Many families wish to adopt children but may feel that they are financially
unable to do so. The Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) was established
by the Federal and State governments to help those families with some
of the long-term expenses when they adopt children who qualify for financial
help. Children who qualify must be age 3 or older at the time of adoption
and/or must be members of ethnic minorities or sibling sets, have mental
or physical handicaps or have problems in their family background.
Statewide regulations clarify under what condition families may receive
AAP payments. Among these conditions are the following:
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Assistance is limited to domestic agency adoptions |
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The amount of the AAP cash benefit, if any, shall be
a negotiated amount based upon the needs of the child and the circumstances
of the family. |
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Funding of group home placement is allowed in limited
circumstances. |
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Specialized care increments are allowed; professional
verification of child’s disability is required. |
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Payments are to meet only those needs that are covered by public agency
foster care programs. |
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Overpayments must be repaid. |
In order to establish the amount of AAP
benefits, the Social Services Agency Adoptions Social Worker will meet
with the prospective adoptive family prior to the official adoptive placement
of the child. The social worker will discuss with the family:
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The child’s needs |
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The circumstance of the family
Section 16119 of the Welfare and Institutions Code defines
“Circumstances of the family” as “the family’s ability to incorporate
the child into the household in relation to the lifestyle, standard
of living, and future plans and to the overall capacity to meet the
immediate and future needs, including education, of the child.” |
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Consideration of the child’s need for specialized
care
Some adopted children may have significant, professionally diagnosed
medical or other problems that require specialized care. Additional
funding for those needs may also be included in the AAP requested. |
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Negotiation of the required grant
After all of the above factors have been taken into consideration,
the Adoptions Social Worker and the adoptive parents will negotiate
the initial AAP grant. Adoptive parents may choose to defer benefits,
but should the child’s needs or the family’s circumstances change
at any point prior to the child’s 18th birthday, AAP may
be requested. |
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Commencement of payments
At the point that adoptive placement papers are signed, the AAP payments
may begin. It is very important that the family apprise the Orange
County Social Services Agency Adoptions program immediately of any
changes in circumstances that might affect the AAP grant. |
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Reassessment of benefits
The Social Services Agency Adoptions program is required to conduct
a reassessment of the child’s needs and the family’s circumstances
at least once every two years. The agency will notify the family
by mail when that reassessment is due. |
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Adoption
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