Oregon State Adoption Assistance Program

https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/adoption/pages/default.aspxOpens in a new tab

Oregon state-specific medical assistance information:
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/healthplan/pages/index.aspxOpens in a new tab

Oregon’s adoption assistance policy:
https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/displayDivisionRules.action?selectedDivision=1883
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Oregon Adoption Assistance Program Overview:
https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/CHILDREN/ADOPTION/Pages/Adoption-Assistance-Program.aspxOpens in a new tab

In Oregon to be determined a child with special needs the state must determine that the child meets all three of the following criteria:

1. The child cannot or should not be returned to the home of his or her parent or parents.
2. The child has at least one of the following factors or conditions that make adoptive placement difficult to achieve:
   • Eight years old or older
   • Member of a racial or ethnic minority
   • Member of a sibling group of two or more children placed together and one of the children is six years of age or older
   • Member of a sibling group of three or more children placed together
   • Documented medical, physical, mental, emotional condition impairment, or other clinically diagnosed disability
   • Documented history of abuse or neglect
   • Any other identified, predisposing factor that places the child at significant risk for future problems that need for treatment (will qualify for a $0 agreement only)
3. A reasonable but unsuccessful effort to place the child with an appropriate adoptive family for adoption without adoption assistance has been made, unless such an effort is not in the child’s best interest for reasons including placement with a relative or another person with whom the child has an established significant relationship.

The adoption assistance rate cannot exceed the foster care payment a child would be eligible for if placed in foster care. A foster care payment in Oregon can include both a base rate and, for some children, a level of care rate. The base rate is based on a child’s age. The level of care rate is set based on a screening tool that assesses the child enhanced supervision

needs, if any. The combined rate is the ceiling for the adoption assistance payment.

The base foster care rates are:

Current level of care rates are :

The Department may approve an extension of an adoption assistance agreement for an individual who reaches age 18 under the following limited circumstances:

1. The child has an initial adoption assistance agreement in effect with Oregon and, at the time of the child’s 18th birthday, meets one of the following criteria:
   • Qualifies as an individual with a developmental disability as determined by the Oregon Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services;
   • If living in a state other than Oregon, qualifies as an individual with a developmental disability as determined by the equivalent developmental disability program in that state; or
   • Qualifies for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as determined by the Social Security Administration.
2. An initial adoption assistance agreement was entered into on behalf of a child aged 16 or 17 and, upon reaching the age of 18, meets certain criteria for an extension

Any extension beyond 18 ends on or before the child’s 21st birthday.

Placement in residential care can only be accomplished by going through the local DHS branch office or the local Mental Health program, which can make referrals for residential treatment. For the state to pay for this service the providing program must be licensed and contracted with the Mental Health Division and be a Medicaid provider. Families placing their children in residential care through any other avenue will be responsible for the cost.

Post-adoption services in Oregon are provided by ORPARC with funding from the Department of Human Services (DHS), Children, Adults and Families (CAF). ORPARC’s post-adoption services statewide include: a robust specialty library; information & referral to other services and providers; training & education; therapeutic listening; systems navigation; advocacy; support groups; and personalized parenting consultation. ORPARC’s services are confidential and family driven.

ORPARC serves:

• Oregon DHS Adoptive & Assisted Guardianship families
• Oregon families who adopt through any state’s child welfare system
• Families who move to Oregon after adopting through any child welfare system
• Oregon Resource (Foster) & Relative Families through the library, resources and trainings

To contact ORPARC call 800-764-8367 or 503-241-0799,
email [email protected] or visit www.orparc.org

Oregon has a guardianship assistance program for children in the foster care system. To learn more about the program visit, https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/adoption/Pages/assistance.aspx