Foster parents can also apply to adopt a child with special needs who is not already in foster care placement with them. Each State's Title XX program is different and families should check with the State agency to determine what services are available. Also, additional services may be available that are not provided by Title XX or Medicaid, but these must be specified in the adoption assistance agreement. In the event that an adoptive family moves from one State to another, if a needed service specified in the adoption assistance agreement is not available in the new State of residence, the State making the original IV-E adoption assistance payment remains financially responsible for providing the specified service. For children receiving State-only subsidies the specific services to be provided are included in the agreement.
Studies show that the vast majority of parents are satisfied with the program.
Further, studies have shown that neither adopting parents nor adopted children attached a stigma to the receipt of adoption assistance. Additionally, most parents interviewed reported that the agency social worker was adequately informed about the community resources, eligibility requirements for subsidy, approval, review and recertification procedures, and legal issues on assisted adoption. Approximately 70 percent said that more information and activities for parents after adoption would be useful, such as parent support groups. A California study found that 90 percent of the parents indicated their overall satisfaction with the program by responding that they would definitely encourage friends interested in adopting to participate in the program. Written by Cynthia Ragan, M.S.W., 1988.