If you’re a resident of Pennsylvania who is considering adopting a child, you may be able to qualify for support and service assistance. You should make sure you meet all the criteria required to seek these forms of assistance.
What is adoption assistance?
Individuals who are adopting children from foster care programs should know about adoption assistance that may be available to them. These programs are in place to help parents ensure that the needs of children they adopt can be met. There are different criteria a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption assistance on the federal or state level.
Who can qualify for adoption assistance and service assistance?
The state has certain requirements that must be met for individuals to qualify for adoption assistance. In general, adoptions that qualify for these types of assistance involve children with special needs who meet certain criteria:
• The child is available to be adopted.
• The child has a specific condition or factor that qualifies them for assistance.
• There were reasonable efforts made to put the child into a home without assistance unless it’s not in their best interest, such as a strong emotional bond with the adoptive parents.
Certain conditions and qualifying factors make a child eligible for assistance. They include the following:
• The child is between 5 and 21 years of age.
• The child is considered a racial or ethnic minority.
• The child is one of two or more siblings who have been adopted into the same family and home.
• The child has a physical, mental or emotional disability or condition.
• The child has a genetic condition that carries a high risk of them developing a disability or disease.
Adoption assistance benefits and payments
If an adoptive child qualifies for assistance, there are usually monthly payments made toward the adoptive parents. Those payments are never to exceed the payment the child received from monthly foster care maintenance. Adoption assistance payments are made starting on the date of the agreement.
Qualifying children can also receive medical services through Medicaid. This includes services for physical, mental, behavioral and other health services. If you’re considering adoption, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with all the available programs in your state.