International Adoption Guide

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Hello everyone!

Our desire to adopt has been on hold for the past 4 years due to wrong financial investments and the economy. Hence, we, the family and I, have started a fundraising effort to help us get started. Please visit http:/www.alyssashope.com.

If you go to our online store, we’ve come up with adoption related products as a fundraiser. $5.00 per item comes back to us to help with the adoption effort. I’m sure you will find something that you may want to purchase.

If you would like to just donate any amount, please just go to the front page as we are using PayPal to keep track of the donations.

Also, keep an eye out in the “Events” section. We will be posting events to help us adopt.

Than you in advance for reading and my God bless and keep you from harm.

Regards,

Lisa, Bill and Will

Well, November is National Adoption Month for the U.S. and I have to tell you there are so many different events happening to keep Adoption in the forefront. Weather it be through International or Domestic Adoptions, “forever families” experience the joys of “being” a family.

Adoption no longer carries the stigma of a bad thing but rather a choice to have a family for whatever reason. Our family is no different. We have been touched already by the adoption process for our son and are looking to expand our family by adopting a daughter from Russia.

National adoption DAY, where several adoptions are finalized in one day across the country, is November 21, 2009 this year.

The President of the United States always makes a proclamation to announce that November is National Adoption Month. Here is the Presidential Proclamation 2008.:

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A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

During National Adoption Month, we recognize the compassion of adoptive and foster families as we seek to raise awareness of the need for every child in America to have a safe, loving, and permanent home.

Adopting a child is a great joy and also a great responsibility. Parents are a child’s first teachers, and adoptive families can help children learn character and values, the importance of giving back to their community and country, and the courage to realize their potential. On November 15, caring parents across our Nation will celebrate National Adoption Day by finalizing their adoptions and bringing home children in need of a hopeful life.

My Administration is committed to helping young people find the love, stability, and support that a family can provide. We have joined with community and faith-based organizations to raise public awareness of foster children awaiting adoption. With the help of the Congress, we are assisting families in overcoming the financial barriers to adopting children through programs such as the Adoption Incentives Program. In addition, the Collaboration to AdoptUsKids project, which can be found at adoptuskids.org, provides guidance and resources for parents exploring adoption.

During National Adoption Month, we honor adoptive and foster parents who have shown America the depth and kindness of the human heart. Their love and dedication inspire the next generation of Americans to achieve their dreams and demonstrate the true spirit of our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2008 as National Adoption Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities to honor adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH

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Here is a brief history about National Adoption Month taken from About.com.

“In 1976, the governor of Massachusetts, Michael Dukakis, announced an Adoption Week for his state. Later that same year President Gerald Ford proclaimed that Adoption Week would be celebrated nationally. As more and more states started to participate in Adoption Week it became clear that more time was needed for holding events and in 1990 National Adoption Week became National Adoption Month.

Today National Adoption Month is celebrated during the month of November. The celebration usually includes National Adoption Day with courthouses throughout the nation participating and hundreds of adoptions being finalized simultaneously.

National Adoption Month is a time to celebrate family and to bring about awareness that there are hundreds of thousands of children in foster homes awaiting adoption. States, communities, and agencies hold events during the month to bring the need for families into public view.”

So enjoy your “Forever Family” as adoption touches everyone. Stay tuned for our Events Page for Events during this month to benefit Alyssa’s Hope.

This week, there is a change in the address for I-800A applications. Starting immediately, please send your I-800A application package to the following address:

USCIS
Lock Box Facility
PO Box 299008
Lewisville, TX 75029

For families who have sent their I-800A application package to the address in Chicago recently, your documents have been forwarded to the correct facility in Lewisville, TX.