$10,000 TAX CREDIT GIVEN TO FAMILIES OF FOSTER KIDS.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

A new federal law provides a $10,000 tax credit for adopting a child, officials said Thursday as they voiced hope that it will enable more families to consider adoption.

``We are pleased that the new federal tax credit will give families, particularly those adopting children from foster care, needed economic support and make it possible for more people to consider adoption,'' said Janis Spire, executive director of the Alliance for Children's Rights in Los Angeles.

Before the law took effect Jan. 1, parents were entitled to take the credit only to offset ``qualified'' adoption expenses, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

The majority of families adopting in Los Angeles County did not qualify because their expenses were paid by the county or provided by volunteer attorneys such as those associated with the Alliance for Children's Rights and Public Counsel.

``Most of the adoptions are handed by pro bono lawyers,'' said Sharon Appel, a spokeswoman for the alliance. ``The alliance handles a third of all foster care adoptions in the county and does not charge adopting parents.''

Adopting parents can use the tax credit up to five years after the adoption is finalized. Every parent or couple who adopts a child from foster care and earns less than $150,000 a year qualifies to claim the full $10,000 tax credit.

For more information on how to adopt a foster child, call Appel of the alliance at [phone].