Why A Helping Hand?

Although A Helping Hand is a Christian, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt ministry, we do not have a formal statement of faith to which we require client adherence. But so that you may know more about "who we are," we provide two articles that will further reveal our heart to you. The first article was written by AHH Founder, Tony Brewer, several years ago and is called The Spirit of Adoption. The second article is a reprint of a short devotional given by Tony's wife, Cindy, at the Bluebank Church of God

The Spirit of Adoption - Tony Brewer
Spiritual Adoption - Cindy Brewer

Accreditation and Accountability

• We were among the first agencies to get Hague accredited with the Council on Accreditation. The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is an international treaty created to ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children and to prevent abduction, exploitation, sale, or trafficking of children.

• We are members of the National Council For Adoption, the National Christian Adoption Fellowship, and Kentucky Adoption Coalition. Memberships in these organizations ensure that we maintain high ethical standards and that we have access to the most current adoption information.

• A Helping Hand maintains a collective trade voice to speak on your behalf to elected government representatives at home and foreign adoption officials abroad.

• Our staff has been devoted to the well being of children around the world since 1995. Each year we facilitate approximately two hundred adoptions helping orphans find loving homes with families in the United States.

A Helping Hand Commitment to Children

• We believe that even the finest orphanages and foster homes with the best caregivers and most advanced equipment cannot replace the love of a parent. Therefore, we are committed to find forever families for orphaned children born in the US and abroad.

• We are committed to ministering to those orphans who, for various reasons, may not be adopted. We will share the love of Christ through the provision of humanitarian aid and support for caregivers.

A Helping Hand Commitment to Families

• We educate families about the adoption process.

• We fully disclose fees and costs associated with adoption.

• We assign a Family Advocate to each case to assist the family throughout their adoption journey.

• We provide families with regular updates on their adoption process as well as assistance with adoption recourses should the family experience any challenges.

• We promptly communicate with our families to answer any questions and address their concerns regarding the adoption process.

• We hold our families’ hand throughout the entire process starting with their application until they arrive home with their precious child.

Outreach

• For the benefit of those children who may not be placed, we conduct and maintain Christian humanitarian outreach programs. Examples of such programs include well digging and water installation, Ministry Team visits to orphanages to assist overworked caregivers, birth country foster care, hiring of additional orphanage workers, provision of needed medical operations, orphanage worker training, installation of playground equipment, and funding for surgeries for children.

AHH Statistics

Adoption Placements per Year

2007-190

2006-183

2005-187

2004-209

Disruptions

2007- 0

2006- 0

2005- 0

2004- 0

Dissolutions

2007- 1

2006- 0

2005- 1

2004- 1

Percentage of Placements Intact

2007- 99.5%

2006- 100%

2005- 99.5%

2004- 99.5%

2. The number of parents who apply to adopt on a yearly basis, based on data for the prior three calendar years: 302

2007- 160

2006- 333

2005- 414

2004- 261 

3. The number of children eligible for adoption and awaiting an adoptive placement referral via the agency or person:

China (Regular Adoption):  The number of Chinese children eligible for adoption through the “regular” process and awaiting adoptive placement via A Helping Hand cannot be provided to clients, as children are referred to our agency only as dossiers from eligible families are submitted.  General statistics for Chinese adoptions are as follows: During the year 2006, 6,493 Immigrant Visas were issued to orphans coming to the United States from China.  This is down from 2005 (7,906) and 2004 (7,044).  (Source: US Dept. of State)  The number of children eligible for adoption and awaiting an adoptive placement referral in China is unknown.

China (Special Needs):  The number of Chinese children eligible for adoption through the special needs program can be provided to clients as the CCAA updates their electronic database. A Helping Hand participates in China Special Needs On-Line Program. The China Center for Adoption Affairs granted AHH access to their electronic database of Waiting Children. Several agencies share this database and any agency may apply for a child on the list. The list is being renewed regularly and the CCAA maintains from 100 to 300 Waiting Children on the list the exact number is available to clients at any time if they call our office.  China statistics are listed above.

Guatemala:  The number of Guatemalan children eligible for adoption and awaiting adoptive placement via A Helping Hand can be provided to clients, but that number cannot be maintained with any accuracy as it changes from day to day depending on births and waiting lists to accept referrals.  General statistics for Guatemalan adoptions are as follows: During the year 2006, 4,135 Immigrant Visas were issued to orphans coming to the United States from Guatemala.  This is up from 2005 (3,783) and 2004 (3,264).  (Source: US Dept. of State)  The number of children eligible for adoption and awaiting an adoptive placement referral in Guatemala is unknown.