AAI Short Term Volunteer Trip--February 2013

2013 Short-term Volunteer Trip

2/27/2013--3/8/2013

Chris Little and Susan Poisson-Dollar, AAI Board President and former AAI Director of Development respectively,  will be leading a short-term volunteer trip to Ethiopia for a maximum of 12 participants.  The dates for this year’s trip are February 27 – March 8th, 2013.  Chris and Susan have each visited Ethiopia numerous times and also have significant experience hosting volunteer groups both in the U.S. and Ethiopia.  They enjoy sharing their love for and knowledge of their “adopted” country with new people.  AAI's in-country staffalso enjoy sharing their knowledge and expertise with visitors.

The land cost for the trip is $1400 and includes airport pick-up in Addis, lodging (single occupancy, discount for sharing), transportation and some meals in Addis as well as a donation to Adoption Advocates International’s humanitarian projects in the country.  Flight costs will depend on the participant’s home city but are currently ranging between $1300-1700 round trip from most parts of the country.  Participants will have the option of joining either of the group leaders on their flights or of arranging one independently.  Depending on the interests of the group, excursions outside of Addis can be arranged and the travel agent we are working with can also help organize add-on tours to other parts of Ethiopia. 

All participants will be expected to get a criminal background check prior to the trip or submit one received in the last two years.  They will also be asked to carry supplies for AAI’s partner orphanages and other nonprofits.  A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required by February 1, 2013 to secure a spot on the trip and participants are also required to have personal health insurance and to purchase a travel insurance plan (generally very inexpensive).  Please contact Susan Poisson-Dollar (spdfish1234@gmail.com) or Chris Little (family@little-little.com) for more details or to reserve your spot on the trip.   

There will be opportunities to tutor children, teach English, work at our facility for developmentally-delayed children (Opportunity House), visit local nonprofits and to experience Ethiopian cultural traditions.  We may be asked to paint rooms and do other similar projects at partner orphanages.   Chris and Susan do not believe in rigid schedules but instead they strive to meet each participant’s personal  goals for the experience.   People with specific skills may wish to work in-depth on one project while others volunteering for the first time may prefer a more flexible, exploratory experience.   Excursions will include trips to shop for fairly-traded handicrafts, visits to other nonprofit projects serving orphans and vulnerable children and a dinner at a cultural restaurant featuring traditional dance and food.

  

Uganda--You Passed it On--THANK YOU!!!

We wish to thank everybody who so freely gave to assist the care needs of the 7 sisters in Uganda yesterday.  Because of you, we met our goal!  In fact, the goal was SURPASSED!!!  [Donors will be contacted about the overage.]

To date we have not had anybody sign up to be an ongoing sponsor for the 7 girls.  Please, if you can give in an ongoing way towards the girls' care, consider doing so.  $65 a month would cover one girl each month, but if you can sign up to give a recurring donation of another amount, that still helps.  These fees ($1200) recur ever 3 months and it would be ideal to have a recurring donation base for the care and protection of these girls until a permanent family can be found for them in Uganda.

Thank you again!
AAI

Uganda--2 Days for 7 Sisters--Pass It On!

THEN:  Four months ago AAI's Uganda Coordinator, Salem Richards, put out a plea for help for 7 precious sisters in Uganda who were in a desperate situation. These seven sisters were living alone, in desperate poverty, in rural Uganda. The oldest girl is thirteen, the youngest, just a year. Their mother had passed away and their father was not caring for them. Their home was being attacked at night and things happened to these precious, unprotected girls that should never happen to any child. Their story broke Salem's heart, and the hearts of many others. Through the generosity of friends and families of AAI's Uganda program, we were able to raise enough money for these seven girls to be rescued by social workers in Uganda and taken to a safe place!

The six big girls are now in a boarding school while the baby is being cared for by a missionary in Uganda who assisted with their rescue. We are told that the girls are doing very well at their boarding school. We want to enable the social welfare officer dealing with their case to keep them there until a permanent family situation can be found for them in Uganda.

NOW: We found out yesterday (5-14-12) that the next term's school and care fees are due immediately and without payment the girls risk immediate expulsion! We weren't expecting this and have not yet found ongoing sponsors for the sisters. You see, when we (AAI) told the social workers we would help, we became responsible for them. For EVERYTHING they need. We've paid for them all to go the doctor and have medical tests done. One of the girls was hospitalized. Another needs to be evaluated by a cardiologist. We provide money for them to be cared for during school breaks, all their meals, personal items, etc. We are responsible for all of their needs. 

 

 

When we found out on such short notice that we needed to pay the school for their next term, "L," our amazing in-country coordinator decided she could not allow the chance of these children being kicked out of school with nowhere to go. Without us knowing about it she took her own money and paid the fees so these precious children could stay at their school and continue being cared for. We are overwhelmed with her generosity and so grateful she stepped in to provide for these children until we can get the money to Uganda. HOWEVER, the funds she used to pay the school was money provided to her by her other job to go on a work related business trip at the end of this week!   WE MUST REPAY HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  Our fear is that "L" may have put her other job in jeopardy in order to save these girls from being put out on the street.

THE NEEDS:

There are two needs here.  The first and most urgent need is to pay/repay $1200 ($200 per girl) to cover the girls' care and education fees that were due on Monday.  We hope to raise this money in two days, as crazy as that sounds!  Friends and families of AAI are just that crazy and generous!  ANY donation amount is appreciated.  If 120 people donated $10, we'd meet our goal!  The preferred way to donate is by calling our office and speaking with Kathy to make donation by credit/debit card by phone.  360-452-4777.  Alternatively, you can CLICK HERE to make a donation on our website.  Choose "other" then note "Uganda, 7 sisters."

The second need (just as important in the long run), is to find ongoing sponsors for each of the 7 girls until a long-term care plan is created for them.  We recognize that boarding school is not the best long term solution for these girls.  Social service professionals in Uganda are working with the goal of this sibling group being cared for in a family.  Until that time, they must be cared for and kept safe.  If you are willing to sponsor one (or more) of the girls at $65 a month (or $200 every 3 months), please contact Salem to discuss which child to sponsor and CLICK HERE to set up your recurring donation.  Choose "other" then not "Uganda sponsorship, 7 sisters."

Thank you for considering this VERY immediate need in Uganda.  Please, post about this on your blogs and facebook pages.  Pass it on to your email contacts.  Without your help in spreading the word about this need, it will be almost impossible to reach our goal! 

Many Thanks,
AAI

AAI's Erin Henderson Does it All!

AAI's Special Needs Coordinator, Erin Henderson, has long been appreciated by friends and families of AAI.  She is now making new fans in the running world, as she has transformed herself from mom and coordinator into a serious competitive runner over the past 3 years!  Erin was recently highlighted in Runner's World Magazine with an online article.  Click below to be inspired!

DOING IT ALL!

Adoptive Families Magazine Survey, Gives $500 Donation!

As of right now, we (Adoptive Families Magazine) need 83 more people to take our 2010/2011 Cost & Timing of Adoption Survey to activate our random drawing: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2011-adoption-cost-timing! If we reach our goal for completed surveys, we'll randomly choose one respondent and donate $500 to the adoption charity of his or her choice!

Please help us out by taking this survey if you adopted in 2011 or 2010, and by forwarding the link on to anyone you know who adopted during the past two years. If you've already taken this year's survey, you have our thanks!

See past years' survey results, learn about the organization we donated to on behalf of last year's random drawing winner, and find a link to this year's survey at: http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=1617

To go directly to the 2011 Cost & Timing of Adoption Survey, click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2011-adoption-cost-timing

Many thanks!

Eve Gilman
www.adoptivefamilies.com

Let Your Voice Be Heard by February 14!

PLEASE READ BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT SURVEY BEING CONDUCTED BY THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. RESULTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 14th, 2012.

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The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has released a survey the results of which will inform U.S. government policy makers on adoptive families’ experiences when interacting with U.S. government officials during the intercountry adoption process. The survey seeks to collect responses from adoptive families, potential adoptive families and adoption service providers.

This survey respresents a unique opportunity for the adoption community to share their experiences and express their opinions regarding the services provided by the U.S. government. We strongly encourage all Joint Council supporters who have adopted internationally or who have facilitated intercountry adoptions to participate in the survey and to encourage others to do so as well.

Adoptive parent or prospective adoptive parent, please use the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Surveyonintercountryadoptionparents

ADOPTION TAX CREDIT AWARENESS DAY!

Adoption Advocates International founder, Merrily Ripley, recently shared this information. Thanks Merrily for your continued involvement and support! We love you!

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The First Annual Adoption Tax Credit Awareness Day will be Monday, February 13, 2012. The hope is that everybody in the adoption community will take part. Many adoptive families are not aware that this tax credit exists. It is our goal to help ensure that adoptive families who are eligible to receive this benefit are informed about how to claim the credit. We are asking everyone, including professionals, advocates, state agencies, families, and others to help spread the word on one given day (Feb. 13th) in hopes to broadcast the existence of the adoption tax credit. Details about how you can help are below.

Save the Date: Plan now to be part of the Adoption Tax Credit Awareness Day on Monday, February 13, 2012—a national effort highlighting the federal tax credit available to adoptive families.

Play Your Part: Join with adoption organizations, state agencies, adoptive families, advocates, and other interested parties to raise visibility of the adoption tax credit. Help spread the word collectively, through website postings, email blasts, newsletters, social media, and other informational outlets, so eligible families that may not be aware of this benefit can be sure to access the credit. Families who adopted as far back as 2005 may still benefit if they haven’t already. Be sure to include non-internet based strategies since some adoptive families do not have access to the internet.

The Facts:

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  Since 2003, families who adopted a U.S. child with special needs from foster care could claim a federal adoption tax credit even if they had no adoption expenses (as long as they met the fairly generous income requirements).


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  Children who receive adoption assistance/subsidy benefits are considered children with special needs. Even families who receive a deferred subsidy ($0 per month but medical coverage through the subsidy program) are eligible.


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  All adoptive families (except those who adopted a step-child) are eligible for the credit, but those who adopt children other than those with special needs must have—and be able to document, if requested by the IRS—qualified adoption expenses.


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  For 2010 and 2011 the credit was made refundable. If parents who adopted as long ago as 2005 had credit to carry forward into 2010, that amount of the credit also became refundable. In 2010 and 2011, parents can claim the credit even if they don’t have income or any tax liability.


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  The amount of the credit for 2011 is $13,360 per child.
  

The Information:

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  IRS Form 8839 Instructions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8839.pdf


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  IRS Form 8839: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8839.pdf


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  IRS adoption tax credit FAQ’s: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=231663,00.html


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  Voice for Adoption’s distributable postcard: http://voice-for-adoption.org/adoption_tax_credit


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  Tools & Resources from the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC): http://www.nacac.org/taxcredit/taxcredit.html

Please distribute this widely among your networks. Thanks for taking the time to make this count for adoptive families!

iGive to AAI!

We are at the height of holiday shopping season! Did you know that if you do your shopping through www.igive.com up to 26% (but usually 1-5%) of your total is donated to AAI's humanitarian projects? It's true! These donations can add up to make a difference in countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda.

If you aren't already a member and sign up now (adding a button to your toolbar) AAI will get $5 for your membership! If you share the link with a friend and that friend signs up, another $5 for AAI humanitarian projects! Click HERE to learn more about the 1 Million Buttons for Change campaign. The campaign goes through January 9th, 2012.

Thank you to all who remember to give back at this time of year.

National Adoption Month CHALLENGE Results

During the month of November we challenged everybody in the AAI family to think of ways they could (1) promote adoption and (2) give back to organizations that advocate for the orphaned child. We are pleased to share that many AAI families stepped up to the plate with wonderful results! Earlier this month we shared some of your great ideas. Here are some others.

*Bryana and Jodi Slaback shared, "On Nov. 6 I presented the Operation Christmas Child project through Samaritan's Purse to my church. It is going well and shoe boxes with gifts for needy children around the world are already coming in. We will take our two adopted boys (Guatemala and Ethiopia) shopping to fill a shoe box each for boys their age. They love it and it raises awareness of needs around the world and challenges them to give out of their own wishes of what they would like to receive themselves."

*Tiffany Bryner made a display at the public library in Sitka, Alaska where she is employed.

*An AAI family shared, "Every time I shop at Costco I purchase a can of formula to take with us..(I shop there a lot with my brood). I have asked and encouraged my friends to do the same."

*AAI Counselor Marilyn Weaver took part in an adoption conference at a church in the Tri Cities on November 4. She spoke in a breakout session on homestudies. The theme she chose was “The Homestudy is the Heart of Adoption.” She referred to AAI and passed out information about our agency.

*Carol Gilliom shared, "Every year, including this year in October, my daughter Anna Gilliom (16 years old now), and I talk with all 80 students in the 7th grade at our local school about adoption. We talk about how Anna came from India as an infant, what adoption means to our family, and about Indian culture. We give our talk in the Social Studies classes during their unit on India."

*An AAI parent shared, "I am also going to a third grade class where some of my friends children go and I am speaking on adoption. The class is going to ask parents to donate needed items for our upcoming trip."
*Kris Adam helped raise funds for plane tickets, etc, for a family in her church that is adopting 3 children from Ethiopia. Everything she sells until mid Dec. goes directly to their fees. Kris states, "I am making necklace charms and ornaments. I know it won't be much, but every drop in the bucket helps!"

*Gina MacConnell purchased 100 devotionals about adoptions from Show Hope and has been handing them out to anyone who shows interested in adoption.

*One AAI Parent shared, "We are hosting a Adoption Info Meeting and a Help Us Fill Our Suitcase Party before we leave for our court trip in December. My plan is to have empty suitcases at our front door as our guests arrive(I have sent out a list of the things that AAI in Ethiopia needs). I am going to show the Cry of the Orphan video and have informational materials available."

*Several AAI families ate very simply the week before Thanksgiving, then donating the money they saved on food to various programs at AAI.

Thanks to ALL who participated this year, and shared your activities with us!

AAI Family Quilt--A Longstanding Tradition

The AAI Family Quilt is coming along nicely! If you have made a donation to AAI and would like to see your name on a leaf, star, butterfly, or other items that will adorn the quilt, just contact us!

Did you know that fundraising quilts are a longstanding tradition in the United States? Recently, an AAI supporter wrote a blog post about these quilts, and featured the AAI Family Quilt as example. You can read the entire (very interesting) blog post HERE.

AAI Volunteer trip -- Join us in February!!

2012 Short-term Volunteer Trip
2/26/12--3/8/12

Chris Little and Susan Poisson-Dollar, AAI Board President and former AAI Director of Development respectively,  will be leading a short-term volunteer trip to Ethiopia for a maximum of 14 participants.  The dates for this year’s trip are February 26^th – March 8^th, 2012.  Chris and Susan have each visited Ethiopia numerous times and also have significant experience hosting volunteer groups both in the U.S. and Ethiopia.  They enjoy sharing their love for and knowledge of their “adopted” country with new people.   We had a wonderful experience in November of 2010 and you can read more about it at this link.

The land cost for the trip is $1300 and includes airport pick-up in Addis, lodging (single occupancy, discount for sharing), transportation and some meals in Addis as well as a donation to Adoption Advocates International’s humanitarian projects in the country.  Flight costs will depend on the participant’s home city but are currently ranging between $1400-1700 round trip from most parts of the country.  Participants will have the option of joining either of the group leaders on their flights or of arranging one independently.  Depending on the interests of the group, excursions outside of Addis can be arranged and the travel agent we are working with can also help organize add-on tours to other parts of Ethiopia. 

All participants will be expected to get a criminal background check prior to the trip or submit one received in the last two years.  They will also be asked to carry supplies for AAI’s partner orphanages and other nonprofits as well as to make a commitment to do some fundraising prior to or after the trip. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required by January 15, 2012 to secure a spot on the trip and participants are also required to have health insurance and to purchase a travel insurance plan (generally very inexpensive).  Please contact Susan Poisson-Dollar for more details or to reserve your spot on the trip.   

There will also be opportunities to tutor children, teach English, work at our facility for developmentally-delayed children (Opportunity House), and to experience Ethiopian traditions by visiting typical families.  We may be asked to paint rooms and do other similar projects at partner orphanages.   Excursions will include trips to shop for fairly-traded handicrafts, visits to  other nonprofit projects serving orphans and vulnerable children and a dinner at a cultural restaurant featuring traditional dance and food. 

   

Temesgen and MOWA official visit Port Townsend, WA

Last week, AAI lawyer Temesgen and a MOWA official visited Port Townsend, WA and had dinner with a number of AAI families.  Chris Little, AAI Board President and adoptive parent of many, sent these pictures in and reported that everyone had a great time.  In addition to joining local AAI families for dinner, Temesgen and the MOWA official also visited a school, several private homes and the Port Townsend courthouse where many adoptions are finalized. 

The bidding is on!!

2011 AAI Holiday Project Auction

Open for Bidding!

Head right over to this link to get a look at 100 beautiful gift items that benefit AAI's ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia and Ghana.   Jewelry, artwork, clothing and household items and vacation opportunities await you there.  Get your holiday shopping done extra early this year and your gift recipients will also appreciate that your purchase did "double duty" and helped an orphaned or vulnerable child in one of our programs.  The items were all donated by friends and supporters of AAI, many of whom are adoptive parents.  

 

Holiday Project Auction Starts October 1!

Check out all the great Holiday Gift Ideas!

Wouldn't you like to get your holiday shopping done early this year and benefit a good cause too?!   The 2011 AAI Holiday Project kicks off this year with a silent auction of over 80 beautiful items.  The online auction starts October 1 but you can start previewing the items now at this link !

As the saying goes --"Bid early and bid often."  All proceeds from the auction benefit AAI's Humanitarian Projects.  Read more about them at our website under "Humanitarian" and elsewhere here on the AAI blog.  

Thanks for shopping!  We will still be having our annual Holiday Project Fund Drive after the auction and offering you the opportunity to have a special holiday card sent to someone special who will love knowing that your gift benefited an orphaned or vulnerable child in one of our programs. Great gift idea for the many people on your list who already "have everything."   

Read the latest AAI newsletter here!

Password-Protected Waiting Child Page on AAI Website

Help spread the word!

We just added a new feature to the AAI website -- a password protected page with photos and information about waiting children in all of our international adoption programs.   The first page features a healthy 11 year old boy from Burkina Faso, a pair of young brothers from Ghana, and a little girl in our Republic of Georgia program among others.   We plan to put up new pages every few weeks so once you obtain your password, please keep checking---maybe you will find your child there one day!   Contact Johanna in the AAI office to find out how to obtain the password.

Feel free to post this link to any adoption groups you are involved in, your blog, your Facebook page etc.  Many of the children we will feature have special needs and we want to find families willing to help them develop to their full potential. 

*** NOTE:  We have just learned that some browsers and computers are experiencing difficulties with accessing the page.  If you can't, please email Johanna above (click on the link) and she can send you the information directly.  Thanks--we're getting lots of interest already!! 

Help Us Expand Opportunity House!

AAI's Opportunity House Project in Ethiopia currently provides loving care and individualized therapy and training for thirty children with serious disabilities.  Twenty of the children reside on the Layla House compound and another dozen live at Kibeb Tsehaye, a partner orphanage cooperating in the project.  Our agreement with the Ethiopian government involves expanding OH's services to include fifty or more children over the coming months.  To achieve this, we need YOUR help!

There are two easy ways to contribute to Opportunity House and know that you have helped to make a child's life infinitely better.    Please consider sponsoring an OH child with a recurring donation of $35 a month or more.  In return, you will receive a photo and child report on a specific child at least twice a year.   We also need one-time donations for the purchase of needed equipment (as seen in these photos), the salaries of trained professionals and to pay for the staff training sessions we are doing for the children's caregivers.  If you would like to know more about specific OH needs and how you can "sponsor" a physical therapist or staff training workshop, please contact Merrily Ripley.  

Thanks to AAI parent Mike Erickson and volunteer Sophie Brill for these nice photos of children benefiting from Opportunity House services.

AAI Child is "Community Hero" in Utah

Recently an AAI adoptive mom shared with our listserve community that her son Phile was chosen as a  Community Hero this summer.  Phile has multiple special needs and spent time at our Opportunity House program.  Her story and some pictures are below.  

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Our son, Phile, came home exactly two years ago. He spent about a year at Layla House but most of his time was at Opportunity House. Phile is seven years old and has been diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy, autism, severe developmental delays and a seizure disorder called Lennox Gastaut Syndrome. As my mom once described, our family went through a pretty big "storm" that lasted well over a year after Phile came home. We spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals, doctors, offices, therapies, counseling, schools, etc. trying to find help for our son and our families "new normal."

We live in a small town of about 20,000 people in Utah. Each summer, our community has a week long celebration including a parade, carnival, rodeo, concert and a variety of other activities. As a part of the celebration, a community hero is selected based on nominations. To kick off the celebration, the "Hero" is announced. Phile was secretly nominated by a neighbor and was chosen by the city as the Hero. The city got in contact with members of my family to get more information about Phile and our family. We had no idea any of this was going on!

One afternoon my sister told us she had a surprise for our family and that we needed to go for a short drive to get to it. So we all got in the car and followed her a little over a mile from our house to a new park the city was building. When we pulled up, over a hundred people were there cheering and chanting Phile's name. There were family, friends, teachers, nurses - all people whose lives have been affected and hearts touched by their interaction with our son. It was incredible and we were completely shocked and overwhelmed! It turns out that the park the city was building is unique in that it is a handicapped accessible, special-needs park...and it was named after our son. There is a plaque on display with a picture of our son and his story which was written by my mom. The mayor was at the "reveal" and honored our son and our family. Our family was invited to ride in the parade and to be special guests at the Clint Black concert that weekend. It was also announced that all the proceeds from the city's celebration would be used to fund a rec program for the 200+ special needs children in our area. We were speechless! The park is nearly complete and we have asked to the city if we can add a handprint mural so Phile's park can honor all the special needs children in our city.

Where Phile lacks in "ability" he more than makes up for in heart. He has truly taught us the meaning of unconditional love. There are days where I find myself in a bad mood or feeling upset for one reason or another. Then I see my son who, in my mind, has every reason to be frustrated at life but is so happy and just smiles, laughs and finds joy in the simplest things. I am so grateful for his example, for my neighbor, the community that I am a part of, and my family who take the time to find the rainbows in the storms of life.

-Becky A.

wife to a fabulous man and mom 4 beautiful bio girls and 2 amazing boys we were blessed to find

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