Uncategorized – Ismail Sirdah Photography

Blake Rubin Shares How Adoptive Children Can Afford College

Ismail — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 23:20:46 +0000

Millions of teenagers around the country are preparing to go into college. Many of them are worried about how they will pay for two, four, or six years of schooling. For some of these individuals, their worries are compounded by living with adoptive parents. They may not have known their parents for long and may be uncertain that their parents can help with the expenses of college. These students need to be aware of their situations and of their many alternatives for affording a college education.

Choose the right school

Choosing the right school can be essential for adoptive children trying to afford college. Blake Rubin stresses that not all colleges are created equally or hand out scholarships equally. Some schools are particularly tailor-made for individuals attempting to attend with a limited level of family support. They have a large number of scholarships and need-based financial aid available.

For some schools, they offer extremely low-cost loans on top of their financial aid packages. The most beneficial schools for adoptive children or other children with needs are those with low tuition rates to begin with. In particular, state schools have both low tuition rates and numerous financial aid packages available. Many of these schools provide a higher quality of education than their much more expensive private counterparts.

Scholarships

Scholarships are enormously helpful for adoptive children attempting to attend college. Many scholarships are targeted for adopted students who do not have the means to afford college. They may be means-tested and combine need with a desire for the best academic performers. Adoptive children have to work studiously and carefully in order to obtain one of these scholarships. They may have to spend dozens of hours writing and editing a scholarship essay. However, all of that work may be worth it if a scholarship completely eliminates the need of an individual to take out massive student loans.

Parental guidance

Adoptive parents may be helpful with some college expenses. Blake Rubin emphasizes the helpful nature of many adoptive parents. The vast majority of adoptive parents view their adopted children the same way that they would view biological children. As a result, they are often willing to help with college expenses in the same way that most parents help their biological children. Some parents may not be able to give as much as a student needs. Other parents may only give money if an individual works at the same time as they go to school. But whatever the situation, adoptive children should always inquire about the lengths their adoptive parents are willing to go to in order to fund their education.

Conclusion

Adoptive children should always stay in close contact with their adoptive parents throughout the college application process. Those parents may be willing to financially help a prospective college student and ensure their college success. If their help is not sufficient, the student should make wise choices and always keep finances in the back of their minds. Paying for college may turn out to be more influential for a child’s future than the particular degree that they earn.

7 Ways Donating Makes An Impact

Ismail — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 23:24:23 +0000

It does not matter the
quantity of your donation, what matters is that your donation will ultimately
make a significant difference. You do not necessarily have to benefit from your
donation but in some cases, you will be surprised to find out you are reaping
the fruits of your own generosity. Here are some positive impacts of giving.

It Brings More Pleasure.

When you give, it brings
more pleasure to you. Recent research studies show that when you give, your
brain depicts the same characteristics as when you are eating something sweet
or when you are having sex. This means the middle region of your brain is lit.
This is the same area responsible for the cravings you experience on the things
you like e.g. food etc. Simply, just donating makes you have a good feeling and
this is something you can draw benefits from.

Makes Your Life More Meaningful.

When you give to charity you
bring more meaning to your life in the sense that, in the process of giving you
get to meet new people. You interact with people who believe in the same cause
as you. As a matter of fact, this will inspire you. Your life will no longer be
that boring but instead, you will have something rejuvenating you from time to
time.

Improve Money Management.

When you give you to improve
your personal management of money. When you set a particular amount of money to
donate each month week or year, you will be able to give more
attention to your money there for improving your management. This will make you
not to default in the donation. This is a motivation to put more attention to
your finances.

Promote Generosity.

When you give, you actually
promote the virtue of generosity, especially to your children. Of course, you
know your children look up to you as a role model. So when they see you giving
to charity, it is a good sign to the young ones. Make sure anytime you give,
the kid is there seeing what you are doing. This is a seed you are planting in
the kid so in future you are sure they will do the same.

However, don’t make it look
like a show-off or brag. Ensure that the minor interprets the deed as voluntary
and that you did it willingly with a humble heart. Giving is a good deed so it
should not come out boastful. There should be generosity and love when you
give.

A source of Motivation.

Quite surprisingly giving
can be a source of motivation not only to you but also to the friends and
family. According to Julie Queler when you give, you
motivate your friends and family to do the same. So your giving actually has a
positive impact on society.

Tax Deduction.

When you give to approved
organization your donations are written off on your tax returns. However, some
restrictions are applicable. Donating your money for a good cause can get your
tax money reduced.

Helping Others in Need.

According to Julie Queler,
the fact is that is that at any point in life there must be people in need.
Even though you might be experiencing challenges in your finances, there is
always a person in
a worse situation than you. Therefore giving helps somebody else
survive the harsh economic times we are living in.

In conclusion, giving to
charity appears to be like a global good act for the poor. However, giving can
be good for you too as we have seen. So start giving today and if you have been
doing so keep up the good work.

How to Cover College Expenses for Your Adopted Child From Foster Care

Ismail — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 23:32:17 +0000

There are over 400, 000 children in the United States who do not have permanent families. While many people in America may have considered adoption, very few have managed to make their adoption formal. One of the reasons for this is the high cost of raising a child including paying college tuition. The cost of a college education is very high, but if a person can access the various resources available to reduce this cost, it can be a great reliever. With that said, parents who have adopted from foster care can use the following programs to cover college expenses for their adopted children.

Federal Programs

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) is one the federal programs that was established in the year 2009 to provide financial aid to any child that was adopted from foster care with an age of 13 years and above. Such children are considered to be independent students who do not rely on family income and therefore qualifies for this financial aid. Education and Training Voucher (ETV) is another federal program that provides financial assistance of about $5000 per annum to every child who was adopted at the age of 16 and above from foster care. This aid is provided from federal funds in different states to children who are in colleges or at any accredited technical training program. Their adoptive parents should do their homework by helping their children apply for these programs. It will become easy to pay for their higher education.

Scholarship Programs

Every state has its own way of establishing and managing scholarship programs, and you will find that some might consider the income of the family while others will not. This means that if you are an adoptive parent who has moved from one state to another, you must get to understand how scholarship programs are handled and administered in your new state to avoid having your child miss the scholarship. Rusty Tweed, a renowned economics blogger, has gone on his ways to provide you with a list of few scholarship programs in different states.

• Delaware: Here, you will find scholarship programs that are available for any child who has been to foster care. During the evaluation of applications, the income of the family is one of the considerations.

• Columbia: Any child who was adopted from the foster care system in the District of Columbia is entitled to scholarships for vocational training and colleges since the year 2000.

• Illinois: Scholarships for children from foster care in Illinois are usually administered by the Department of Child and Family services as long they were adopted from the DFS’s custody and placed to subsidized guardianship.

• New Jersey: In New Jersey, youths adopted from foster care at the age of 12 years and above are eligible for college scholarship programs. The adoptive parents should look for Foster and Adoptive Services in the state to access these scholarships.

• Oklahoma: Oklahoma’s way of administering scholarship programs is very different from other states because it is more based on the behavior and achievement of your child. For instance, if your child enrolls for the Oklahoma Higher Education Access Program (OHLAP) in their 8th, 9th and 10th grade, maintain a score of 2.5 GPA and be well behaved, his tuition in any public college or university will be fully covered. In doing this, they also consider family income except for foster youths whose family income doesn’t matter.

These are few examples of states whereby scholarship programs have been helping children adopted from foster care to get educated through college, vocational training and universities. Every state offers scholarship programs, and you must know where and when to apply for one.

Tuition Waivers Programs

Tuition waivers are programs that have been supporting most children adopted from foster care through college education by waiving their tuition. Some of the states that provide tuition waivers include Florida, Kentucky, Connecticut, Maryland, Maine, Texas, Virginia and Massachusetts among others. Rusty Tweed says that, as an adoptive parent, you need to contact educational institutions directly to know more of all programs that are available for your adopted child.

Adrian Rubin Discusses Strategies for Supporting Chicago Students

Ismail — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 22:30:26 +0000

Due to a confluence of factors both inside and outside its city limits, Chicago’s education system has been the subject of national attention and encouraged vigorous debate about the best way to ensure all students are provided the education they rightly deserve. Many of the same challenges facing Chicago’s students can be found throughout the general area surrounding the city, including in places like Joliet, La Grange, and Hinsdale, not to mention countless other cities throughout the state of Illinois and indeed across the entire country.

According to Adrian Rubin, there are a variety of ways in which students, regardless of geography, can access the kind of education that opens up so many future opportunities. One of the principal strategies for ensuring educational enrichment involves the cultivation and maintenance of a supportive network made up of family members, peers, teachers, tutors, and community members.

Obviously, establishing a robust educational support system is far easier said than done, particularly since it requires the involvement of so many different people on an ongoing basis. It is for this reason that the recent national attention focused upon Chicago’s educational system and the students who are a part of this system is such a positive development.

Involvement

Despite the differences of opinion expressed by various parties involved in this debate, there is universal agreement that education is critical to the development of the nation’s children and that every child deserves an exceptional, enriching educational experience. And while there are systemic issues that must be addressed, it is possible for immediate action to be taken that benefits all students: Everyone can support a student in some way, whether it is through philanthropy, tutoring, or even just by expressing interest and offering encouragement in a student’s education and academic success.

Challenges

The challenges currently facing Chicago-area communities – not to mention the country at large – have no easy solution, and it is indeed necessary that these challenges be addressed as quickly as possible. The recent $1 million donation made by Chicago native Chance the Rapper certainly succeeded in drawing attention to the larger issues facing the education system, as well as showcasing the value of an arts-based education, but there is still a great deal that must be done to ensure Chicago students benefit from educational enrichment.

In the meantime, it is necessary to remember that everyone has a vested interest in the nation’s education system, and all of society benefits when its population is composed of thoughtful, well-educated citizens.

6 Ways Grants Can Help Finance Adoptions

Ismail — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:28:06 +0000

Choosing to adopt and raise a child born into unfavorable circumstances is a noble act. Unfortunately, not everyone who is willing to take on the challenges posed by adopting a child are capable of bearing the financial cost it presents at the start.

Dedicated families and individuals do not have to give up on their plan to adopt and raise a child simply because of the financial obstacles in front of them however, and that’s because grants are now widely available. Grants can be pursued for different kinds of endeavors. Dr. Usha Rajagopal offers a grant to entrepreneurs, and educational grants are also available to students.

Families and individuals can also apply for a kind of different grant which will be discussed in greater detail below.

Grants Can Help Finance International Adoptions

There are obvious financial hurdles that can get in the way of adopting a child from a different country, but families willing to put in the work to apply for a grant can get around those.

According to Cradle of Hope, the organization known as A Child Waits can provide financial assistance to families who want to adopt a child from another country. The grant does not exceed $5,000, but that amount of money should help families immensely.

Grants Can Help Finance Adoptions of Vulnerable Children

According to Home Grown School Feeding, vulnerable children are those who are under 18 years of age who are at high risk of not receiving the adequate amount of care and protection. Different kinds of vulnerable children exist, including those who have been abandoned, orphaned, are living with a disability, are HIV-positive, dealing with abuse and/or poverty, reside in an area where armed conflict is rampant, or are discriminated against.

The Gift of Adoption foundation provides a grant that can go as high as $7000 to families who want to adopt vulnerable children.

Grants Can Help Finance Adoptions of Special Needs Children

Special needs children require love and attention from truly loving families and individuals. Because of their learning issues, physical ailments, or long-term illnesses, it may be difficult for them to receive the kind of care they need.

The Rollstone Foundation is driven to bring special needs children together with the people who will properly care for them, and they do so by offering a grant that can reach up to $5,000.

Grants Can Help Finance Adoptions for Childless Families and Individuals

Love is something for people to share. For childless families and individuals, they may have plenty of love to give but no one they can share that with, but that may no longer be an issue thanks to Childless Mothers Adopt.

The aforementioned organization offers financial aid of up to $5000 to the childless families and individuals who win the grant.

Grants Can Help Finance Adoptions for Same-Sex Households

Same-sex couples looking to start a family may encounter a roadblock too due to having insufficient funds. For these couples, they can turn to organizations such as Help Us Adopt for assistance.

Help Us Adopt offers financial grants that can range greatly in value. A grant from them can be as low as $500 or as high as $15,000.

Grants Can Help Finance Adoptions for Members of the Military

The Department of Defense can reimburse active service members up to $2000 for each adoptive child or up to $5000 a year for the expenses they incurred from completing an adoption.

Financial obstacles may make it tougher for people to adopt children, but they are not impossible to overcome. Thanks to the abundance of adoption grants now available, many people who want to improve the life of a child will be able to do so if they put the time and effort needed to receive that financial assistance.