Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Korea Adoption Update
Hello!
It has been several months since our last post, and we hope to use this opportunity to update our friends on AAC's Korea Adoption Program.
We are happy to report that so far this year AAC has been privileged to match 18 orphaned children from Korea with their forever families and 29 families have welcomed their little ones home into their arms! We anticipate 5 more families will have travel permission before the end of the year.
Because of the steady rate of referrals, our waitlist for a child is quite short. We anticipate the timeline to be matched with a child at less than 6 months. From the time a child is matched with their family, we estimate about a year to complete the immigration process to bring that child home.
If you've considered adopting from Korea, now is a great time to get started! Check out our website for more information, and feel free to submit a pre-application and begin your adoption journey today!
It has been several months since our last post, and we hope to use this opportunity to update our friends on AAC's Korea Adoption Program.
We are happy to report that so far this year AAC has been privileged to match 18 orphaned children from Korea with their forever families and 29 families have welcomed their little ones home into their arms! We anticipate 5 more families will have travel permission before the end of the year.
Because of the steady rate of referrals, our waitlist for a child is quite short. We anticipate the timeline to be matched with a child at less than 6 months. From the time a child is matched with their family, we estimate about a year to complete the immigration process to bring that child home.
If you've considered adopting from Korea, now is a great time to get started! Check out our website for more information, and feel free to submit a pre-application and begin your adoption journey today!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Help Save the Adoption Tax Credit for 2012-2013!!!
Please help us save the adoption tax credit for 2012 - 2013. For many families the cost of an expensive adoption is what keeps them from bringing home a child - this tax credit helps alleviate some of the cost, but in 2012 it starts to diminish. The Senate Finance Committee is about to vote on "S. 82, the Adoption Tax Credit Guarantee Act" and we are petitioning for them to vote YES to save the adoption tax credit.
ABOUT THE CREDIT:
The average cost to adopt a child is any where from $25k- $35k or more. Currently, for the 2011 Tax Year Adopting families are eligible for:
• A maximum of $13,170 for 2011 returns • Fully refundable as long as the adoption is initiated in 2011 or before, and finalized before the end of 2012 (domestic) or was finalized in 2011 (international)
But in 2012 the Tax Credit is going to change: • A maximum of $12,170 for 2012 returns only, non-refundable
In 2013 it all goes away, no tax credit at all.
We are working with politicians and petitioning to extend the tax credit as currently stated in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, so that more money is available to families allowing them provide a financially stable home to the adopted child.
TO HELP:
1. To help save the credit, it only takes a minute. Visit this website & add your name to the petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/make-adoption-costs-fully-refundable-in-the-2012-2013-tax-years
2. Please consider sending this letter to your adoptive families, as they will be greatly impacted by the success or failure to keep the adoption credit.
ABOUT THE CREDIT:
The average cost to adopt a child is any where from $25k- $35k or more. Currently, for the 2011 Tax Year Adopting families are eligible for:
• A maximum of $13,170 for 2011 returns • Fully refundable as long as the adoption is initiated in 2011 or before, and finalized before the end of 2012 (domestic) or was finalized in 2011 (international)
But in 2012 the Tax Credit is going to change: • A maximum of $12,170 for 2012 returns only, non-refundable
In 2013 it all goes away, no tax credit at all.
We are working with politicians and petitioning to extend the tax credit as currently stated in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, so that more money is available to families allowing them provide a financially stable home to the adopted child.
TO HELP:
1. To help save the credit, it only takes a minute. Visit this website & add your name to the petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/make-adoption-costs-fully-refundable-in-the-2012-2013-tax-years
2. Please consider sending this letter to your adoptive families, as they will be greatly impacted by the success or failure to keep the adoption credit.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Words of Wisdom
We have many families who share their adoption journeys with us. It is always so much fun for us to follow our families on their blogs as they travel to China and experience their Gotcha Days, and watch the children and families when they first meet. Sometimes our families share their wisdom along the way and we wanted to share with you one family’s thoughts. They adopted an older child and she was a little sad at first, but is doing very well now. When they mailed in their last post placement report they shared the following advice:
“Never give up: try, try and try again. Use all the love that you have and smile a lot no matter what. Do not lose your sense of humor and patience. Try to walk in their shoes and try to keep something that is familiar for them, so they will feel less scared and alone.”
“Never give up: try, try and try again. Use all the love that you have and smile a lot no matter what. Do not lose your sense of humor and patience. Try to walk in their shoes and try to keep something that is familiar for them, so they will feel less scared and alone.”
Friday, January 20, 2012
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is China’s biggest holiday. It is also known as the Spring Festival. Each Chinese year is represented by a repeated cycle of 12 animals, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
This year the Chinese New Year is January 22nd through the 25th. Most Chinese will celebrate that whole week, and through the following weekend. They will attend lots of parties with family and friends. There will be lots of food and cakes and candy for everyone to enjoy.
Chinese people often greet one another with “Congratulations and Happy to You” or “Congratulations and be Prosperous” during the Chinese New Year.
As part of the Chinese New Year celebration, people buy presents, decorations, special foods and new clothing. Railroad stations throughout China are filled with travelers who take their vacation days around New Year to return home for a family reunion. It is a time of thanksgiving.
Days before the New Year celebration, Chinese families are busy giving their home a thorough cleaning. It is believed the cleaning sweeps away bad luck and makes the house ready for good luck to enter. All brooms and dust pans are put away on New Year’s Eve so good luck cannot be swept away. They also buy new clothes to symbolize a new beginning in the New Year.
In many homes, doors and windowpanes get a fresh coat of red paint. The home is decorated with paper cut-outs and poems for happiness, wealth, longevity, and happy marriage with children. Red is the main color used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and virtue, truth and sincerity.
The New Year’s Eve supper is a feast with all the members of the family getting together. Some popular foods are dumplings boiled in water, and sweet rice rolled into balls and stuffed with sweet or spicy fillings. After dinner, the whole family stays up all night playing cards, board games or watching TV programs dedicated to the New Year’s celebration. Lights in the house are kept on during the whole night. At midnight, the sky is lit up by fireworks which symbolize the sending out of the old year and the welcoming in of the New Year. People open all the windows and doors in the house in order to let the old year go out.
Very early the next morning, children greet their parents and receive their New Year present. They get lucky red envelopes with money inside. Children are indulged by their parents on this day. The rest of the first day of the New Year is spent visiting relatives and friends.
Chinese New Year is a time for reconciliation. Old grudges are forgiven. People are warm and friendly toward one another, and sometimes they exchange gifts.
Dragon and lion dances are common during the Chinese New Year. It is believed that the loud beats of the drum and deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the dragon or lion dancing aggressively will chase away bad spirits.
On the last day of the New Year’s celebration begins the Festival of the Lanterns. They celebrate with lantern shows and folk dances. Children display their lanterns in a night time parade. This is when the Chinese people welcome the first full moon of the New Year. The Festival of the Lanterns mark the end of the New Year’s celebration and life goes back to normal.
Happy New Year to everyone! May this year bring you luck and prosperity!
This year the Chinese New Year is January 22nd through the 25th. Most Chinese will celebrate that whole week, and through the following weekend. They will attend lots of parties with family and friends. There will be lots of food and cakes and candy for everyone to enjoy.
Chinese people often greet one another with “Congratulations and Happy to You” or “Congratulations and be Prosperous” during the Chinese New Year.
As part of the Chinese New Year celebration, people buy presents, decorations, special foods and new clothing. Railroad stations throughout China are filled with travelers who take their vacation days around New Year to return home for a family reunion. It is a time of thanksgiving.
Days before the New Year celebration, Chinese families are busy giving their home a thorough cleaning. It is believed the cleaning sweeps away bad luck and makes the house ready for good luck to enter. All brooms and dust pans are put away on New Year’s Eve so good luck cannot be swept away. They also buy new clothes to symbolize a new beginning in the New Year.
In many homes, doors and windowpanes get a fresh coat of red paint. The home is decorated with paper cut-outs and poems for happiness, wealth, longevity, and happy marriage with children. Red is the main color used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and virtue, truth and sincerity.
The New Year’s Eve supper is a feast with all the members of the family getting together. Some popular foods are dumplings boiled in water, and sweet rice rolled into balls and stuffed with sweet or spicy fillings. After dinner, the whole family stays up all night playing cards, board games or watching TV programs dedicated to the New Year’s celebration. Lights in the house are kept on during the whole night. At midnight, the sky is lit up by fireworks which symbolize the sending out of the old year and the welcoming in of the New Year. People open all the windows and doors in the house in order to let the old year go out.
Very early the next morning, children greet their parents and receive their New Year present. They get lucky red envelopes with money inside. Children are indulged by their parents on this day. The rest of the first day of the New Year is spent visiting relatives and friends.
Chinese New Year is a time for reconciliation. Old grudges are forgiven. People are warm and friendly toward one another, and sometimes they exchange gifts.
Dragon and lion dances are common during the Chinese New Year. It is believed that the loud beats of the drum and deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the dragon or lion dancing aggressively will chase away bad spirits.
On the last day of the New Year’s celebration begins the Festival of the Lanterns. They celebrate with lantern shows and folk dances. Children display their lanterns in a night time parade. This is when the Chinese people welcome the first full moon of the New Year. The Festival of the Lanterns mark the end of the New Year’s celebration and life goes back to normal.
Happy New Year to everyone! May this year bring you luck and prosperity!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Anthony Needs the LOVE of a Family... Does your family have it to give?
Anthony is an adorable little three year old boy.
His physical development is normal, and there is just a slight delay in his mental development.
He plays well with others as well as likes to play by himself for long periods of time.
He is described by his foster Mom as happy, cooperative and obedient.
He likes to be out and about going places and seeing sights. He likes to visit with lots of people.
He likes to listen to music and is described as a very patient little guy.
Foster Mom says he is always smiling and happy.
Anthony’s special need is symphysic teratism of both ulna and radius at proximal end, and bilateral indirect hernia.
Anthony is looking for his “Forever Family” and if you think he may be your son, please call and ask to review his file.
His physical development is normal, and there is just a slight delay in his mental development.
He plays well with others as well as likes to play by himself for long periods of time.
He is described by his foster Mom as happy, cooperative and obedient.
He likes to be out and about going places and seeing sights. He likes to visit with lots of people.
He likes to listen to music and is described as a very patient little guy.
Foster Mom says he is always smiling and happy.
Anthony’s special need is symphysic teratism of both ulna and radius at proximal end, and bilateral indirect hernia.
Anthony is looking for his “Forever Family” and if you think he may be your son, please call and ask to review his file.
970-532-3576
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year!
In 2011 AAC was honored to match 88 children with their forever families and we look forward to many happily-ever-after stories in 2012!
The Korea Program continues to move along at a steady pace. It is a great time to get started with the process. In fact, our waitlist for a baby boy has moved so quickly, we anticipate that new families could be matched in a matter of months. The wait for immigration and emigration approval to bring children home from Korea is expected to take at least a year; and we are very grateful for the loving care these children receive from their foster families in Korea while they wait to be united with their forever families here at home.
The China Waiting Child Program continues to grow. Our Jiangxi partnership has helped match our families very quickly once their dossier paperwork has been completed. We are excited about the growth of the Waiting Child Program, and take pride in maintaining a personal interest in each adoption!
If the thought of adopting a child from China or Korea has been glimmering in your mind, 2012 could be the year to turn that dream into reality.
In 2011 AAC was honored to match 88 children with their forever families and we look forward to many happily-ever-after stories in 2012!
The Korea Program continues to move along at a steady pace. It is a great time to get started with the process. In fact, our waitlist for a baby boy has moved so quickly, we anticipate that new families could be matched in a matter of months. The wait for immigration and emigration approval to bring children home from Korea is expected to take at least a year; and we are very grateful for the loving care these children receive from their foster families in Korea while they wait to be united with their forever families here at home.
The China Waiting Child Program continues to grow. Our Jiangxi partnership has helped match our families very quickly once their dossier paperwork has been completed. We are excited about the growth of the Waiting Child Program, and take pride in maintaining a personal interest in each adoption!
If the thought of adopting a child from China or Korea has been glimmering in your mind, 2012 could be the year to turn that dream into reality.
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