Missouri State Adoption Assistance Program

Missouri adoption resources on the web:
https://dss.mo.gov/cd/adoption/Opens in a new tab

Missouri’s state-specific medical assistance links:
http://www.dss.mo.gov/mhd/index.htmOpens in a new tab

Missouri Revised Statutes–453.073 and 453.074:
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=453Opens in a new tab

Code of State Regulations, Title 13 Department of Social Services, Division 35 Children’s Services, Chapter 38 Adoption and Guardianship Subsidy–13 CSR 35-38.030 and 13 CSR 35-38.040:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/13csr/13c35-38.pdf
Opens in a new tab

Child Welfare Manual, Section 4 Out-of-Home Care, Chapter 9 (Adoption and Guardianship Process), Subsection 6 – Subsidizing an Adoption/Legal Guardianship
https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/child-welfare-manual/section-4-chapter-9-adoption-and-guardianship-process-subsection-6-subsidizing-an-adoption-legal-guardianship/Opens in a new tab

In Missouri 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:

1. Five years of age or older, without any other characteristics listed below
2. Minority racial or ethnic parentage
3. Member of a sibling group of two or more children placed in the same adoptive home at the same time
4. A disabling mental, physical, or emotional condition
5. A “guarded prognosis” indicating possible future problems related to the child’s condition or status at the time of adoptive placement

All children who qualify for subsidy receive a basic subsidy package of maintenance, child care, respite, and reimbursement of non-recurring adoption expenses, and Medicaid.

Missouri children may be eligible for these specialized maintenance rates on a case-by-case basis. Children must meet specific criteria and be staffed by a team utilizing a behavioral or medical assessment tool. Additionally, the adoptive parents of children designated as medical or behavioral are provided with the training necessary to meet the additional needs of their children.

Subsidy services may be continued to age 21 for children with extraordinary mental, physical, or dental conditions requiring care after age 18. Such conditions must be documented by appropriate treatment professionals.

The 18 and above Adoption Subsidy Agreements are only approved for one year. The subsidy must be renegotiated and a new Agreement signed every year in the case of a child over the age of 18 that continues to have a documented need for subsidy to continue.

Child care is provided through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).  DESE offers child care for children who are receiving a subsidy agreement when eligibility criteria is met.  Children who receive adoption subsidy makes the child a Protective Services child which is a Qualifying Activity (Valid Need).

All adoption subsidy agreements provide for respite.  The respite program allows for a limited amount of respite care per each 30-day period. Respite rates are set by policy. Currently, a total of 12 respite units (at $25 per unit or $300 per year) may be approved for children receiving the base maintenance subsidy rate. Children receiving Above Base Maintenance may be approved for up to 19 units of respite per year at the $26.25 per unit, or $498.75 per year.  A respite unit is a 12-24 hours, a half unit is 6 -12 hours.

Residential treatment costs may be met through the Subsidy agreements as an added service. The agreement must be renegotiated if residential care services are requested by the adoptive parents. Custody must not be transferred from the adoptive parents when securing these services.

Assistance with approval of or location of an appropriate residential placement is obtained through the residential care coordinators across the state.

A voluntary case is opened with the family when a child enters residential care in order to work towards the reintegration of the child into the adoptive home. If the family is unwilling to participate, residential services are not authorized through subsidy.

Post adoption services in Missouri are administered through the Department of Social Services, Children’s Division as well as adoption resource centers:

Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition (St Louis)  — http://www.foster-adopt.org, 314-340-7722 or 1-800-FOSTER3.

FosterAdopt Connect (Southern, Western and Northwestern Missouri) Association —  https://www.fosteradopt.org/locations/, 816-350-0215 (Independence location, headquarters).

The Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association — https://mofosteradopt.com, 573-298-0258

Missouri has subsidized guardianship for grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, first cousins of the child, and any other person related to the child by blood or affinity.  Children who qualify for this program will receive the same resources as those offered through the adoption subsidy program.  For further information visit this web page, https://dss.mo.gov/cd/adoption/missouri-adoption-subsidy-programs.htm, or contact your local Children’s Division office, http://dss.mo.gov/cd/office/.

Missouri families adopting a child on or after January 1, 2022 (between 1998 and 2021 the credit was only for special needs adoptions) may be eligible to receive a Missouri adoption tax credit for nonrecurring adoption expenses. These expenses can be claimed up to $10,000 if the adopting parent(s) have not been reimbursed by federal, state, or local resources.  For more information visit the Department of Revenue, https://dor.mo.gov/tax-credits/atc.html