In Washington D.C., legislators are celebrating what they view as a triumph: the preservation of the adoption tax credit. They claim this measure reflects a commitment to supporting families and preventing children from languishing in foster care, suggesting it’s a pathway for deserving families to adopt. However, I find this notion incredibly misguided.
The reality is that the adoption tax credit is failing to achieve its primary goal. Instead of effectively facilitating the transition of children from foster care to permanent homes, it has merely alleviated some of the financial burdens associated with infant adoption. This issue has not been solved, as evidenced by the staggering number of children awaiting adoption. In Ohio alone, there are 453 children and sibling groups still in need of loving homes, while the national count stands at 100,000.
The disconnection is glaring. The tax credit is meant to encourage adoptions from foster care, but it has primarily benefited those seeking to adopt infants, often costing tens of thousands of dollars in a system that can be both coercive and emotionally challenging. Families are left waiting for years to bring home a newborn while so many older children sit in foster care, waiting for their forever families.
While the tax credit provides some financial relief for families adopting from foster care, it falls short of addressing the broader needs of these families. Support systems to help integrate older children into new homes are virtually nonexistent. Moreover, there are no tax credits to assist pregnant individuals facing the difficult decisions surrounding abortion, parenting, or adoption. These individuals often lack adequate resources and are met with judgment rather than genuine support.
As the founder of a pro-choice adoption agency, I strive to ensure that the pregnant women we serve are fully informed of their options—be it adoption, abortion, or parenting—so they can make the choice that brings them peace. It’s disheartening to witness lawmakers prioritizing unborn children over those already struggling in our systems. In the same breath, they propose cutting the minimal funds that would aid living children in finding adoptive homes while simultaneously attempting to assign financial rights to fetuses.
This approach is not about genuinely caring for families or children. It’s about pushing political agendas. The fact that lawmakers saved the adoption credit while neglecting the needs of pregnant women is glaring. They continue to ignore the essential social support programs that have been systematically dismantled, leaving pregnant women without options or resources. They do nothing to enhance affordable childcare, provide solid foundations for parenting, or support those navigating the foster care system.
While I appreciate that the adoption credit remains intact, it’s clear that our lawmakers have overlooked the pressing needs of pregnant women. If we truly want to reduce the number of children in foster care and genuinely support families, we need to enhance financial aid for low-income citizens, increase living expenses for those considering adoption, and protect women’s reproductive rights.
The adoption credit is a necessary tool, but it represents a mere fraction of the comprehensive support system that at-risk pregnant women require. Until such a system is established, we must continue advocating for better resources for these women.
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In summary, while the adoption tax credit serves a purpose, it is far from sufficient. A more robust support system for pregnant women and families is essential to ensure that children in foster care can find loving homes.