Title IVe

What Is Adoption Subsidy, Who Gets It, How Much, and for How Long

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Tue, 09/16/2008 - 22:06

When a person or family adopts a special needs child, older child, or sibling group from the U.S. foster care system, most may request an adoption subsidy. The definition of older child, special needs, and eligible sibling group varies from state to state while the federal government sets Title IVe definition. In some states, a three year old in foster care is automatically eligible for subsidy while in other states a single child must be at least six. Some states consider a sibling group of two children automatically eligible for support subsidy, while other states only consider larger sibling groups. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and a child with real physical special needs is usually eligible regardless of age. Children who fall under Title IVe receive part of their subsidy from the federal government. They also qualify for ongoing Medicaid coverage until their eighteenth birthday.

ACT FAST - Key Bills Pending in U.S. Congress

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Fri, 09/05/2008 - 20:58

Contact your state senator now if you have special needs children through foster care adoption, kinship care, guardianship, or tribal foster care. If you plan to adopt or parent children through any of these avenues, then contact your state senator. Send an urgent email or call by September 10. September 10 is when the Senate is scheduled to act on key child welfare legislation. NACAC (North American Council on Adoptable Children) is encouraging everyone to contact their state Senators to ask them to support S. 3038.

S. 3038 is one of the key bills pending in Congress. “Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act” Here is what NACAC says S. 3038 will do for families parenting special needs children.

  •  reauthorize and expand the adoption incentive program

  • make all foster children with special needs eligible for federal adoption assistance (de-linking from old AFDC income standards)

  • create a federal subsidized guardianship program to support relatives who become guardians so that their kin can permanently leave care