Pennsylvania State Adoption Assistance Program

https://www.dhs.pa.gov/AdoptPAkids/Pages/default.aspx

Pennsylvania’s state-specific medical assistance information: 
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/Medical-Assistance.aspx

Pennsylvania Adoption Act, Chapters 21-29:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/23.HTM

Pennsylvania Code, 55 Pa. Code 3140.201 to 3140.210
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/055/chapter3140/
subchapCtoc.html

In Pennsylvania a child with special needs is defined as a child who meets all three of the following criteria:

• The child is free for adoption.
• The child has a qualifying factor or condition (see list below).
• Reasonable efforts were made to place the child without adoption assistance unless it is not in the child’s best interest; for example, if there is the existence of significant emotional bond between the adoptee and the adoptive parents

For a child to be determined to have a qualifying factor or condition, he or she must meet at least one of the following circumstances:

• Be five years of age or older and under the age of 18 or 21
• Be a member of a racial or ethnic minority group
• Be a member of sibling group of two or more placed together in the same adoptive home
• Have a physical, mental, emotional condition or disability
• Have a genetic condition that indicates a high risk of developing a disease or disability

Monthly adoption assistance maintenance payments cannot exceed the monthly foster care maintenance payment the child was receiving or would receive in foster care. The foster care maintenance amount varies by county and is determined by the child’s needs and the allowable expenses for foster care maintenance reimbursement.

Adoption assistance agreements either end for the child at the age of 18 if not eligible for the extension or at the age 21 if eligible for extension.

Post-adoption services are funded by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), Office of Children, Youth and Families through the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN). SWAN post-permanency Services). Eligibility is open to all adoptive, kinship, and permanent legal custodian placements, including private and international adoption. To request services, families can call SWAN at 800-585-SWAN (7926) or [email protected].

The services available are case advocacy, respite and support groups, and each lasts for six months. The focus of this program is to help the family identify their strengths, establish goals and locate community resources for ongoing support after a family completes the SWAN services.

SWAN’s post-permanency services include an assessment that helps the family identify their strengths and needs, develop goals and a family support plan that will help them meet their goals. This assessment will also help decide which units of services – case advocacy, respite and support group – should be requested. All family members, including birth children, are eligible for these SWAN services.

Case advocacy focuses on making sure the family has the community resources that best meet their needs. These may include attending meetings at school with the family, facilitating collaboration with other service resources so everyone is working together, identifying and coordinating support services to help the family meet their goals.

The respite unit of service supports eligible families by developing resources to alleviate the pressures of parenting children with special needs. This unit focuses on developing competent resources to provide a continuum of care either in the home or out of the home–resources that will continue to be available beyond SWAN funding.

Pennsylvania provides assistance for children who are in the custody of a public children and youth agency and who leave the child welfare system with a court-approved permanent legal custodian. The eligibility requirements must be met for Title IV-E or state subsidy. The amount may not exceed the foster care maintenance payment which may differ by county.

To read more about Permanent Legal Custody visit, https://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Curriculum/209_CncrrntPlnnng1
/Hndts/HO09_PrmnntLglCstdy.pdfOpens in a new tab