Foster Care Adoption Kathy Searle Utah Adoption Exchange

My Family

The Adoption Exchange To provide connections between families who adopt and children who are waiting in foster care for adoption.

Encourages states to promote and accelerate the adoption of children who cannot safely return home. Begin termination of parental right for children who have been in care 15 out of the past 22 months. Increase the number of finalized adoptions Provide funding for pre and post adoption services to support adoptive families. States cannot create geographic barriers in the placement of children. Adoption and Safe Families Act 1997

Who: Children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect School age, and children over the age of eight Part of a sibling group, particularly if they are school-age or in a group of three or more

Known to have intellectual, physical, or emotional disabilities Known to have suffered physical or sexual abuse and or neglect Prenatal drug exposure

Process: 32 hours of training by The Utah Foster Care Foundation Application Licensing: minimum health and safety standards DCFS approval 32 hours of training Home study by private adoption agency Utah ChildChild outside the state of Utah

The Basics Cost: Minimal to meet licensing standards Waiting Time: Depends on what special needs the family is willing to consider. Also age of child and sibling groups Process Time: 6-9 months.

Waiting Time: Depends upon families desires and available children. Available Children : 0-18, with younger children placed legal risk or foster to adopt. Birth Family Contact: Based on the needs of the child.

Placement: In state Adoption Be open to a child over the age of nine Sibling group Child may have more significant issues Legal Risk/Foster to adopt Be willing to support reunification Be available to transport for visits with birth parents Limited information

Placement: Out of state Work with private agency for placement options Search the internet and other listings Send information to other agencies out of state Be willing to travel Work with ICPC Interstate Compact Negotiate Subsidy

Interstate Compact Conceived in the 1950’s, in part, to protect the interests of children being moved across state lines for the purpose of adoption. Today is statutory law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands

Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance Established in 1986 to ensure the delivery of medical and other services to children and their adoptive families across state lines. Provides uniformity and consistency of policy and procedures when a child with special needs is adopted by a family in another state, or the adoptive family moves to another state.

Adoption Assistance Non-recurring Adoption Expenses Monthly Subsidy Medicaid Supplemental

Non-recurring Adoption Expenses Reimbursement covers up to $2,000 of one-time reasonable and customary expenses related to the adoption. Attorney and home study fees, post placement visits. Transportation and reasonable cost of lodging and food for the child and/or parents during placement or adoption process

Monthly Subsidy Money to assist with costs of a child with special needs Not intended for the basic expenses normally associated with raising a child Annual letter May be adjusted up or down as agreed upon by the agency and the adoptive family

Medicaid Covers the cost of medical care and mental health care not covered by the family’s private insurance. Required to fill out application and annual review forms.

What Decisions to make Age Range Gender Race Sibling group

Special Needs Emotional Learning Mental Retardation Physical Sexual Abuse ADD/ADHD Cerebral Palsy Medically Fragile Hearing or visual impairment FAS/FAE Down syndrome

How to Educate Yourselves Read How to Adopt information Training Support Groups Network with other adoptive families

Are You Ready? What life experiences have you had that prove your ability to deal with problems and to survive crisis? How do you handle rejection? How do you measure success? How patient are you? How do you view challenges?

How do you handle disappointment? How does your family feel about this adoption? What is your support system? Do you get embarrassed easily? Do you have a sense of humor?

Why 104,000 children wait in the US for a family to call their own. Children grow better in families. Support families who do adopt by providing respite, a smile and a positive reaction to their decision.

Questions & Evaluations