ADOPTION TIME

Washington Report
By Congressman Steny Hoyer
ST. MARY'S TODAY

November is the time of year that we look forward to the holiday season, a time that will be spent with our families and loved ones. Children have the right to be raised in an environment of safety and love with parents who will offer them support, protection and nurturing. Adoption for some children means a chance for a new future, one where the stability and love they need to reach their full potential is provided.

It is estimated that about 1 million children in the United States live with adoptive parents, and that between 2% and 4% of American families include an adopted child. There are currently more than 568,000 children in foster care, 118,000 of whom are awaiting an adoptive placement.

In fact, the majority of Americans are personally affected by adoption. In 1997, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute conducted a benchmark survey of 1,554 adults to examine public attitudes toward the institution of adoption and members of the adoption triad. The survey found that 6 in 10 Americans have had personal experience with adoption, meaning that they themselves, a family member, or a close friend was adopted, had adopted a child, or had placed a child for adoption.

Therefore, I think it is critical that I join in recognizing November as National Adoption Month to increase awareness of the importance of adoption. National Adoption Month was started in 1990; its purpose is to focus attention on the increasing number of children in the child welfare system waiting to be adopted. It is an opportunity for states, communities, public and private organizations, businesses, family and individuals to celebrate adoption as a positive way to build families. In addition, communities across the country came together on November 22

Congress has made federal tax credits available for foster care adoptions to help offset the expenses of the adoption process. A federal adoption tax credit, which came into effect this year, meant the amount of credit has increased from $6,000 to $10,000 for all adoptive families. Adoption is a very costly endeavor and making the adoption tax credit permanent will make it more financially feasible for families to adopt. For more information about this tax credit, you can visit: [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/page/0,,id%3D16260,00.html].

In addition, Congress has also expanded the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, which encourages adoption at the local level and supports adoptive families with services that ease a child’s transition into a new family and help to strengthen the family.

A few years ago, the U.S. Postal Service released the Adoption Stamp, giving anyone mailing a letter the opportunity to use correspondence as a vehicle to spread the positive adoption message. Wide use of this stamp is an important way to let people know that over 100,000 children across the nation are waiting to be adopted.

It is extremely important to continue to encourage adoption. We must strengthen our efforts to provide a loving and permanent home for children in need of a stable environment where they can grow and be nurtured. I call on Marylanders to be conscious of those children who are in need of a stable, loving home. National Adoption Awareness Month presents an opportunity to learn more about the adoption process and to become aware of the need of tens of thousands of children who are looking for permanent homes.

If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent, you can contact the Maryland Department of Human Resources at the following address. They will be more than happy to discuss with you the process of training and approval of your home.

Maryland Dept. of Human Resources [http://www.dhr.state.md.us/how/chldprnt/adoption.htm]

Social Services Administration

311 W. Saratoga Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

410-767-7506