Wait a Second. Who is paying for Adoption Assistance, Anyway?

Of course, it's not about the money

Until December 31, 2022, the federal funding rate for Title IV-E Adoption Assistance payments in Ohio has been increased to almost 70% (69.78%) as a result of additional dollars from the First Coronavirus Response Act.

Normally, federal funding for Title IV-E Adoption Assistance varies between about 62% and and 64% of each payment. Unless, the Act is extended, federal funding for adoption assistance will return to a more typical rate of 63.53% from January 1 through September 30, 2023.

Funding and the Negotiation of Adoption Assistance

A Key Point to Remember - A relatively small investment of non-federal matching funds draws down a much larger adoption assistance payment. See the tables below.

Federal, State and Local Funding of Adoption Assistance in Ohio

Federal adoption assistance requires non-federal matching funds, which usually account for about 36% of the monthly payment. Currently, with enhanced federal funding, the non-federal share is a little over 30%.

In Ohio, as you might have guessed, the combination of state and county dollars that provide the required non-federal matching funds for federal adoption assistance is a bit of head scratcher. A combination of federal dollars and non-federal matching funds provided by the state cover the first $250 of a monthly adoption assistance payment. The county’s financial participation does not begin until an adoption assistance payment has crossed the $250 threshold. The county is responsible for the non-federal portion of any adoption assistance payment over $250 up to the child’s foster care payment rate. 

The child’s foster care payment rate at the time of negotiation or re-negotiation of adoption assistance, sets the practical ceiling on the monthly amount of adoption assistance, because that is the upward limit of federal financial participation. Any cost above the child’s foster care payment rate would be borne entirely by either the state or county or some combination of both. The tables below break down the proportion of federal, state and county dollars for specific monthly adoption assistance payments in Ohio.

Approximate Federal, State and County Shares of Monthly Adoption Assistance Payments in Ohio

Monthly Adoption Assistance Payments Through Dec. 31, 2022

$250 -              County $0                 Federal $174.45        State $75.55

$300 –             County $15.11           Federal $209.34       State $75.55

$400 –             County $45.33          Federal $279.12        State $75.55             

$500 - County $75.55          Federal $348.90       State $75.55

$600 –             County $105.77         Federal $418.68         State $75.55

$700 –             County $135.99         Federal $488.46       State $75.55

$800 –             County $166.21        Federal $558.24         State $75.55

$900 –             County $196.43        Federal $628.02         State $75.55

$1,000             County $226.65        Federal $697.80         State $75.55

$1,100 –          County $256.87        Federal $767.58        State $75.55

$1,200 –          County $287.09        Federal $837.36       State $75.55

$1,500 –          County $377.75         Federal $1,46.70         State $75.55

$2,000            County $528.85   Federal $1,395.60      State $75.55

Suggestion: Even though, “It’s never about the money,” you can point out that a modest investment by the county can make a big difference to your adopted child. For example, in order to reach an agreement for a monthly adoption assistance payment of $1,200, the county has to invest only $287 per month. Parents might want to point this out in negotiations. It is an investment in establishing a permanent family.

Approximate Federal, State and County Shares of Monthly Adoption Assistance Payments in Ohio

Monthly Adoption Assistance Payments Jan. 1 Through Sep. 30, 2023

$250 -             County $0                Federal $158.95        State $91.05

$300 –             County $18.2111        Federal $190.74        State $91.05

$400 –             County $54.63         Federal $254.32       State $91.05

$500 -             County $91.55          Federal $317.90       State $91.05

$600 –             County $127.47         Federal $381.48        State $91.05

$700 –             County $163.89        Federal $445.06       State $91.05

$800 –            County $200.31        Federal $508.64      State $91.05

$900 –            County $237.73       Federal $572.22       State $91.05

$1,000             County $273.15         Federal $635.80      State $91.05

$1,100 –          County $309.57        Federal $699.38        State $91.05

$1,200 –          County $355.99       Federal $762.96       State $9.105

$1,500 –          County $455.25       Federal $953.70        State $91.05

$2,000            County $637.35        Federal $1,271.60      State $91.50

Suggestion: Even though, “It’s never about the money,” you can point out that a modest investment by the county can make a big difference to your adopted child. For example, in order to reach an agreement for a monthly adoption assistance payment of $1,000, the county has to invest only $273 per month. Parents might want to point this out in negotiations. It is an investment in establishing a permanent family.