In other words, an Agreement Only provides a family with the assurance that if a need for payments or medical coverage arises in the future, they will be eligible to receive them. The department operates a subsidized guardianship program through its federal IV-E waiver demonstration project. The program is time-limited and scheduled to end in June 2002. The Central Office Adoption Assistance Coordinator determines the rate of the subsidy to be paid. These workers may also play a role in renegotiations.
Supervisors sign off on the applications, which contain a family's requests.
No means test is used. However, if the family has adequate financial resources to raise the child, income is considered as one factor in negotiation of the agreement. Subsidy payments shall not be made after the child reaches 18 years of age. A child's adoption assistance agreement may be periodically reviewed by the state. Renegotiation of subsidy payments can be requested at any time.