Asistencia en adopción

Many children with special needs are unlikely to be adopted within a reasonable timeframe without adoption assistance. Adoption assistance provides payments that help facilitate these adoptions by supplementing the resources of adoptive parents. The state offers federal Title IV-E adoption assistance maintenance payments for children who meet both the state's definition of special needs and Title IV-E eligibility requirements.

State adoption assistance supports adoptive parents in meeting the basic maintenance needs of children who qualify for special needs and adoption assistance, regardless of whether eligibility is determined before or after the final adoption order. These supports apply to children who are not eligible for Title IV-E but have a signed adoption assistance agreement that specifies the Basic Maintenance payment approved by the LDSS and the adoptive parents.

Fostering Futures provides services and support to help adoptive parents meet the basic needs of young adults ages 18 to 21. Youth are eligible if they meet all required prerequisites and were 16 or older when their adoption assistance agreement was signed and active. Adoption assistance ends on the youth’s 18th birthday unless the youth has a documented condition that justifies continued support.