Lighthouse Thoughts

Learning Empathy

When a child asks “what’s wrong with them” our answer needs to be what is right with them. “Every person in a child’s life can help him or her develop empathy, an important quality for personal and professional success.” Empathy Is Tough to Teach, But Is One Of the Most Important Life Lessons https://www.facebook.com/Chatbooks/videos/948176885313332/

Meeting the Needs of Birthmothers

At Beacon House we have a responsibility to our Birthmothers to provide the highest quality of care. The care and support that Beacon House’s birthmothers receive during the domestic adoption process is what makes our program successful. Here are a few links that explain some of many ways that we work with our birthmothers. Unplanned […]

Agency Fees

In general, adoption agency fees cover the cost of doing business. They include but are not limited to; rent, utilities, office supplies, employee salaries, insurance non-profit donations, marketing and advertising, web-site, collecting and organizing data, maintaining records, maintaining licenses, professional training, participating in a adoption expos and workshops, and more. Beacon House’s agency fees are […]

Why do We Need an Adoption Budget ?

An adoption budget is a necessary part of the adoption process. It allows us to match adoptive parents with a birthmother whose needs don’t exceed their financial means. Beacon House’s agency fees are set, they are do not change. Fees are structured so that families are paying a portion of the fees and expenses throughout their […]

Recess and Attention Deficit Disorder

Recess and Attention Deficit Disorder I think many parents of kids with ADHD would agree that when it comes to outdoor play, less is not more. One Texas school agrees. “According to Today, the Eagle Mountain Elementary in Fort Worth, Texas, has been giving kindergarten and first-grade students two 15-minute recess breaks every morning and […]

Requirements for Adoptive Families

Beacon House utilizes the most flexible criteria for accepting families into our adoption program, within the parameters of each state’s law. Adoptive families are required to complete an adoption home study, in the state they reside in, as part of the adoption process. This approval will allow BHAS to place a child with the adoptive […]

Advocacy for Teens that Struggle with ADHD

“I hear from so many worried parents about how their teen is struggling, hating school, not progressing, getting failing grades, developing bad attitudes, sustaining low self-esteem, and just seeming to not care as he/she just falls through cracks. Their teen is so impacted with this invisible medical diagnosis called ADHD that he may not even […]

Inconspicuous Families

When parents adopt a child of the same race, they retain a certain degree of anonymity. Unlike transracial adoptive families who become conspicuous families, these adoptive families do not share the same sense of urgency in addressing issues related to race and adoption. Being an inconspicuous family doesn’t mean that adoption issues are not important. […]

Diapers: Cloth versus Disposable

The average baby uses 8-10 diapers a day. Each year, more than 18 billion diapers went into landfills in America. Cloth diapers are less expensive and reduce the amount of landfill waste. Cloth diapers have been making a comeback. No more safety pins and plastic pants. Today’s diapers are easier to fit, have Velcro or […]

The 2017 Adoption Tax Credit

If you are completing an adoption in 2017, you may quality for the Adoption Tax Credit. The Federal Adoption Tax Credit for 2017 is $13,570 for “qualified adoption expenses.” According to the IRS, qualified adoption expenses may include: · Adoption fees · Attorney fees · Court costs · Travel expenses · Expenses directly related to the adoption For […]