Tapestry Books
In 1994, Tapestry Books became the first site on the World Wide Web to specialize in adoption books. With knowledgeable staff members, friendly and efficient service, and a love of family, Tapestry Books is your complete source for books about adoption. Visit their website at www.tapestrybooks.com.

ADOPTION EDUCATION & CONSULTING

Plan to Adopt
Plan to Adopt helps couples and singles who have decided to build their families through adoption but are overwhelmed by the amount of information available, concerned about the amount of time, money and resources required for adoption and worried about making the wrong choices. Plan to Adopt can help figure out exactly what type of adoption is best for your family and find the right professionals to work with you to make your adoption succeed. To learn more about how Plan to Adopt can help you or to talk to someone about your options, visit their website at www.plantoadopt.com or call 904-246-9382.


ADOPTION INFORMATION

Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute
Since 1996, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a national not-for-profit organization, has advanced sound adoption policy and practice for adopted people, adoptive families and birth parents. The Adoption Institute gathers, analyzes and synthesizes the best available information from research and practical experience to identify and develop the most effective policies and practices to increase the numbers of permanent and loving families for waiting children, as well as to provide positive lifelong experiences for all participants. Working with lawmakers, practitioners and researchers, the Adoption Institute strives to improve the ethics of adoption policy and practice, and the day-to-day experiences of everyone involved. Visit their web site at www.adoptioninstitute.org.

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC)
The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse was established by Congress in 1987 to provide free information on all aspects of adoption. The NAIC website provides comprehensive information on domestic and intercountry adoption. Visit their website at http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption focuses on increasing adoption awareness while supporting model adoption service programs. The foundation publishes one of the most widely used resources in the adoption community called A Child is Waiting... A Beginner’s Guide to Adoption. It contains a step-by-step process of adoption as well as various resources to help potential adoptive parents get some basic questions answered. Visit their website at http://www.davethomasfoundationforadoption.org/index.asp.

Options Magazine
Options Magazine and Optionsmagazine.com provide free information for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. With articles about adoption, parenting, abortion, marriage, pre-natal care, health, counseling, and more, Options Magazine emphasizes the need to make positive choices during pregnancy. Visit their website at www.optionsmagazine.com.

Adoptive Families Magazine
Adoptive Families, the award-winning national adoption magazine, is the leading adoption information source for families before, during, and after adoption. Whether you're adopting for the first time, considering adopting again, or interested in keeping up with the latest adoption news and trends, the Adoptive Families Annual Adoption Guide will provide you with detailed, accurate information you won't find anywhere else. You can subscribe by visiting their website at www.adoptivefamilies.com.

ADOPTION INSURANCE

AdoptionAssurance
AdoptionAssurance is an insurance policy that covers an adoption for a child less than two years old arranged through an approved adoption attorney. Visit www.adoptionassurance.com or call 1-800-966-9304 for more information.

ADVERTISING

Parent Profiles
ParentProfiles.com is a unique environment created for birthmothers and hopeful adoptive parents to find each other, establish relationships, and create adoption situations that meet the needs of everyone. Visit their website at www.ParentProfiles.com or call 1-800-FAMILY-NOW.

Options Magazine
Options Magazine and Optionsmagazine.com provide free information for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. With articles about adoption, parenting, abortion, marriage, pre-natal care, health, counseling, and more, Options Magazine emphasizes the need to make positive choices during pregnancy. They also offer on-line and magazine advertising of adoptive family profiles. Visit their website at www.optionsmagazine.com.

CORD BLOOD PRESERVATION

Alpha Cord
Alpha Cord has established the nation's first network of cord blood banks. They carefully screen and select laboratories which have a proven history of quality and dedicated service. This allows Alpha Cord to offer you the most trusted names in cord blood preservation at a significant savings. For more information about the importance of cord blood preservation for your adopted child, visit www.alphacord.com.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Gift of Adoption Fund
This nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation provides grants to adoptive parents in order to alleviate the financial burden of the adoption process. It is the only organization in the world with the singular mission of providing funding to build bridges of hope for children and their families. Visit their website at www.giftofadoption.org for more information or call 877-905-2367 or E-mail: info@giftofadoption.org.

National Adoption Foundation (NAF)
NAF provides adoption assistance for prospective or adoptive parents by proving financial support, information and services and specializes in helping adoptive parents with the costs associated with adopting and raising a child. They provide grants and loans to help fund legal or adoption fees, educational expenses, or the day-to-day costs of raising a family. Visit their website at www.nafadopt.org or call 800-258-4207 for more information.

Fifth Third Bank—Naples, Florida
There is a new financing program offered by Fifth Third Bank in Naples, Florida, which is meant to help families more easily afford adoption. The program offers families who are looking to adopt a home equity credit line or installment loan to help cover their expenses. Adoptive parents can be approved for a credit line that will allow them to borrow up to 100 percent of the value of their home, minus the amount of their mortgage. Payments need only be made on the money used, and there is an option of making interest- only payments. Checks are issued along with a Mastercard that enable the borrower to access their credit whenever needed, and one can take up to 20 years to pay back the principal amount. Please call them at 239-530-1460 for more information.

National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
How to Make Adoption an Affordable Option, is an all-around guide to the financial aspects of adoption. Visit their web site at http://nefe.org/adoption.

A Child Waits Foundation
A Child Waits Foundation makes low interest loans to cover a portion of the costs associates with an international adoption. Please call 866-999-2445 or visit their website at www.achildwaits.org.

Military Subsidies
If you are an active-duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, you may be eligible for a $2,000 per child military subsidy. Check with your base commander for more information.

Employee Benefit Programs
Many private and governmental employers offer adoption assistance and benefits. These might include financial reimbursement, paid and unpaid leave and resource and referral services. Please inquire with your Human Resources or benefits department.

Family Medical Leave Act
After you adopt, what about job security while staying home with your new child? The Family Medical Leave Act may provide the benefits you need. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 is a federal law that requires employers of more than 50 workers to give full-time employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. One must have been employed for at least 12 months and worked at least 1250 hours during the previous 12 months. Your employer may have more generous benefits, but this offers minimum protection.

PayPal
An Internet service that allows you to pay for adoption expenses and fees with your credit card. See www.paypal.com.

God's Grace Adoption Ministry
God's Grace Adoption Ministry is a non-profit organization helping adoptive parents overcome the financial burden of adopting children. It is not an adoption agency, but rather works in cooperation with the agency to assist the family with their financial needs. Depending on the individual family needs, financial assistance is available in the form of grants and interest free loans. Call 209- 572-4539 or visit their website at www.ggam.org.

Shaohannah's Hope
Working from these foundational truths, Shaohannah's Hope exists to care for orphans by engaging the church and helping Christian families reduce the financial burden of adoption. These families can provide not only love and support needed for this life, but also provide a child with the knowledge of God’s plan for his or her eternal life with a forever family called The Body of Christ. For more information, please visit www.shaohannahshope.org.

Adoption Tax Credits
Beginning in 2009, the credit allowed for an adoption of a child with special needs is $12,150 and the maximum credit allowed for other adoptions is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $12,150. The credit begins to phase out if you have modified adjusted gross income of $182,180 or more and is completely phased out if you have modified adjusted gross income of $222,180 or more. Please consult with your tax advisor or the IRS to determine your eligibility, as well as the many other tax related benefits associated with children.

Adoption Benefits Program for Florida State Employees
Section 110.152, Florida Statutes, authorizes monetary benefits to certain employees who adopt a child for whom permanent custody was with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services or to a Florida-licensed child-placing agency prior to adoption. Adoption of a Special Needs Child: A monetary benefit in the amount of $10,000 per child and of a Non-Special Needs Child: A monetary benefit in the amount of $5,000 per child. View their website by clicking here.

Life International
Life International helps Christian families remove the financial roadblock to adoption by offering matching grants, which encourage the adopting couple’s church family to financially and prayerfully support the adoption. They also offer interest-free loans. Visit their website at www.tmgfoundation.org.

Creative Adoption Consultants (CAC)
CAC is a Heart of Adoptions, Inc. agency partner that specializes in helping adoptive families create their own unique portfolio and/or dear birth parent letter. CAC offer design, editing, and critiquing or portfolios. They also offer tailor their fee structure to specifically meet the needs of Heart of Adoptions, Inc. families. Visit their website at www.creativeadoption.com or call 813-786-5467.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Brandon Crisis Pregnancy Center
The Brandon Pregnancy Center offers free pregnancy tests, information on adoption, abortions, help finding a place to live, supports groups, maternity/baby items, and counseling. Visit their website at http://www.cpc.org/brandon/ or call 813-654-0491.

Life for Kids
Life for Kids provides pregnancy, adoption and parenting services through the ministry of Gorman Family Life Center, Inc. Life for Kids provides support to birth mothers who have placed a child for adoption and those considering placing a child. The purpose of the group is to provide a setting where woman can gain peer support, general adoption information and post-adoption healing. Call 407-629-KIDS(5437) for more information.

The Pregnancy Resource Center
The Pregnancy Resource Center was founded in 1997 and provides a variety of fee services and programs to meet the needs of clients and the community. Some of their services include, but at not limited to, free pregnancy test, adoption support groups for birth mothers, child birth classes and a 24 hour hotline. Visit their website at http://www.pregnancyinfocenter.com/ or call 239-513-9775.

The Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families
The Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families, Inc. is a community-based, parent-driven organization that provides services and supports to meet the identified needs of children and the families that adopt them. Support groups, resource library, and respite are just a few of the services they offer. Visit their website at www.SylviaThomasCenter.org or call 813-651-3150.

TRAVEL

AngelFlight.org
Angel Flight West provides free transportation to medical treatment for people who cannot afford public transportation, or who cannot tolerate it for health reasons. Angel Flight West accepts requests from individuals or health care professionals such as social workers and physicians.

You can also call Angel Flight West toll- free at (888) 4-AN-ANGEL, or (888) 426-2643. If you need transportation outside the Western States, you can obtain a referral to another similar organization in your area by contacting Angel Flight America's National Patient Travel Center at (800) 296-1217, or visit their website at www.npath.org.

Protravel International Inc.
Contact Nancy Kay Streiter at nancykay@protravelinc.com or call toll-free at (800) 683 0720 for assistance with your travel needs. Be sure to mention your travel is adoption related to receive discounted rates. You may also visit Protravel’s website at www.protravelinc.com.