Here we go again . . .

Originally Posted By TammyHi Pat!I'm sorry it has taken me so long to resond to your post. I have been thinking about my response as well as having 3 tee ball/baseball games in the interim! : )You are not "off topic" at all. Finances are one of the first hurdles families must overcome to adopt. Sadly, it is also one that stops most families before they even start. I'm glad you are researching your options. You may just have the persistence necessary to complete an adoption! : ) International adoption CAN be very expensive, as high as over $30,000 I've heard. Our two adoptions, however, have been under $10,000 each including everything from homestudy to travel/escort. If that still seems out of reach, don't give up. There are a variety of things that can help reduce that amount.1. Special needs adoptions often have significantly reduced fees. Special needs can include physical needs (from very minor to more significant), siblings, or even age of child.2. There is also a $5000 federal tax credit that many people new to adoption are not aware of. Note: that is a CREDIT not merely a deduction! There is an income cap to receive the full credit, but that may even change soon with new legislation. For more info go to under Hope for the Children Act. 3. Also Ohio has a Non-Recurring Adoption Expenses Reimbursement for special needs adoptions up to $2000. This includes international adoptions. I would think other states might have something similar.4. Airline Ambassadors International can help with travel/escort expenses by escorting your child home. They volunteer to use their access to free air travel for escorting. All you pay, I believe, is their expenses while gone as well as your child's airfare. If you've checked international plane fares, that is quite a help! You can learn more at5. There are adoption grants available through National Adoption Foundation. Their website is6. If you're Jewish, there are interest-free adoption loans available. See7. A Child Waits also provides low interest loans, 7% I believe, for adoption. There website is8. If you own your home, a home equity loan is also an option.9. Some companies also support their employees in adoption by contibuting funds, most contribute about $2000.I hope some of this helps. I'll be glad to try to answer any other questions you have. I wish you well with your adoption pursuit. It is definitely worth the challenges!Tammy

Originally Posted By MarTammy,You mentioned that the cost of your adoptions was about $10,000. Was this for Romania? I keep hearing 16 - 17k. What agency did you use? Were you able to get the costs down because of grants? I hope I'm not being too personal. It's just that this can be a lot of money and I want to do my research so I know what I'm getting into.

Originally Posted By TammyMar,Our first adoption was from South Korea 3 years ago. Our current adoption is from Romania through Tree of Life Adoption in Oregon. Our total cost will be about $10,000 including everything from homestudy to travel/escort. Our international fee as well as our agency fee were reduced because of our daughter's special needs.In order to pay a portion of the $10,000, we are seeking reimbursement of non-recurring adoption expenses from the state of Ohio ($2000). If our salary qualified us, we could also get a federal tax credit for adoption ($6000 or $5000 for a child with no identified special needs). Also we may use Airline Ambassadors International as our escort, thus reducing our escort fee by the amount of the escort's plane fare (at least $1000). Therefore if an Ohio resident with a salary less than $75,000 were to complete our current adoption, it could cost them only about $1000! Even though we don't qualify for all these credits, it will only cost us about $7000 which is not too bad for international adoption. And if the Hope for Children Act passes, increasing the salary cap for the tax credit, our outlay would be decreased accordingly.I did look into the grants, but did not receive one. I didn't think we would get one considering our salary bracket, but that did not automatically disqualify us nor did it keep me from trying! : ) It may work for you.One more word for those who think special needs children will cost them more upon their arrival home. Insurance MUST cover your adopted child at placement for adoption just as they would a birth child at birth, thus making the medical costs not seem so scary. Also the Shriner's hospitals give free medical care to those they can help. I believe their specialty is orthopedic problems which includes our new daughter's special need.I hope some of this helps. If you have any more questions, please ask. Tammy

Originally Posted By JoanieHi Tammy,I just stumbled into this site while researching the whole adoption idea, which is fairly new for me (since reading an article about Romanian children living on the streets). Anyway, could you tell me the approximate cost of your adoptions, and how you "learn about" certain kids available for adoption. I too have 3 biological children, and I would not rule out adopting a child with some special needs.Thanks!

Originally Posted By kathyI'm just starting to look into Romanian adoption. Could you please tell me how you select your child when they are escorted to you. Do u select a child from a photo? Do you just give the age you want and let the qagency select for you? I am still new to this process. My husband and I are thinking about a brother and sister from Romania. Thanks so much for all your help, Kathy

Originally Posted By CatWe are going to Romania to pick up our child as well. We are just waiting to hear when the court date will be. I would love to hear your experience and mabey ask some questions. Please Email me at harris@airswitch.net.Thank you.Harris

Originally Posted By KandeeTammy, are you happy with Tree of Life Adoption? I am looking at agencies, as a single (divorced) female.

Originally Posted By kimberleyI know you have quited your prices as very low and I am wondering the agency you went through for the korean adoption and now the romanian adoption. Thanks and God bless you for your time and committment you put into helping those of us in the beginning stages of this process through this board. If you don't mind I would love to hear the differences your faced in both adoptions . We are trying to decide between korea and romania. Thanks

As you can tell I am very new to this...I know you have quoted your prices as very low and I am wondering the agency you went through for the korean adoption and now the romanian adoption. Thanks and God bless you for your time and committment you put into helping those of us in the beginning stages of this process through this board. If you don't mind I would love to hear the differences your faced in both adoptions . We are trying to decide between korea and romania. Thanks

Originally Posted By kimberleyI know you have quited your prices as very low and I am wondering the agency you went through for the korean adoption and now the romanian adoption. Also, any info on the 10,000 tax cedit and the 5,000 credit that Leslie posted about earlier? Thanks and God bless you for your time and committment you put into helping those of us in the beginning stages of this process through this board. If you don't mind I would love to hear the differences your faced in both adoptions . We are trying to decide between korea and romania. Thanks

Originally Posted By DanaMy name is Dana, I live in Europe, I am twenty-eight years age and I am pregnant.I have already two admirable children: a young girl and a boy of school ages.I am without employment however that my husband has had for some weeks in consequence of an accident of car.Thus, one would be very difficult that I preserve the pregnancy.However, the religion and my conscience advise me that I do not fall through.By consequent, I chose that I seek for my child who starts has to live an adoptive family. I want very much that this family that it is able to offer happiness to my child.Is it possible that you are this family?If you want this thing strongly, you send a message to the address: pregmami@yahoo.comP.S. My doctor says me that the baby moves very well.

hi, my name is stacey and i live in tarpon springs,fl usa.First i would like to say that i am sorry to here about your mishap,but i am also very happy to here that you were blessed with 2 beautiful and healthy children.my husband and i have wanted another child to be a brother or sister to my 4 year old son..i had great difficulty conceiving him and had in vitro fertilization.he was a twin,but i lost the other baby in my 9th week of pregnancy.my son is one of the happiest children i know.we don't know how to give him any more love than we already do.He is overwelmed with love and affection!!you could not find a happier more loving home than ours.please E-mail me back with some of your backround

Originally Posted By Jana TaylorMy husband and I have 1 son but are interested in adopting a child from an internation adoption agency. When we first looked in to this we were quoted around $27,000.00 for adoption. That has kept us from looking forward into another avenues. Can you please provide me with some type of starting place to get information? We don't know where to start! Thank you for your help!

Originally Posted By tammyhi,my name is josie,my husband an i are just starting out here on our jurney to adopt,could you please e mail me anny advise at all in helping us to get started,we are overwelmed,thank you josielittlesis0758@hotmail.com

Originally Posted By toniaI was just wondering how to start an adoption in romania ,where do I begin. we just found out today that our ivf has possibly failed. we only have one egg that fertilized. i find out tomorrow. i cannot bear to go through this again. i would like to adopt. any help you can give me would be appreciated. my email is nursr1@yahoo.comthankstonia