Alabama State Adoption Assistance Program

Agency: http://www.dhr.state.al.us/services/
Adoption/intro_adoption.aspx

Information on Alabama’s medical assistance program: http://www.medicaid.alabama.gov/

Who Is Eligible for Adoption Assistance or Subsidy?

1. How does Alabama define special needs to determine eligibility?

A child with special needs is defined as a child who has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to adoption without financial assistance:

• A child who has certain documented physical, mental, or emotional issues
• A child at risk of physical, mental or emotional difficulties in the future, due to high risk factors document in the background information (providing a $0 agreement with Medicaid)
• Children five years of age or older
• Sibling group of two or more children being placed for adoption in the same home at the same time
• To be eligible for adoption assistance, a child must first be in the care and custody of the Department of Human Resources or an Alabama licensed child-placing agency or be eligible to receive SSI at the time of placement.

Monthly Payments
Basic rates

Therapeutic rate (negotiated):

State-funded adoption assistance typically terminates when a child reaches age 19, but may continue until 21, provided the child is in high school or in a specialized training program for the intellectually impaired, which is designed to aid in becoming self-supporting.

Federally funded (IV-E) adoption assistance for children adopted at any age can be extended to the age of 21 if the child has a documented disability that warrants continuation of assistance, for youth adopted at age 16 or older there are other criteria that may extend assistance to age 21.

Post-adoption services in Alabama are administered by DHR through contracts with outside agencies. Known as the Alabama Post Adoption Connections (APAC) program, http://www.childrensaid.org/apac/index.html or 866-803-2722.

Alabama has a subsidized guardianship program for more information, https://dhr.alabama.gov/foster-care/kinship-guardianship/

Yes. Taxpayers that reside in Alabama can take a tax credit of $1,000 for a private adoption or the adoption of a qualified foster child (must be in the permanent legal custody of AL DHR). You must attach a completed Schedule AAC to claim the credit.

Alabama Legal Sources:

Alabama Statutes: 26-10-20 through 26-10-30
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLoginFire.asp

Click on the far left tab Code of Alabama,
then click on View,
then click on Title 26, Infants and Incompetents,
then click on Chapter 10, Adoption of Children

Alabama Administrative Code: 660-5-22-.06 Subsidized Adoption
http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/
docs/hres/index.html

Scroll down to Chapter 660-5-22 Adoption