Adoption Assistance in Oklahoma?
Question by j: Adoption assistance in Oklahoma?
Recently there was a case in the news of an Oklahoma judge getting money for babies she had adopted but were no longer in her care. This was the first I had heard of people getting assistance after adoption. I would love to adopt children, but my husband and I are planning on waiting until we are in a better place financially. But if there is assistance available, we may not have to wait as long!
So my question is- how much do you get in assistance in Oklahoma? Is it enough to cover the costs of child-rearing?
Best answer:
Answer by Ann
If you can only adopt based on receiving some future assistance that may or may not be available, you should not adopt. In order to adopt from foster care you are required to have an approved “Home Study” which is a process that can take 3 months to a year. Part of the home study is proving you are financially stable. Sorry.
Answer by Andersen
In Oklahoma, you can indeed receive financial assistance until the child is 18 if you adopt a child in special circumstances to include age over 8 years old, siblings no matter the age, or mental handicaps, and several others. Here’s some info:
1. What specific factors or conditions does your State consider to determine that a child cannot be placed with adoptive parents without providing financial assistance? (“What is your State definition of special needs?”)
A child with special needs is defined as a child that has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to placement or adoption without financial assistance:
Eight years of age or older
Racial or ethnic factors (Indian, Hispanic, Asian, and African-American children three years of age or older)
Member of a sibling group of any age placed together
Physical disability requiring regular treatment with a specific diagnosis given by the child’s physician
Mental disability meeting the eligibility criteria for educable multi-handicapped (EMH) or trainable multi-handicapped (TMH) classes and evaluated by a licensed psychologist, psychometrist, school, or recognized diagnostic center. Note: A child with a demonstrable need for intensive adult supervision beyond ordinary age needs also qualifies
Emotional disturbance established by a physician, a psychologist, behavioral therapist, or social worker; corroborated by a Child Welfare worker’s observations of the child’s behavior; corroborated by one or more caregivers such as foster parent, Head Start or school personnel, church nursery, or child care provider; and documented with a specific diagnosis and prognosis, if applicable
At high risk of physical or mental disease (Indicators of high risk physical or mental disease are social and medical history such as mental illness of biological parents and family; events or life experiences such as severe sexual abuse; and prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol)
Note: The child who exhibits high risk of physical or mental disease for conditions that are not presently being treated may qualify. If no other special factors or conditions are met, no monthly payment is made until there are documented symptoms of physical or mental disease. See Question #13 for information regarding deferred adoption assistance.
2. What are the eligibility criteria for the State-funded adoption assistance program?
In order to be eligible for state-funded adoption assistance a child must be a special needs child as defined above, under the age eighteen, and previously in the court ordered custody of Oklahoma DHS or a federally recognized Indian tribe as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Act.
3. The maximum basic monthly adoption assistance maintenance payment in Oklahoma is:
Basic rates:
AgeRate
0-5$ 283.50
6-12$ 337.50
13-18 $ 391.50
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