The Ricketts Family
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Dara and Justin Ricketts struggled with infertility for five years before they decided that there was another way for them to have children. As Dara explains, “We took a while to decide to start the adoption process because we weren’t sure how we were going to pay for it. We decided to put it in God’s hands.” When they learned about the adoption tax credit, the Ricketts knew they could move forward with adoption.
Not long after the Ricketts began the process, beautiful baby Kensie was placed in their arms. Their daughter brought them such joy that they decided to pursue adoption again. The adoption tax credit is vital in their efforts to be able to afford to bring another child into their family through adoption.
The Peach Family
Kansas City, Kansas
In January 2009, Susan and Jay Peach’s niece’s children entered foster care. Kayla, Ethan, and Markus, ages 6 months to 3 years old, were separated from one another and moved several times in foster care. Susan and Jay were determined to bring them together into their family of five, so they spent their life savings to fight to have the children placed with them. Eventually, the children were placed in their home in November 2009.
Susan, a social worker, and Jay, a minister, had limited resources but did what needed to be done to care for Kayla, Ethan, and Markus. They provided the children with clothes and furniture and purchased an eight-passenger van so their newly expanded family could travel in one vehicle. Because the children had experienced such turmoil in their short lives, Susan and Jay reduced their work hours and worked split shifts so one of them was always home. Susan explains, “We had never planned or positioned ourselves to raise six children, three of whom have significant special needs. We had depleted our savings, cut our income to facilitate their healing, and added un-thought of expenses – and we would do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
Although the Peaches were prepared to adopt soon after the children entered their home, numerous court and other delays prevented a timely adoption process. Since the adoption finalized in 2012, the Peach family was not eligible for a refundable adoption tax credit. With moderate incomes and six dependents, the Peaches are exactly the type of family that need the adoption tax credit to be made refundable in order to benefit from it at all.
The Mosley Family
Sparta, Wisconsin
Sarah and Jeremy would not have been able to adopt their baby without the tax credit. Sarah explains that “the stress of paying for the adoption was difficult.” Their adoption fees were equal to Sarah’s salary as a teacher, and they could never have afforded them without the credit, which helped the family pay off the loans they took out to make the adoption possible. The Mosleys were so profoundly affected by their first adoption experience that they would like to adopt again.
The Christian Family
Elk Grove, California
The Christian family had one-year-old twins placed with them in October 2011. The twins have significant medical needs and developmental delays from severe neglect. One of the girls has a rare autoimmune disease that attacks her kidneys and results in frequent hospitalizations. In spite of these challenges, Ashley exclaims, “They are such a blessing and delight to our lives and we are so happy to see them thriving in a loving home!”
Because the adoption finalized in 2012 and they have a moderate income, the Christians won’t benefit from the adoption tax credit. Funds from such a credit, Ashley explains, “would enable us to provide therapies for our girls that are not otherwise covered and that we cannot currently afford. It would also help us provide for their future needs – both medical and otherwise.” Due to the girls’ disabilities, they require a full-time stay-at-home parent, so the family cannot benefit if the credit is not refundable.