Pennsylvania residents who are looking to adopt a child have many choices ahead of them. One program that the state offers is Adoption Assistance. Understanding what this program is and who is eligible can assist you in making the right decisions regarding the adoption of your own child.
What is Adoption Assistance?
Adoption Assistance is a special program that provides families who adopt children with special needs with additional funding to support the care of the child. Not all adoptions are the same; parents who adopt children with special needs tend to require more than average support for their children to flourish in their home. Children and Youth Agencies, or CYA for short, will decide which children are eligible for Adoption Assistance.
What’s included with Adoption Assistance?
Adoption Assistance provides various types of funding for families who adopt children with special needs. The first type of expense is reimbursement for one-time adoption expenses. These include fees for attorneys, courts, health examinations, transportation, lodging and other adoption-related expenses. Families can be reimbursed up to $1,000 per adoption.
Parents of special needs children will receive monthly adoption subsidies. This is an amount that is specified by CYA to help cover the costs of meeting the special needs of the child. This monthly adoption subsidy may not exceed the total amount of foster care maintenance for the child. These families are also eligible for Medicaid coverage and state medical assistance.
Adopting a child with special needs can require more financial support than a child without them. Fortunately, Pennsylvania offers various financial support programs for these families to ensure that the children flourish in their new homes. If you’re thinking of adopting a child who has special needs, it’s vital that you understand the financial assistance that is available to you.