginia Catholic Conference, and the Virginia Association of Independent Baptists.

Finally, we would like to thank those of you who called and wrote to members of the Virginia General Assembly to urge them to support this legislation. This great victory for religious liberty would not have been possible without you.

Action Alert: Support Conscious Protections for Faith Based Adoption Agencies

The Virginia General Assembly is currently considering two bills (HB 189 and SB 349), which would ensure that faith-based adoption and foster care agencies are allowed to continue operating according to their religious convictions.

 

Last year, we successfully blocked discriminatory regulations that would have forced faith-based agencies to perform adoptive placements that conflict with their beliefs about the family and what is in the best interests of children. In 2011, the Virginia Board of Social Services twice voted to protect the rights of faith-based agencies by overwhelming margins (7-2 in April 2011 and 6-1 in December).

 

The bills before the Virginia General Assembly will make it clear that, under state law, faith-based adoption and foster care agencies have the right to provide services according to their moral and religious convictions.

 

It is important to note that HB 189 and SB 349 do not change existing state law. Rather, they recognize the great work of faith-based child welfare agencies and allow them to continue their life-saving work.

 

Both the House and Senate bills are scheduled to be heard this week, and legislators need to hear from all of us over the next several days. Please contact your Delegate and Senator to urge them to SUPPORT HB 189 and SB 349. Find your legislator HERE.

 

Also, please make a point to contact the following Senators, who are on the committee hearing testimony on SB 349 this week:

 

Sen. Frank W. Wagner -          Email: district07@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7507	Sen. Thomas K. Norment, Jr. -          Email: district03@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7503
Sen. Yvonne B. Miller -          Email: district05@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7505	Sen. Linda T. Puller -          Email: district36@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7536
Sen. Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. -          Email: district24@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7524	Sen. Mamie E. Locke -          Email: district02@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7502
Sen. Ryan T. McDougle -          Email: district04@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7504	Sen. Mark R. Herring -          Email: district33@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7533
Sen. George L. Barker -          Email: district39@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7539	Sen. Ralph S. Northam -          Email: district06@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7506
Sen. Richard H. Black -          Email: district13@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7513	Sen. Charles W. Carrico, Sr. -          Email: district40@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7540
Sen. Bryce E. Reeves -          Email: district17@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7517	Sen. Barbara A. Favola -          Email: district31@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7531
Sen. Walter A. Stosch -          Email: district12@senate.virginia.gov -          Phone: (804)698-7512

 

 

Please remember to be respectful and Christ-like in all your interactions. A sample message for your use is below:

 

                Dear ________,

 

As a Virginian of faith and a supporter of the right of every child to a family, I urge you to Support HB 189/SB 349.

 

Last year, a conflict over faith-based child welfare agencies’ rights of conscience arose within the regulatory process. The Board of Social Services overwhelmingly affirmed the right of faith-based agencies to provide adoption and foster care services in keeping with their moral and religious convictions.

 

It is now time for the Virginia General Assembly to recognize the life-saving work performed by these agencies and to protect their right to practice what they profess.

 

In Virginia, more than half of licensed child-placing agencies have some sort of religious affiliation. Without the protections afforded by HB 189 and SB 349, these agencies are in danger of being forced to close simply because they profess religious beliefs about the role of the family unit in a child’s life. Without these agencies, thousands of orphaned and vulnerable children in Virginia and throughout the world will be denied the basic human right to a family.

 

Please do what is truly in the best interests of children – Support HB 189/SB 349.

 

Respectfully,

 

[Your name]  

Polio Update from CDC Regarding China Travel

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported a recent outbreak of Polio in the Xinjiang Uygur region of China.  As a result of this outbreak, the CDC recommends that travelers to all parts of China be up-to-date on the polio vaccine.  We recommend contacting your doctor now and prior to your trip to ensure that you are up to date with your polio vaccination and inquire as to whether you will need a booster dose before traveling.  Even if you were vaccinated as a child or have been sick with polio before, you may need a booster shot to make sure that you are protected. If you will be traveling to China with children, be sure that they have been appropriately vaccinated prior to your trip.

We would encourage you to read more about the notice on the CDC website: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/outbreak-notice/polio-china.htm