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Welcome
to US Waiting Child Fund Partners In Progress Home l FasiFriends l CyberFamilies l Resource Center l Annual Report l |
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Dear
Prospective Adoptive Family: We
at Families Are Special realize you are faced with an initial financial
obligation in adopting a child that may be prohibitive.
In order to help you with the burden of “up front” financial
obligations, we have established the U S Waiting Child Loan Program. The U S Waiting Child Loan Program is funded with contributions from individuals, corporations and organizations. The maximum loan available is $4,000, with a maximum term for re-payment of three years. Our goal is to provide you with a low interest loan. The interest rate will be determined at the time of your loan, but is guaranteed to be considerably lower than the prevailing bank rates. The loan is actually a line of credit. Once you are approved, you may make requests for specific amounts during the term of the loan for specific qualifying adoption costs. In
order to cover administrative costs, overhead and the cost of credit
reports, we require a non-refundable fee of $50 to process your loan
application. If you are
approved, this fee may be included in your first “draw.” The
U S Waiting Child Loan Program’s goal is to make it possible
for many children waiting in US foster care to be placed with
permanent families. We
look forward to serving you and your child(ren). For
more information on the US Waiting Child Fund please contact the
Executive Director of Families Are Special at (501) 758-9184 or email at
fasas@alltel.net. IF you or your
business are interested in
making a tax deductible gift to
enable us to expand our capitalization base and approve more loans,
please cont the Treasurer at the same address. Other
Adoption Financial resources for your consideration. Go to the Links on
the General Adoptions Page |
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About
Families Are Special Families
Are Special was founded in 1993 as a non-profit licensed adoption agency.
It has a proud history of identifying and over-coming barriers for
Arkansas families who wish to adopt. Thirteen years have passed and 560
children have been placed with permanent families.
Families Are Special has faithfully carried forward its commitment
to the children and families of Arkansas. Families Are Special experience
and commitment to the children demonstrates the principle that every child
deserves a permanent and loving family. Each
family placement establishes for these children a foundation from which a
new future becomes possible, which offers the fulfillment of the child’s
potential. Most of these
children have been severely neglected, abused or abandoned; and never had
the foundation that only a safe loving and permanent family can provide. As
long as there is one “waiting child”, there is work for us to do. If you agree with this guiding principle of our human condition, that every child deserves to be raised in a safe loving family, we invite you to help us build a very strong loan fund which will help make it possible for more children to experience their right to a permanent family.
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Problem: The
High cost of Adoption There
are 130,000 children across the U. S. in foster care, awaiting the
security of being raised in a safe loving, permanent family. These
children’s circumstances are not of their own making. Their only
possibility for their dream of a family and home is adoption.
However, with the passing of each year this blessing becomes a
little more remote. 25,000
children or more will be forced to leave the safety net of foster care to
face today’s world alone as they reach age eighteen.
Those remaining in foster care must continue to hold on to their
dream or simply give up. In
spite of the increased efforts of our public and private agencies, courts
and other organizations, more children today are waiting to be adopted
than ever before. Many
more potential adoptive families can be prepared to adopt if they can get
some assistance with the burden of the adoption expenses. The adoption
expense ranges from $3,000 to adopt a child in foster care, to $35,000 to
adopt a healthy newborn in the US or an older child internationally.
Although the expenses to adopt a child from our state agency, Arkansas
DCFS, are minimal, many families are not willing to serve the required 12
months or more as foster parents before being permitted to adopt.
Solution: Financial
Assistance is available Families
Are Special recognizes the escalating cost of adoption prohibits many
stable, loving and knowledgeable families from adopting. We as an agency
made the commitment to do what we can to overcome this financial barrier.
After much study, deliberation and advisement from adoptive parents and
community leaders, our staff and board developed a new program, the US
Waiting Child Loan Fund The goal to remove this initial financial barrier for Arkansas families who are committed to adopt a waiting child is not fulfilled. Our projected capitalization for this program is considerably less than what is needed. Much work must be done to reach the final goal of capitalization. However current funds will provide for several loans for qualified families this year. |
Partners
in Progress: You
Can Help Our
present funding for loans is about 1/3 rd of what will be needed to make
this program self-sufficient. We need the financial support of
individuals, groups, churches, and businesses to make an investment in Members
of our staff and Board of Directors are available to speak with
individuals or groups to explain the merits of and the great need for this
program. Please contact our Executive Director, Bill Barling to make
arrangements for someone to talk to you, your organization or civic club. This
commitment to building a better life or something for children waiting for
a permanent family has become a possibility because of the efforts of many
people just like you. Your
help can enable us to make a wonderful future possible for so many more of
God’s waiting children. For more
information: Families Are Special, Inc. 2200 Main Street****** EducationisEmpowerment
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