The Foster and Adoptive Council of Tucson (FACT) is an organization comprised of 14 local agencies providing foster care and adoption services. Their purpose is to provide foster home and adoption resources to prospective parents and sponsor awareness among the community. They hold two orientations every month where prospective adoptive parents and go to learn more about the process. The informational meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. For more information please call 1-877-KIDS-NEED-U or visit their website at www.tucsonheartsandhomes.org.

St. Nicholas of Myra is the licensed adoption agency in Tucson, Arizona handling adoptions of children who are wards of the court in the custody of Child Protective Services. St Nicks is always recruiting adoptive parents for these children. Adoptions through St. Nicks are done at no cost to the adoptive parents. Adoption subsidy may also be available to assist with caring for these children. Anyone interested in adopting one or more children is urged to contact St. Nicks at 520 745-8791 or visit their website at www.ccs-stnicks.org.

On March 23, 2010 the Adoption Tax Credit was amended as a part of the Healthcare Bill.  The credit was increased to $13,170 for 2010, was extended through 2011 and made refundable.  These changes were made retrocactive to January 1, 2010.   Unlike past years where you had to carry the credit forward for up to five years if you were unable to use it all in one tax year, now if the amount of adoption related expenses that you claim reduces your federal tax obligation to to zero, you are entitled to a refund for the amount of any credit remaining.  If you are adopting a special needs child, you are entitled to claim the full amount of the credit, even if you have no adoption related expenses.  All adoptive parents who finalize their adoption in 2010 are urged to meet with a knowledgable tax professional to ensure that they receive all of the benefits of this new adoption tax credit.

At it’s annual meeting in April, 2009 the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys voted to create a specialty division of the academy, known as the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys.  Scott E Myers was invited into membership in this new organization and is now a Fellow of AAARTA as well as a Fellow of AAAA.

On June 1, 2009 Scott E Myers finalized 39 adoptions for relatives and foster parents.  This was a special adoption day celebration in the Pima County Juvenile Court to recognize these adoptive parents and thank them for  adopting these children in the custody of Child Protective Services.