Archive for March, 2010

The latest LOCI Newsletter (Winter 2009) is now posted on our website. Click on the pdf icon below to “read all about it”.

LOCI – Winter 2009

Lions Camp Crescendo is looking for Volunteers this summer at three different camps. Please take a look at the ad below. If you can volunteer contact them as indicated. It is well worth the time you spend there with the children!!

There are lots of opportunities to become a Camp counselor this summer. One is Camp Freedom, formed in 2006 by Lions Camp Crescendo and Foster Care Agencies. The camp is made possible with foundation grants and donations from individuals, clubs, and companies. Camp Freedom is a collaboration between Lions Camp Crescendo, Inc. and Foster Care Agencies.

Camp Freedom Mission:
To provide a memorable camping experience for these children in a safe and secure environment while providing a week of respite for the caregivers.

Camp Freedom Goal:
To provide a camp experience that will last a lifetime and to provide activities to help the children build confidence, learn about teamwork, anger management, and trusting/sharing with others. Eligibility: Camp Freedom is open to children (ages 6 – 11 with a level of care 1 – 3)) with mild to moderate behavioral, emotional, and physical needs that are in Foster Care or are in the custody of their grandparents. Attendance restrictions for the 2010 camp are limited to 100 campers from the following counties: Anderson, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Fayette, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Henry, Jefferson (limited to 30 campers), Jessamine, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Pendleton, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Washington, and Woodford. All camps are FREE to campers and volunteer counselors!

Counselor Ad-2

Good news for newly adoptive families from the health care bill signed into law today. The adoption tax credit has been extended until the end of 2011 and increased from $12,170 to $13,170 for adoptions occurring after January 1, 2010 (it’s retroactive). Even better, the credit is now refundable.

Amidst the intense controversy of the health care bill signed into law by President Obama yesterday, there’s at least one provision every orphan advocate can cheer.  The adoption tax credit was preserved for another year…and increased in value!

To encourage and support adoption, the adoption tax credit was expanded by President Bush and Congress in 2001.  This increased the value of the credit from $5,000 to $10,000, and indexed it for inflation (meaning the credit would increase each year to keep up with inflation.)  For 2010, its value had risen to $12,170.  However, the 2001 increase was scheduled to “sunset” at the end of 2010.  This would mean that any adoptions finalized after December 31, 2010 would be eligible for—at most—a credit of only $5,000.

This sunset has now been extended one year.  That means that it will need to be extended again before the end of 2011.  For the present, however, this extension comes as very welcome news for families considering adoption or in the adoption process.

Specifically, the provisions contained in the health care bill include:

• The current adoption tax credit has been extended until the end of 2011;
• The value of the adoption tax credit has been increased from $12,170 to $13,170.
• The increase is “retroactive,” meaning that any adoption occurring after January 1, 2010 is eligible for this higher credit.
• The credit is now refundable.   This means that even families that owe zero taxes can receive the full tax credit in the form of a tax refund to help with their adoption-related expenses.

From the Bill’s text:

See page 903 of 906 at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3590enr.txt.pdf

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If you find the 2409 page version, its on page 2400. It’s the very last section. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3590:

USA Today’s brief analysis:

“Taxpayers who adopt children: Effective in 2010, the bill makes the adoption credit refundable, increases the credit by $1,000 and extends the increased adoption credit through 2011.”

http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2010-03-23-health-care-taxpayers_N.htm

HT: Christian Alliance for Orphans Blog

LOCI is coordinating an Easter Chapel Service at Boys & Girls Haven on Wed, March 31 from 6:00-7:30 pm.

This will hopefully be the first of many services.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email info@louisvilleorphancare.com.