“Bottom line is, even if you see them coming, you're not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does.
So, what are we, helpless? Puppets? Nah. The big moments are gonna come, you can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's
when you find out who you are." - Joss Whedon

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Share Your Story and Learn More about iChooseAdoption

Share Your Story


Dear Friend of Adoption,
We invite you to share your adoption story with us so that we can raise awareness about the positive option of adoption through our all-new iChooseAdoption campaign. Your video and/or written testimonial may appear on NCFA’s brand new iChooseAdoption.org website, launching later this month!
You might be a birthparent, adopted person, or a parent by adoption. We want to hear from all members of the adoption triad so that young women facing unintended pregnancy can gain multiple perspectives from real people about the positive option of adoption.
You can submit a written testimonial by clicking here, or e-mail us a video testimonial to Lauren Koch at: lkoch@adoptioncouncil.org with the subject line “Adoption Video Testimonial.” Include one or two photos of yourself/your family for inclusion in your video. You can even submit a written testimonialAND a video testimonial (please be sure to review the video guidelines below).
Video Guidelines
1. Please take a moment to watch the following video testimonials, previously submitted to NCFA:
  • Birthmother: Click here to watch “All You Need is Love”
  • Adopted Person: Click here to watch “Thankful to my Birthmother”
  • Adoptive Parent: Click here to watch “My Daughter’s Adoption Story”
2. Files should be in .mov (preferred) or .wmv format
3. Video length should not exceed 90 seconds
4. Do not add music and/or audio files or tracks to your video
Check for good lighting, sound quality and minimize background noise
5. Use positive, affirming words about adoption. Profanity, inflammatory, derogatory, and/or judgmental language will not be tolerated.

Questions?
Feel free to call or email Lauren Koch if you have any questions at (703) 299-6633 or lkoch@adoptioncouncil.org.
Important
By submitting your video testimonial, you give NCFA permission to use, reproduce, and publish your video to promote the cause of adoption. NCFA will title your story, add background music, and include a closing frame directing viewers to iChooseAdoption.org.




Sneak peek! Here's the all-new iChooseAdoption.org
Share Your Story webpage
All-New iChooseAdoption Share Your Story Webpage

To learn more about NCFA’s all-new iChooseAdoption campaign, click here.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Tax Credit Info - Thanks Bethany Christian Services for sharing this great news!

You did it! You helped to extend the Adoption Tax Credit!Congress included an extension of the Adoption Tax Credit in the "fiscal cliff" budget negotiations! Many details are still unknown, but we know of three significant changes:
  1. The Adoption Tax Credit is extended permanently.
  2. The Credit is set at $12,000 rather than the $6,000 that it was set to revert to for adoption of domestic children with special placement needs.
  3. As far as we know, the credit will apply to all adoptions, as it did previously.
We are awaiting final definitions from the IRS regarding eligibility for the credit. More details of the American Taxpayer Relief Act are available here. This is the form to complete for your 2012 taxes: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8839.pdf.