The Probability That Your Adopted Child Will Be Eligible for Adoption Assistance
Public agencies are required to inform you about the availability of adoption assistance
Ohio Has Consistently High Eligibility Rates
In contrast to the longstanding struggle over the negotiation of Title IV-E Adoption Assistance in Ohio, the state has had exceptionally high eligibility rates for quite some time. Ninety five to 97% of children adopted from Ohio public agencies are consistently eligible for adoption assistance.
What does this mean?
Adopting parents can expect that their adopted children will be eligible for federal IV-E Adoption Assistance program. Beginning on July 1, 2024, parents adopting infants under the age of two, through public or private agencies, may also anticipate they will be eligible for IV-E Adoption Assistance if they meet one of the special needs categories. (Note: The “AFDC Look Back” requirement applied to infants who would not reach the age of 2 before the end of the Federal Fiscal Year in which they were adopted will no longer appy after June 30, 2024. For a detailed discussion, see the May 1, 2024 post “Adoption Assistance for Infants Under the Age of Two Prior to June 30, 2024.”
The only eligibility criteria for children over the age of two are
Children must be placed by a public or private agency, unless the they meet one of the disability standards for SSI. (See “The SSI Path to Title IV-E Adoption Assistance,” April 27, 2023).
Children must meet one of the special needs standards set forth in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 5101:2-49-03.
Special Needs
The special needs language in OAC rule 5101:2-49-03 looks rather formidable at first glance. But, there is a difference between the description of the special needs categories and their application. Unfortunately, children don’t emerge from the foster care system unscathed. Nearly every child enters adoptive placement with a problem or history that meets the practical test for special needs.
We will look at closer look at “special needs” in an upcoming post.
Reminder: Each underlined portion of the text contains a link to a related post.