President Bush Signs Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (HR 6893) into Law

President George W. Bush signed the bipartisan Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (HR 6893) into law on Tuesday, October 7. This bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Representative Jerry Weller (R-IL). Senator Baucus (D-MT), Senator Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Rockefeller (D-WV) championed the bill in the Senate.

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 is the most significant legislation relating to adoption and foster care since the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. It provides for a wide array of reforms to benefit children and their interest in adoption. These reforms include: - Reauthorizing the Adoption Incentives Program, whereby the federal government allocates financial rewards to states that have increased the number of children adopted from their foster care system, through 2013;

- Increasing the award amounts states stand to receive through the Adoption Incentives Program by establishing 2007 as the new “base year” against which future performance will be measured, and increasing the bonuses for special needs and older child adoptions;

- Ensuring all children with special needs adopted out of foster care are eligible for federal adoption assistance regardless of family income by 2018;

- Mandating that states inform prospective adoptive parents regarding eligibility for the adoption tax credit;

- Requiring states to make reasonable efforts to place siblings together;

- Establishing relative guardianship assistance payments in a way that does not create incentives for relative guardianship over adoption; and

- Allowing states the option of extending adoption assistance, foster care maintenance and relative guardianship assistance payments to children aged 18, 19 or 20.

NCFA thanks Representatives McDermott and Weller, and Senators Baucus, Grassley, and Rockefeller for spearheading this much-needed effort to reform the child welfare system.

Get Walkin'!

The air is getting crisp and fall has arrived. Time now for the 3rd Annual Adoption Walk With Me! Come join other adoption loving families and advocates for a 5k walk around beautiful Liberty Park near downtown SLC. Breakfast snacks, raffle items and a good time are provided at no cost!

Come be 'anxiously engaged in a good cause'! If we don't speak up about adoption... who will? Spread the word to all adoptive families!

See you November 8th at 9.30a.m. at Liberty Park(1300 south 600 east, SLC) Bring your family! Bring your friends! The more the merrier!

Make sure to wear some orange! ''Orange' you glad for Adoption!'

For more information adoptionwalk@hotmail.com or http://orangeyougladforadoption.blogspot.com

The More the Merrier!

Join us on the new FSA website! Sign in as a new user (even if you are an old one!) Get registered! You will find out about activities, education, etc.! Join the largest volunteer group on adoption! Spread the word to others!

www.familiessupportingadoption.org

Sign up today!

I'm plannin' on it....

One last final push to get more to join in FSA planning for Salt Lake! Come join others on the Salt Lake FSA board at a planning/ BBQ meeting tomorrow night at the Anderson's home (Christine, Brian and little man BAJA) Come share you talents and skills and willingness to serve. You will be blessed beyond your imagination. By serving on the board I have learned so much more about adoption that I could never have learned in a class. I have made such great friendships that have helped during the hard times. You join others facing the same uncertainty and you find a way to come out conquerer. Don't just sit around. Get moving... or in this case... Get planning! (and eating...)

To quote P.T Barnum "Without promotion something terrible happens... Nothing!" Let's get the word out about adoption!

SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6.30 P.M.!

Great deal...

FSA National Conference...

What a great conference this year! We missed you but loved every minute of it all. Thank you for everyone's effort. We are taking a little break 'till summer, but will be up and going soon. Enjoy your last couple of weeks of summer!

FSA National Conference...

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