^{Adoption is a beautiful journey — and the Federal Adoption Tax Credit (ATC) can make it more affordable for families across the U.S.!} 🙌 ^{Whether you’re pursuing domestic, foster care, or international adoption, this tax credit puts real dollars back in your pocket.}

✨ ^{What you need to know:}
📌 ^{For adoptions finalized in 2025, families can receive up to $17,280 per child as a tax credit. For 2026 adoptions, the credit increases to $17,670.}
📌 ^{Even better: part of the credit is now partially refundable}
📌 ^{The credit covers qualified adoption expenses like agency fees, court costs, legal fees, travel, and more.}
📌 ^{Families with moderate incomes may qualify for the full credit; higher incomes may see a phased amount.}

💡 ^{Pro tip: You don’t need to be a tax expert — but chatting with a tax professional can help ensure you get all the benefits available to you!}

^{👉 Have questions? Visit the National Council for Adoption’s Tax Credit Q&A for answers to common questions and the latest updates.}

Dear Friends of HOAA,

The wait is over — tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 HOAA Gala, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. 🎉

This year’s gala will be an unforgettable evening of connection, impact, and purpose as we come together to support children, youth, and families touched by foster care and adoption. The night will feature inspiring stories, meaningful moments, and a special tribute honoring our founder’s 70th birthday and legacy of love and service.

Whether you are a longtime supporter or joining us for the first time, your presence helps make this work possible — ensuring families receive the support they need, and that hope continues to grow.

🎟️ Tickets are available now. 👉Click here to reserve your seat

We want to extend a special thank you to the Yerrid Foundation, our Presenting Sponsor, for their generous commitment to children and families. Their support is helping make this year’s gala—and its impact—possible.

Thank you for being part of the HOAA family. We look forward to celebrating alongside you.

With gratitude,

Dr. Brigette Schupay, Executive Director

Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. - HOAA

Do you love gorgeous clothes, bags, and jewelry? If so, this event is for you! Join us Saturday, October 4th, from 11 am to 2 pm for the Veronica Beard Give Back Event in Hyde Park. Learn more about what we do while you sip champagne and meet our staff. 15% of all sales go to support HOAA programs. To RSVP email: TampaRSVP@veronicabeard.com 

Join us downtown at the Tampa Moms Group FALL FEST on 9/27/! We’ll be passing out cookies and information about adopting from foster care. We’d love to see you!

New! Adoptive Parent Education Series begins on October 28th. This is a state-required training for all families hoping to adopt from foster care. Email info@adopthoaa.org to reserve your spot.

\

Adoption News

^{What Stops Families from Adopting?}

We ask this question EVERY DAY at HOAA. Thanks to the outstanding work of the National Council for Adoption, we now have a better understanding of why families don’t complete adoptions (read the full article).

First and foremost, families believe they can’t afford to adopt. Fortunately, numerous resources are available to help offset the costs, including grants, tax credits, employer benefits, and fundraising opportunities. These tools can make adoption more affordable and accessible, especially for families pursuing domestic or foster care adoption.

Adoption grants are one of the most popular forms of financial assistance. Families can apply to multiple grant providers, such as Helpusadopt.org, Gift of Adoption, or the National Adoption Foundation. Each organization has its application process and eligibility requirements, often considering factors such as income, the type of adoption being pursued, and financial need. While competitive, grants can provide thousands of dollars in assistance.

In addition to grants, many families benefit from the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, which can provide up to several thousand dollars in tax relief for qualified adoption expenses. Some employers also offer adoption assistance benefits, including reimbursement for certain expenses or paid leave, so it’s always worth checking with your HR department. Families can also raise funds through peer-to-peer campaigns, sharing their story to invite community support.

State agency employees, veterans, service members, law enforcement officers, tax collector employees, and health care practitioners in Florida are eligible for a $25,000 lump sum payment if they adopt a child from foster care.

Combining these resources—grants, tax credits, employer benefits, and fundraising—can significantly reduce or even eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of adoption. With some research and planning, financial concerns don’t have to stand in the way of growing your family through adoption.

Hearts behind the Mission

^{Keeping Our Dream Alive}

We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we've received through these recent donations.

Without the support of our community, HOAA would not exist. We are always humbled when we receive funding to support our mission. There are so many worthwhile organizations doing fantastic work, so we take our gifts very seriously. HOAA recently received a $5,000 donation from the Krewe of Queen Anne’s Revenge to provide home study scholarships to four adoptive families. We also received a $10,000 donation from the Page Hill Foundation this month to cover the cost of Search and Support services for four lucky families. We will announce the application processes and eligibility requirements soon, so stay tuned. Finances should never be a barrier to adopting a child. Lastly, to our surprise, we were gifted $2,500 from the Lightning Foundation. A special thank you to their Executive Director, Elizabeth Frazier, for always believing in our work. HOAA board members Jeanne Tate and Erica Healey accepted the gift on HOAA’s behalf.

Family Updates

Finally Home (for Good)

2025 has been an outstanding year so far for HOAA families. Six children have finalized their adoptions, and another five children have found the family they were dreaming about.

The V. Family was matched with a 13-year-old teen who experienced placement instability for more than ten years, and spent the last year in foster care. She will finally have the peace of staying put and establishing roots.

The C. Family was matched with siblings, ages 9 and 7, who spent nearly two years in foster care.

The A. Family was matched with a 16-year-old teen, who has been in foster care for 7 months.

This month, T. (age 6), moved into her new home with the K. family after nearly three years in foster care.

Congrats to all these families - we are excited for what the future holds for these children!

The M Family - Finalized

The M Family - Finalized! The P Family - Finalized!

Parenting Tips

Strengthening Your Family Webinar

Interventions for Working with Traumatized Children, Teens, and Families in Foster Care and Adoption

Thursday, July 17th, 2025 | 1:00PM – 2:30PM EST 

This FREE live interactive webinar introduces participants to creative and effective approaches for parenting traumatized children. Participants will learn targeted interventions designed to foster emotional regulation, create narratives, and strengthen attachment, bonding, and family resilience.

The webinar offers a variety of proven methods for working with children aged five and older, with step-by-step instructions, structured activities, examples, and required materials for each intervention.

To register: Catalog | C.A.S.E. Institute 

*Use coupon code INTERVENTIONS to receive free registration at checkout.

Get involved

Send us your recipes!

We need your recipes and stories for our first-ever HOAA cookbook! Whether it's your grandmother’s apple cheesecake or your favorite holiday side dish, we want to share what makes family- great food! Send us your best recipes and any bits of parenting advice or adoption wisdom.

Thanks for reading.

💛 HOAA

P.S.

New here? Are you interested in learning more about adopting from foster care? Want to volunteer? Email us today - so many children need your help!

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, there are over 400,000 children in foster care, 100,000 of whom are available for immediate adoption.  America’s foster care/dependency system is overburdened, understaffed, and underfunded. Inexcusably, children die while in foster care and it is not uncommon for states to incur multimillion-dollar judgments for failing to protect children in foster care.

Many children wait five years to be adopted if they are adopted at all. During that wait, children are often shifted multiple times between foster homes, losing connections to schools, teachers, friends, neighbors, and foster parents. Tens of thousands of children in foster care age out of the system without a forever family.  These young adults exit foster care simply because they are too old to remain in care. Without family or any dependable adults to rely on for assistance, foster youth are at high risk for homelessness, unemployment, illness, incarceration, welfare dependency, early childbearing, and sexual and physical victimization.     

IS FOSTER CARE ADOPTION AFFORDABLE?

While private forms of adoption can cost upwards of $40,000, adopting a child from foster care costs very little. The required adoptive parent training class and home study are provided free of charge or at low cost if you want the private sector to navigate this and advocate for you.  In addition, most adoptive parents who adopt a child from foster care are entitled to (a) a monthly subsidy until the child turns 18 years old; (b) health care for the child through the Medicaid program; and (c) a substantial federal adoption tax credit.

WHO CAN ADOPT A FOSTER CARE CHILD?

To be eligible to adopt from foster care, you can be married or single, already a parent or never a parent, in your 60s or in your 20s, an apartment renter or a homeowner, or a person of modest means or wealth. If you can love a child, provide the basics for a child, and make a lifelong commitment, you can be an adoptive parent. Some things will prevent you from becoming an adoptive parent, such as certain felony criminal records.

WILL I RECEIVE A COMPLETE HISTORY?

Yes. One of the benefits of adopting from the state is having access to a comprehensive case history. You will be given information on the child's medical background, foster placements, and developmental level. You will also be given insight into the child's personality, habits, hobbies, aspirations, likes and dislikes.

CAN THE PARENTS TAKE THE CHILD BACK?

No.  Children in foster care are not made available for adoption until a court has terminated parental rights. This form of adoption is very secure.

IS POST-ADOPTION SUPPORT PROVIDED?

Yes. The local community-based care agency provides assistance such as information and referral services, support groups, adoption-related libraries, case management and training.

WHERE DO I GET STARTED?

HOAA’S Hearts to Home Program is designed for families seeking to adopt from foster care and provides supportive resources and services unique to this system.

Contact HOAA at info@adopthoaa.org to learn more.