Many Corporations, Including Best Buy, Help Employees Make Adoption Possible

When considering adoption, one of the most important aspects that prospective parents consider is the cost of the adoption. Thankfully, as awareness about adoption spreads, many companies are including benefits that help individuals and families pursue their dream.

Best Buy Helps Employees Finance Adoption 

The new program that was recently launched by Best Buy is open to employees who have worked at the company for at least six months and offers up to $14, 080 in assistance to those who are choosing to adopt.

This amount wasn't always so high - in fact, this new amount is nearly four times the previously offered amount. The change was made, however, when several women working for the company presented a proposal to higher ups, thinking that they may see a small increase.

They were shocked and pleased when just a few months later, their proposal resulted in a huge increase in the amount offered in adoption assistance.

Best Buy isn't the only company that offers adoption assistance. A growing number of employers have realized that adoption assistance is an excellent benefit to offer and will attract new employees. If you or a loved one are considering adoption, speaking to your employer about financial help should be part of your process.

How Expensive Is Domestic Adoption? 

Domestic adoption costs can vary widely, ranging from $0 to $40,000. These costs typically include legal fees, home visit costs, and other expenses like medical care for the birth mother and child.

In addition to employer assistance, many prospective parents are eligble for grants and other forms of financial assistance. To learn more about the financial options available to you, contact Adoptions From The Heart today.




 Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   

Instagram Adoption Scam Highlights The Importance Of Working With An Adoption Agency

A couple was recently devastated by an adoption scam that occurred on Instagram.

More Couples Seeking Children For Adoption Through Social Media Than Ever Before 

A 23-year-old Utah couple made the decision to adopt after struggling with infertility issues. Instead of working with a qualified adoption agency, they decided to advertise their interest in adoption through social media, specifically on Instagram.

A women contacted the couple through the platform and told them that she was giving birth within a month and that she was searching for adoptive parents for her child. Her Instagram account seemed legitimate, with pictures of a pregnant woman being posted regularly. The couple began to communicate with her daily, moving their messages from Instagram to the phone.

But soon it become clear that something was off.

The woman would not sign a doctors release form so that they could contact her physician and wouldn't provide location information so that they could find an adoption attorney near her to work with her. When they spoke with their own attorney she let them know that her firm had dealt with a scammer on Instagram at least 12 times this year alone - always a woman who wasnted to talk to the adoptive parents but who never actually had a child to give up for adoption.

Oddly enough, this particular woman never asked for money. She simply seems to want to upset prospective parents by baiting them with a fake pregnancy.

This is just one example of an adoption scam and thankfully, this couple did not lose any money in the process. Others, however, are not so lucky.

Contact Adoptions From The Heart To Learn More About How Adoption Professionals Can Make Your Dreams Come True 

Adoptions From The Heart has been helping build families for more than 30 years. The experienced adoption professionals work with birth mothers, prospective parents, and provide a lifetime of support to adoptees.

One of the reasons that many people attempt to adopt without professional help is the expense. At AFTH, prospective parents can be connected with the financial resources needed.

Call today:

 Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   

Sisters Sell Bracelets To Raise Money For Adoption

When an individual or couple makes the decision to add to their family through adoption, one of the first questions that they ask is “How will I be able to afford this?”. While Adoptions From The Heart professionals are happy to provide recommendations for financial resources, some family members often take the matter into their own hands. 

Bracelets Sold To Raise Adoption Money 

When one couple told their children that they would like to adopt, their kids not only responded with the enthusiasim and excitement that they had hoped for but they also began a personal project to help their parents pursue their adoption dream. 

The four sisters of the Tate family, whose ages range from 4 - 11, started to make bracelets. Their goal? To sell the bracelets to make money to help pay for an adoption. They are selling bracelets for $4 and anklets for $3. So far the kids have raised more than $1,000. 

Their parents are touched that they came up with this idea all on their own. 

Adoptions From The Heart: Building Families For Decades 

At Adoptions From The Heart, our caring and experienced adoption professionals are excited to begin your adoption journey with you. We can answer every question that you may have and have the connections needed to guide you to any resources that you may need. 

We have helped thousands of individuals and families across the country build their families through adoption over the past three decades. Our goal is to ensure that every birth mother, prospective parent, adoptive parent, and adoptee has the tools they need to make this journey a beautiful one. 

To learn more about the adoption process, contact Adoptions From The Heart today.

 Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   

 

Bill Introduced To Ban LGBTQ Bias In Foster Care And Adoption

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act has been reintroduced by two members of the House of Representatives. This bill would protect LGBTQ individuals and families who express interest in adoption and fostering children.

Representative Lewis stated that:

"Many adults want to open their homes and their hearts, but they also are facing more and more barriers, because some officials can say they practice the wrong religion, love the wrong person, or are not married. The Every Child Deserves a Family Act puts the happiness and well-being of our children front and center, engaging every possible match between solid families and children searching for a home. We must each do our part to ensure that every young person and capable, aspiring parents are able to enjoy the dream of a loving, stable family together.”

The bill will also prevent any LGBTQ children from being forced to participate in any sort of conversion therapy.  

Many LGBTQ rights groups have called attention to the bill by praising it and the changes it proposes to make.

Adoptions From The Heart Has Supported LGBTQ Adoption For Decades 

 The experienced adoption professionals from Adoptions From The Heart are proud to have supported the LGBTQ community for decades. Our adoption agency is happy to work with individuals and couples who are interested in adding to their family. 

 Our adoption agency assists with home studies, helps prospective parents find financial and legal help, and adds family profiles to the list of waiting families for birth mothers to review. AFTH is an open adoption agency and is happy to dispel any myths that you may have heard about the open adoption process. 

To learn more about the adoption process, contact Adoptions From The Heart today.

 Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   


 

Family Adopts Four Children With Rare Disease

Growing up, Kristi Smith was diagnosed with a rare disease commonly known as PKU. PKU stands for phenylketonuria, a genetic disease which causes increased levels of phenylalanine in the blood. This buildup can result in seizures, poor brain development, and other severe health issues. Thankfully, the disease can be controlled through a strict diet.

Getting pregnant with PKU can be dangerous for both mother and child, so when Kristi and her husband Matt decided to become parents, they chose adoption. They also decided that they would be very interested in adopting children with PKU since they already need to live a lifestyle that suits Kristi's needs.

International Adoption Creates A Family Of Six 

After searching for several years, the Smiths found their first two children in China. They flew over and adopted Luke and Andrew, two-year-old boys. A few years later, Kristi also connected with a 7-year-old and a 13-year-old. Unsure if they could afford to adopt two more children, the couple advocated for the children and begged others to adopt, but to no avail. So they once again flew overseas and came home with two more boys.

Despite concerns because the older boys had not been on a PKU diet, the family of four is thriving. Their oldest son, Ben, was originally non-verbal but is already learning to speak in his new, caring environment where his medical needs are being met.

You can read the Smiths full adoption story here.

Are You Considering Adoption?

 Adoptions From The Heart has been helping individuals and couple with the adoption process for more than 30 years. Although primarily a domestic adoption agency, our adoption professionals can assist with international adoption home studies.

To learn more about the adoption process contact one of our local adoption agencies.


Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   

Adoptions From The Heart Harrisburg Has Moved To A New Office

The team at Adoptions From The Heart is proud to announce that they have moved to a new location in Harrisburg, PA. The new address is now:

Adoptions From The Heart
5630 Linglestown Rd #3012, 
Harrisburg, PA 17112

Services Offered At AFTH Harrisburg

 Over the past several decades Adoptions From The Heart has helped to build more than 6,000 families through domestic adoption. The agency offers assistance to both birth parents and adoptive parents, as well as a lifetime of support for adoptees. 

Services Offered To Prospective Parents 

 Our adoption professionals take the time to educate each prospective parent about domestic adoption. We can assist with home study services, provide counseling, can provide connections to legal and financial resources, and access to our prospective parent database. 

Services Offered To Birth Parents

Adoptions From The Heart helps birth mothers get the medical care that they and their child need, provides counseling services, can assist with helping to find a place to live, and helps to connect birth mothers with approved waiting families. 

To take your first steps on this amazing journey, contact our Harrisburg office today.

Adoptions From The Heart Has A New Location In Pittsburgh

The experienced adoption professionals at Adoptions From The Heart Pittsburgh are pleased to announce that the local office has moved to a new address:

Adoptions From The Heart
116 E Pittsburgh St,
Greensburg, PA 15601

The team will provide the same services as before to both pregnant women and prospective parents.

Adoptions From The Heart: Helping Build Pittsburgh Families Through Domestic Adoption 

 Adoptions From The Heart seeks to connect birth parents and adoptive parents through domestic adoption.

The agency assists birth mothers by:

• obtaining medical care for both mother and child
• providing a connection to legal assistance 
• providing supportive counseling for as long as is needed 
• giving access to a database of waiting prospective parents 

Prospective parents will find that they will be able to:

• find assistance with home study services
• create an online profile for birth parents to review
• connect with legal and financial resources 
• join a support group 

To learn more about additional services that are offered to both parties, contact our Pittsburgh adoption team today.