ADOPTION TRAINING

Hey everyone! 

Though most of the adoption training is now done online, there are some things about the process that are simply better in person.  On May 16th, FSA and LDS Family Services will be hosting a class about Infertility & Loss.  In the past, this has been the most helpful class for couples in our series.  If you only attend one class in-person, let this be the one.  Not only will it provide comforting & useful insight into the unique situations that our couples find themselves in, it is also a great way to get to know the adoption case workers & other couples, in all stages of the adoption process.  Please join us on Thursday, May 16th from 6:30-8:00 pm at the LDSFS building, located at:

4455 Allen Lane, Suite 3
North Las Vegas, NV 89031
702-385-1072

Also, for those of you who are interested in what FSA is all about or who are wanting to do something to help spread the word about adoption (& thereby helping find more perspective birthmothers), please join us at 6:00 that evening for a brief meeting. 

Hope to see you there!!

Birthmother Panel- THURSDAY, MARCH 7

Hey everyone!

We are excited to be hosting a birthmother panel this Thursday, March 7th at 6:30 pm at LDS Family Services. Though many of our classes are now offered online, the birthmother panel has always been a favorite. There is a special spirit and message that is unique to each panel & we encourage everyone to attend. We will be introducing some new birthmoms that would love the support of the adoption community as they reach out to share their story of adoption = it's about love.

Hope to see you soon!

Help us pass SB 133 "Responsible Father Act"

Please forward to anyone who can help us support the NV Putative/Responsible Father Registry.
Thank you!!
- - - - - - -

Dear adoption friends,

We are in urgent need of emails and phone calls to our NV State Senators in behalf of Senate Bill SB 113 which is going to be heard Tuesday morning at 8:00 am. This is the Responsible Father Registry (formerly known as the Putative Father Registry) bill sponsored this legislative session by adoptive father and Senator Scott Hammond that will establish a registry for birth fathers in the state of Nevada. We need your stated support of the bill. Please contact your Senator to let him or her know that you are in favor of this bill.

Emails are encouraged that are brief and to the point and in your own words. It is helpful to explain your connection with adoption; for example: "I am an adoptive father/mother of two children and am in support of SB 113 because..." or "I am a prospective adoptive parent (Grandparent)..."

Highlights:  SB 113 protects the rights of biological fathers by allowing them to privately claim their intentions in regard to parenting and reduce adoption and placement disruptions for children and prospective adoptive parents.

Read the bill in detail at http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Bills/SB/SB113.pdf

Senators on Judiciary Committee:
Justin Jones  Justin.Jones@sen.state.nv.us
Aaron Ford  Aaron.Ford@sen.state.nv.us
Ruben Kihuen  Ruben.Kihuen@sen.state.nv.us
Tick Segerblom tsegerblom@sen.state.nv.us
Greg Brower  Greg.Brower@sen.state.nv.us
Mark Hutchinson  Mark.Hutchison@sen.state.nv.us
Scott Hammond  Scott.Hammond@sen.state.nv.us

There is an excellent search engine on the NV Legislative website for more information. You can search for your representatives using your address or track legislative bills, ect. at http://www.leg.state.nv.us/.  You can also watch the hearing online.

We expect the bill to pass the Senate with your support.  We will be gearing up for a tougher fight when this bill reaches the Assembly, where it has failed to pass in the past.  We will be asking for live testimony when we get to that point.

Thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of adoption! 
Please forward this email to friends and family who would be willing to contact our Senators as well.

Sincerely and Excitedly,

Amy


Amy Turner, MSW, LSW
LDS Family Services, NV
Services for Children Caseworker
702.385.1072

Adoption News-- TAX CREDIT

rth American Council on Adoptable Children

Adoption Tax Credit Is Made Permanent The legislation to avoid the fiscal cliff (the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, signed into law on January 2) included a provision that made the adoption tax credit permanent. Unfortunately it did not make the adoption credit refundable, so it will only benefit those adoptive families who have federal income tax liability. For 2013, we believe the maximum adoption credit and exclusion will be slightly higher than the 2012 maximum of $12,650. The credit will begin to phase out for families with modified adjusted gross incomes above a certain level (around $190,000) and the credit will go away completely for those with incomes around $230,000. (Exact numbers for the maximum credit and income guidelines have yet to be releaesed.) For 2013 and beyond, the credit will remain flat for special needs adoptions, meaning that those who adopt children from the U.S. who receive adoption assistance/adoption subsidy benefits can claim the maximum credit regardless of their expenses. For other adoptions (except for step-parent adoptions), parents can claim the credit based on their qualified adoption expenses. NACAC is deeply disappointed Congress did not make the adoption tax credit refundable for 2012 or future years, and will continue to advocate for refundability in the future. We will keep you posted on these advocacy efforts. Even though the credit isn't refundable for 2012, we encourage those who adopted in 2012 to submit a Form 8839 with their 2012 taxes even if they do not have tax liability. Although they will not receive an adoption credit refund with their 2012 taxes, the credit can be carried forward up to five additional years. Families might benefit later if either their tax situation changes or the credit is made refundable in the future, and then wouldn't have to amend their 2012 taxes. Russia Bans Adoptions from the U.S. On January 1, Russia's ban on adoptions by U.S. families went into effect. Many children who were in the process of being adopted are caught in limbo, and the State Department is warning families to be careful and communicate with Russian authorities as they proceed. Last year about 1,000 Russian children were adopted by U.S. families. View the State Department's alert Learn more Tip Sheet Helps Parents Talk to Children about Adoption The Kinship Center createdYour Child's Story: Tips from an Adoptive Parent,a tip sheet written by an adoptive mother who does training about adoption. Some tips include: Start talking to your child about adoption from a very early age Be truthful and honest in your discussions without replacing missing facts Reach out to other adoptive parents, significant other, or adoption professionals for support Recognize your own biases and areas of discomfort concerning adoption issues Take good care of your physical and emotional health as you allow a child to express his grief Download the tip sheet New Report Highlights Effect of the Internet on Adoption The Donaldson Adoption Institute has released its first report in a multi-year research project on the effect of the internet and social media on adoption. Untangling the Web: The Internet's Transformative Impact on Adoption finds that adoption is increasingly commodified, finding birth relatives is easier and more commonplace, and there is a growing amount of useful information on adoption and children and youth who need families. Read the report New Site Helps Adoptive Parents Find Resources and Support Adoption Learning Partners recently introduced Adoption Parenting Pathways (APP), which adoptive parents can use to find local and online resources to meet their family's needs. The site allows individuals to search for workshops, therapists, support groups, and other resources in their area or online. Professionals can use it to find helpful support for the families they work with. The site will continue to grow with additional resources added regularly. Visit the site

Save the Adoption Tax Credit

North American Council on Adoptable Children

Please Act! Use Your Voice While Congress Is at Home: Ask Your Two U.S. Senators to Cosponsor S. 3616 and Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor H.R. 4373 As you probably know, if Congress does not act to extend the federal adoption tax credit (ATC) this year, the tax credit as we now know it will expire on December 31, 2012. Members of Congress are back in their home districts until Tuesday, Novmber 13. We encourage you to use this opportunity to reach out to them about the adoption tax credit. Right now, it’s imperative to engage your legislators about this issue — through a meeting, an e-mail, a phone call, or social media post — so that Members feel pressure to keep the adoption tax credit a part of any deal that moves in the lame duck session of Congress (after the election). How powerful would it be if Congress came back to Washington, D.C. in November and the Making Adoptions Affordable Act had 50 cosponsors on the Senate bill (S. 3616) and 200 cosponsors on the House bill (H.R. 4373)? It would send a strong message of support and show the adoption tax credit is important to many children and families. With your help, this goal is achievable. What can you do? Please e-mail, call, or post and ask your legislators to sign on to the Making Adoptions Affordable Act. Be sure to: Ask both of your two U.S. Senators to cosponsor S. 3616 (find your Senators) Ask your one Representative to cosponsor H.R. 4373 (find your Representative) We have asample e-mail letter andhelpful factsheet you can send to your Senators and Representative. If you'd rather reach out by phone, call the Capitol Operator at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to each of your legislators' office (you'll have to call back each time). When you reach each office, ask to speak to the legislative assistant who handles adoption or tax issues. You can also reach out to legislators through Twitter and Facebook to make your voice heard. When will this be considered in Congress? The adoption tax credit is likely to be included in a package of other tax credits that are set to expire, and we expect such a package to be considered by Congress sometime after the election. At this time, it is uncertain whether Congress will consider including the refundable provision of the credit in an extension at the end of the year. We are working hard to get refundability included and need your help to show Members of Congress that refundability helps foster care adoption and lower- to middle-income tax filers. Learn more about the adoption tax credit Stay up to date on adoption tax credit advocacy by joining us on Facebook

Pancake and Pajama Party!

It is once again time for our annual pancake breakfast!

 

Join us Saturday November 17th from 9-11 am at 3350 W. Alexander Rd.

Bring the entire family and enjoy a great breakfast with people who support adoption.

 

There will be a bounce house for the kids and tons of fun!

 

Come in your most comfy pajamas and support us, as this year, we are donating pajamas for kids in need to Nevada Division of Child and Family Services. Please bring a new pair of pajamas, of elementary school age sizes, to help keep the kids warm this winter.

 

 

 

 

We would appreciate help from any FSA member, past and present, to bring one item of fruites or beverages to share:

  

If your last name starts with A-M, please bring a beverage.

If your last name starts with N-Z, please bring fruites.

SW Regional Conference Nov 2-3 Schedule

Here's a link to register for the FSA SW Regional Conference November 2-3 in Mesa Arizona!  The schedule is finally posted and there is a copy of it below.  All those who plan to attend will need to register on this site.  We hope to see you there!!!

http://www.southwestfsa.com/index.htm

 

 

 

 

Friday Night Carnival

6 - 8 pm in the Cultural Hall

*Tentative Saturday Conference Schedule

	Room 102	Choir Room	Room 203	Room 103	Rooms 201 & 202	Room 101
8:00-8:30	Registration & Continental Breakfast - Cultural Hall
8:30-9:00	Musical Number & Keynote Speaker - Chapel
9:10-10:00	Adoption Basics (AF)	Talking to Your Children About Adoption (AF)	Raising a "Blended" Family (AF)	Transracial Adoption (AF)	Who, When and How to Tell Your Story (BF)	Foster Care Adoption Panel (AF)
10:10-11:00	AZ Adoption Law (AF)	Adoption for Men (AF only - men only)	Parenting and the Birds and the Bees (AF)	Incorporating Your Child's Culture (AF)	Planning a Post-Placement Life (BF)	Special Needs Adoption Panel (AF)
11:10-12:30	Birth Parent Panel - Chapel
12:30-1:30	Lunch - Cultural Hall
1:30-2:20	Making Informed Decisions About Your Preference Checklist (AF)	Avoiding Adoption Fraud and Scams (AF)	Identity and the Adopted Child / Lifebooks (AF)	Real Talk: Embracing the Black Child (AF)	Top Ways to Have a Better Open Adoption (BF)	Adult Adoptee Panel (AF, BF)
2:30-3:20	Finding Your Happily Ever After (AF)	Top Ways to Have Better Open Adoption (AF)	Talking to Your Children About Adoption (AF)	African American Skin & Hair Care (AF)	Grief and Healing (BF only)	International Adoption Panel (AF)
3:30-4:20	Networking (AF)	Adoption Advocacy (AF)	Bonding & Attachment (AF)	Transracial Adoption Panel (AF)	So I Married a Birth Mother(BF)	Whole Story Panel (AF, BF)
4:30-5:00	Closing and Raffle - Cultural Hall

Codes indicate the target audience for each session, however, attendees may attend any session they wish, unless otherwise specified.
BF - Birth Families
AF - Adoptive Families

FREE Adoption Training Boot Camp

Hey Everyone!

We are excted about the new online adoption education & the ease & convenience it will add to the adoption process. Though we will still be having adoption classes/panels on a quarterly basis, they will no longer count towards your required education. Before this new policy goes in to effect, we are offering a FREE 3-night Adoption Training Boot Camp. They will ALL begin at 7:00 p.m. and will ALL be held at LDS Family Services and WILL count toward your education hours. Here is the schedule of classes:

Tuesday September 25, 2012 "Ask the Professionals" This class will be taught by several of the professionals that are involved inthe adoption process, including Jean Marie (adoption caseworker), Todd Moody (adoption lawyer), Steve Waldron (will discuss the adoption tax credit,etc), and the Ignatowiczes (Families Supporting Adoption). Please come & bring all your questions.

Wedneday September 26, 2012 "Meet the Ellsworths and Hammonds" Chad and Amy Ellsworth are in the process of adopting a sibling group of 3 through the county after 4 private adoptions through LDSFS. Trent Hammond (adult adoptee) is a recently returned missionary who met his birthmother just before his mission, then came home to meet his birthfather.

Thursday September 27, 2012 "Birthparent Panel"

Thank you for your support- we hope to see you ALL there (especially those of you who want to save $260 on classes and those with a few education hours left)!!

IMPORTANT EDUCATION CHANGES

We have some exciting changes with adoption education that have just been made & will begin October 1, 2012 across the nation.  Here is the letter we received from LDS Family Services:

Dear Adoptive Applicant,

We are pleased to announce that LDS Family Services has partnered with Adoption Learning Partners (“ALP”) (adoptionlearningpartners.org), to provide pre-adoption training for all LDS Family Services couples. Adoption Learning Partners offers an array of interactive, e-learning courses that are designed to increase each person's understanding of the joys and challenges of adoption. We believe that this new training approach offers many benefits:

* Training workshops can be taken anytime, anywhere.

* Greater variety of interactive training workshops.

* Lifetime access to completed training workshops.

Effective October 1st, 2012, LDS Family Services will no longer provide pre-adoption training with the exception of the agency orientation training. All new prospective adoptive couples seeking services from LDS Family Services will be required to receive agency orientation training and complete the ALP training that has been designated by LDS Family Services. This training consists of four (4) designated two (2) hour courses and one (1) elective course, to be selected by the prospective adoptive parents.1 This training must be completed before a couple may include their profile on the agency’s It’s About Love Website.

The Adoption Learning Partners’ fee for the new client training program is $129.00 per person. Each person must register and take the courses individually. Training certificates will only be issued to individuals and not couples. Couples must provide copies of their training certificates to LDS Family Services.

Current LDS Family Services clients that have not completed their 10 hour training requirement by October 1, 2012, may select any ALP training course(s), including webinars, to complete their training.2

If you have questions, please contact your case worker.

NEW Girls Night Out Activity

Girls Night Out has been rescheduled.  Please join us:

Sat. OCTOBER 13th - Girls Night Out at 5 pm

Macaroni Grill (Best of the West Shopping Center-95 & Rainbow) to have dinner and girl time.

RSVP via evite or with Jen Cisneros at 702-423-8665.  If there are no "YES" RSVPs by Friday, October 12th, we will not know you are coming and the event will be cancelled.

Mark Your calendars for our upcoming activities!

Sat. July 21- 80s Family Movie Night at 5 pm
Josh & Liz Ignatowicz's house (289 Great Gable Dr, 89183). There is a gate code so if you are coming, please call Cris at 379-0343 for the code. We will be watching Ghostbusters and Goonies. Pizza and Salad will be provided. Please bring your favorite movie snack to share.

**NOTE: CHANGE IN DATE**
Sat. August 18- Girl's Night Out at 5 pm
Macaroni Grill (Best of the West Shopping Center-95 & Rainbow) to have dinner and girl time.

Adoption Class

Hey everyone!  Our June Adoption Class will be held this Thursday, June 28th from 7:00-8:30 at LDS Family Services Building, 4455 Allen Lane, Suite #130.  The topic is Finding vs. Waiting & Open Adoption.  Hope to see you there!

TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION

Hey everyone!

A few reminders....

First, our adoption calss for may is Transracial Adoption, taught by the fabulous Amy Turner. Amy is a counselor at LDSFS who has adopted transracially herself and is exceptionally insightful & knowledgable.  This is a wonderful class for those starting the process, or for those who have already adopted. Join us at LDS Family Services this Thursday, May 24th at 7:00 pm.

Next, our FSA Committee Meeting will be held directly before the Transracial Adoption class, from 6-7:00 at LDSFS. Pleas join us to learn all about what the FSA is doing to help in the adoption community & to get involved.

Thanks-- hope to see you Thursday!!

Birth Mother Panel

Hey everyone!  Just a quick reminder that LDS Family Services and the FSA are hosting a Birth Mother Panel this Thursday, April 26th at 7:00 pm at LDS Family Services Building, 4455 Allen Lane, Suite #130. This is one of our most wonderful, insightful, touching classes & whether you are considering adoption, hoping to adopt for the first time, or just someone who loves adoption, we hope you'll join us.

Especially For Families, a Workshop

The FSA is hosting a workshop, entitled "Especially For Families" on Saturday, April 28th from 1:00- 4:00 at the 3400 W. Charleston Chapel (Charleston & I-15). Classes will be taught by experts in their fields & include:

Timeless Principles of Financial Security

Strenthening Your Marriage

Tough Kid Techniques

Raising Positive, Confident Teens

Parenting Skills

Adoption 101

Please join us as we rise to the call to set our houses in order & raise our kids in truth & light.

(Nursery will be provided)

Photo Op!

Attention ALL parents of adopted children!! This Saturday, April 7th, the FSA is hosting a photoshoot for an adoption book to be used in outreach projects. The session will be from 4:00- 6:00 at Discovery Park by the Henderson Multigen Center. Girls please wear pink & boys please wear blue for our kids group photo shot. Please RSVP to nevadafsa@gmail.com if you can make it. The more the merrier, hope to see you there!

March Adoption Class

There is a change in the Date/Time for our March adoption class. It will be held on WEDNESDAY, March 28th at 7:00 pm at LDS Family Services. This month, the class will be about Infertility & Medical Issues/Questions/Concerns with adoption. We have some great speakers & it is a great opportunity to get to know the other adopting couples, the FSA members, and your case worker. Everyone is also invited to join the FSA Committee meeting that evening at 6:00 pm. Hope to see you all there!

TAX TIME

It is that time of year again... TAX TIME!

We ALL know and/or have heard about the complicated and very stressful situation with filing for the adoption tax credit that many people had to deal with last year.... We want to help you avoid that situation!

HERE is a great website that gives you step by step help and instructions and tips on how to avoid long delays on your refund and how to navigate through the process.

Hope it helps and GOOD LUCK!

Where's the BEEF?

Do you want to own this awesome shirt? Do you want to help get a kid out of foster care and into a forever family? You can do both by purchasing this shirt....

Proceeds from every shirt sold go to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption! Go HERE and see how you can help.

The following message is posted on the National FSA blog. If you are interested in trying to help advocate for keeping the Adoption Tax Credit (by writing a letter or making a phone call), please read the directions below.

Grassroots Advocacy Kit on the Adoption Tax Credit Now Available from NCFA

The National Council For Adoption (NCFA), a longtime supporter of the adoption tax credit, joins fellow adoption and child welfare advocates in calling for the extension of the adoption tax credit for families adopting children via foster care, intercountry, or domestic infant adoption.
Since the adoption tax credit was first established in 1997, it has helped lessen the financial burden of adoption for thousands of income-qualifying American families that might not otherwise have been able to adopt.

The current maximum allowable adoption tax credit of $13,360 for all adoptive families is set to sunset on December 31, 2012.Unless Congress acts to extend or make permanent the adoption tax credit, it will revert at this time to a maximum of $6,000 for parents adopting children with special needs. No tax credit will be available to other adoptive parents.

“Without the adoption tax credit, many families that are willing and hoping to adopt will find themselves unable to afford it. And many families that adopt despite the loss of the tax credit will find it more difficult to provide for their children if they have assumed significant debt in order to adopt,” says Chuck Johnson. “The adoption tax credit must be extended in order to support adoptive parents and help as many children as possible find love and permanency through adoption.”

Download NCFA's Adoption Tax Credit Advocacy Kit

This new advocacy kit from NCFA will help you educate policymakers, members of the media, and others on the importance of extending the adoption tax credit to promote permanency for children. The advocacy kit contains a backgrounder on the adoption tax credit, a letter that can be used as a template to email or write to members of Congress, a talking points guide for phone calls with legislators’ offices, a sample newspaper opinion editorial or letter to the editor, and further ways to join NCFA in our advocacy for the adoption tax credit and other important policies. All resources in NCFA’s new Adoption Tax Credit Advocacy Kit can be downloaded from our website,http://e2.ma/click/ci8h/smqnz/whh4b.

FSA National Board Member Brian Anderson reported, "I clicked on the advocacy link. They have sample letters, phone scripts and general info in order to advocate for the extension of the Adoption Tax Credit. It made it so simple to write them, that I just completed writing [my congressmen]. Now everyone else do the same!! Very easy."Go to http://www.house.gov/ And type in your zip code to find your CongressmanGo to http://www.senate.gov/ and goto the drop-down box that says Find Your Senator. Click Go and and then Choose your state on the next page.

STAY INFORMED

To receive important news and alerts on the adoption tax credit, sign up here.

SHARE

We encourage you to print, copy, share, and disseminate the Adoption Tax Credit Advocacy Kit with others to increase the impact we can make together.

**To visit the National FSA blog, click:

http://www.familiessupportingadoption.blogspot.com/