Adoption Circle - December Newsletter 2023

Posted on January 02, 2024 by Adoption Circle Staff

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2024 

We did it! We survived the holiday season. We offered experiences and created magic. With grateful hearts we acknowledge the blessings received in 2023 – most recently, a warm and balmy Christmas day. With temperatures in the mid 50’s, windows were open, and children spent time outside. If we aren’t going to have a white Christmas let it be warm!!

The Adoption Circle toy drive was a huge success!! Thanks so much to all who donated. 14 families and 36 children received stuffed stockings and toys galore. We delivered guitars, hoover boards, karaoke machines, and TVs. The generosity from Santa’s elves was immense!! Our hearts are full 😊 We were able to give Christmas to more families than we ever have before. We are already looking forward to the 2024 toy drive hoping to continue to provide for just as many families. For all you bargain hunters, PLEASE keep a look out for toys on sale throughout the year. We are always accepting donations. We are also in need of extra-large plastic Christmas gift bags to deliver each child’s gifts. These are so much nicer than plastic garbage bags. Questions about the toy drive? Please text Kim at 614-738-5456

With the New Year comes resolutions! Many of us will strive to be more organized, to follow through with plans and to start the 2024 off right! We asked one of our families to share with you their experience with the new Ohio Adoption Grant Program. This is an incredible resource for adoptive families. 

“My husband and I recently adopted our second child through Adoption Circle. As part of the process, we applied for and received a $10,000 grant from the new Ohio Adoption Grant Program. It was easier than the program it replaced because it allowed us to receive the money in its entirety immediately. And while the application process has paperwork requirements, it doesn't require us to document and submit our expenses.

Under the new program, as of April 7, 2023, all Ohioans who adopt a child (except for stepchildren) are qualified to apply for the Ohio Adoption Grant Program. This grant replaces the former tax credit provided by the state for finalized adoptions. The grant is for $10,000 for most families ($15,000 for families who have been fostering and $20,000 for families who adopt a child with one or more special needs), which is paid out in a one-time check delivered via USPS following your grant application’s approval. 

In order to qualify for the Ohio Adoption Grant, you must be an Ohio resident, have a finalized adoption after January 1, 2023, be within 1 year of your finalization date, and have a social security number for your adopted child. 

To apply for the Ohio Adoption Grant, visit https://fosterandadopt.jfs.ohio.gov/adoption/grant. From there you’ll be instructed to create a login and redirected to the application portal. To complete the application, you will need the following: 

• A copy of your finalized adoption.

• Two forms of identification for the adoptive parent who will be the payee. (Photo ID, SS Card, etc.).

• Completed and signed IRS form W9 (for payee only).

• If applicable, proof of foster placement prior to adoption.

• If applicable, a Special Need Documentation Form ODJFS 1058 completed and signed by a qualified professional.

• You will need to upload the required forms from your computer.

After you’ve submitted all required documents, your application will be listed as “pending review.” In our family’s experience, our application was reviewed within a week and then our status was changed to “approved.” It took roughly another month before we received our payment. Ultimately, the process was rather quick, practical, and uncomplicated. We encourage all Adoption Circle families to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Doing something for the first time can be intimidating – but hearing about another’s experience and how smoothly their experience was - is encouraging. As we all are preparing to file our taxes for 2023, it is always a good idea to employ an accountant who can guide you through any complications.

There were 3 families that finalized their adoptions in December and 4 families were placed. It was a busy month for all the Adoption Circle workers. But it was not too busy for us all to take a break and have lunch together. We had a white elephant exchange, and a good time was had by all. We are so humbled that you all choose to join our family and entrust us to walk alongside you as you build your family. Thank you for believing in us and believing in the adoption process.

A Note from the Director of Birth Parent Services:

Hello and Happy New Year!! I hope you all had an opportunity to rest and spend time with your loved ones this past holiday season. My New Year’s resolution is to start the book club AGAIN and to listen to more podcasts that focus on providing the best services to birth parents as they navigate the adoption process, especially tools for dealing with grief and loss. I am open to any book recommendations for the club so please text me (614-738-5456) and any podcasts that you have listened to that you think will help me to best serve birth parents. I’m excited for the new year and the promise of new experiences. I’m probably in the minority but I am hoping to see some SNOW this winter. My son, Beckett, is an avid snowboarder. I know he will be very disappointed if he has limited time to shred the mountain. (dude – I’m trying to be cool 😊)

Looking forward to the February newsletter and highlighting all the January events. If you don’t follow us on our social media accounts, please do so. We post several times throughout the month. FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter

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