Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 148 - OFFICE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES › Chapter 13 - RULES FOR THE ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM › Section 148-13-5 - AMOUNT AND DURATION OF ADOPTION ASSISTANCE

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
a. The amount of assistance may vary,
				depending on the circumstances of the adoptive family, the special needs of the
				child, and the availability of other resources. The amount of long term,
				limited period, or one-payment adoption assistance, or any combination thereof,
				may not exceed the cost of caring for the child if the child had remained in
				the custody of the Department in a family foster home. The amount of
				non-recurring adoption expense shall not exceed $2,000 per child who is
				otherwise eligible. Federal financial participation may not exceed the foster
				care maintenance payment which would have been paid during the period if the
				child with respect to whom the adoption assistance payment is made had been in
				a foster family home. Therefore, board and clothing payments may not exceed the
				board and clothing payments which would have been paid by the Department if the
				child had remained in its custody in a foster family home.
In some cases, the needs, conditions, or behaviors of the
				  child may indicate a need for specialized care. When children, who are
				  recipients of or are candidates for a special family foster care rate, are to
				  be placed for adoption with an adoption assistance agreement, a Request for
				  Special Foster Family Rate Form completed by the caseworker, must be submitted
				  for rating. (See Child and Family Services Manual, Section V, G-1. page
				  9.1.b.)
The specialized rate for adoption assistance is determined by
				  the degree of physical, emotional, or behavioral handicap of the child and the
				  specialized care provided by the parents to meet the identified needs. Rates
				  will be determined as above and not by rate setting for children placed by
				  child placing agencies in their therapeutic homes/specialized homes.
b. For reimbursement of
				non-recurring adoption expenses, the amount of reimbursement may vary, but may
				not exceed $2,000.00 for each child.
c. When a special needs child is determined
				to be eligible for retroactive adoption assistance, that child is eligible
				prospectively for any assistance provided by the adoption assistance program.
				Assistance may be provided from the date the request for retroactive adoption
				assistance is made, forward. The retroactive rate of assistance will be
				determined by methods consistent with rate setting for the adoption assistance
				program.
In some special circumstances, the Commissioner, or his
				  designee, may at his discretion, authorize payment up to a maximum of $12,000
				  for special costs incurred for an eligible child prior to the date of first
				  request for retroactive assistance.
Payments for normal, usual and expected expenses of childhood
				  will not be considered.
Special expenses that may be considered must:
1 Be directly related to the special needs of
				the child, and
2 Be extraordinary
				in nature, and,
3 Must help the
				family in continuing their support of the specialized needs of the child.
Documentation/receipts related to the above expenses may be
				  required.