Adoption Assistance

Most of the children now available for adoption are those for whom it has taken agencies longer to find adoptive families. These children may have physical or mental disabilities or chronic illnesses. They may be older children or brothers and sisters who need to be placed together. They may require such intensive care and treatment from adoptive parents and professionals that the typical family would soon be in financial difficulty if adoption assistance were not available.

Who is eligible for adoption assistance?

A child may be eligible for adoption assistance if parental rights have been terminated as a result of a court finding; the child is a resident of Illinois; the child cannot or should not be returned home as evidenced by a judicial finding of abuse, neglect or dependency (or if there is reason to believe that the child is abused, neglected or dependent); and the child has been determined by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to have special needs thet make it highly unlikely he or she can be adopted without adoption assistance.

The factors or conditions which may be considered "special needs" include: age, membership in a sibling group, documented medical conditions, or physical, mental or emotional disabilities.

What types of assistance are available?

Eligible children may receive one or more of the following types of assistance:

• one-time only payment for non-recurring adoption expenses (attorney fees, court costs, home study costs, etc.)
  
• payment, through issuance of a Medicaid Card, for medical services that are not covered through public or private insurance or through other public resources
  
• necessary counseling and therapy
  
• day care for children up to three years old
  
• therapeutic day care
  
• monthly payment of an amount based on the foster care payment received prior to adoption

All children adopted with adoption assistance receive a Medicaid Card through the Illinois Department of Public Aid.

How long is adoption assistance available?

Adoption assistance is available up to age 18 (or age 19, if the child is still in high school) and may be provided at the option of DCFS until the child's 21st birthday if the child has a physical, mental or emotional disability. Adoption assistance agreements are reviewed every two years.

How does a family apply?

After discussing adoption assistance with a social worker, the family wishing to receive adoption assistance must complete an application form. An adoption assistance agreement would then be signed by the family and the agency prior to the adoption finalization.

The social worker can also help the family explore other resources that may be available for the child, such as family insurance coverage and other community resources. Often, a social worker can arrange for services through these resources.

If I apply to adopt through a private agency, would my child be eligible for adoption assistance?

Many private adoption agencies in Illinois serve children with special needs who are under the guardianship of DCFS. If you adopt a child with special needs through a private agency and DCFS has guardianship of the child, then a determination would be made of that child's eligibility for adoption assistance.

If you adopt a child with special needs through a private agency and DCFS does not have guardianship of the child, then a determination would have to be made of that child's eligibility for financial assistance through programs such as Title IV-A or SSI. Adoptive families should ask their social workers about the possibility of adoption assistance before the adoption is completed to see if their child meets the eligibility criteria.

Other sources of financial assistance

Besides subsidies from the state (described above), there are other sources of financial assistance available for families who adopt. These include loans, grants and assistance for persons employed by the military.

• Loans, such as those provided by the National Adoption Foundation (203-791-3811), can help cover expenses that will later be reimbursed by the government or by your employer. Travel agencies and airlines sometimes offer discounts for adoption-related travel.
  
  
• The military will reimburse active-duty personnel up to $2,000 per child for one-time adoption expenses. If a child of active-duty personnel is diagnosed with disabilities, he or she may also be eligible for up to $1,000 per month in assistance.