How to Adopt a Baby or Older Child for Free or Receive Reimbursement

Have you always wanted to adopt a baby or older child but didn't think you could afford it? What if there was a way you could adopt for free. If you do have out of pocket expense the state and federal government will reimburse you. Some will even pay you a monthly subsidy to help care for the child. Would you like to know how to adopt a baby or older child for free or receive reimbursement of most expenses. Then read on.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Approved Adoptive Homestudy
• Foster care license(optional)
• Available bedroom

1. 
   Homestudies require references from friends

   Contact your local Department of Human Services (DHS) or any Adoption agency and request an adoptive homestudy. Most DHS agencies will provide your homestudy for free if you intend to adopt one of their children. You may be required to attend PRIDE training where you learn about the special issues of foster children. If your homestudy comes from a private agency you will need to pay for it. These are usually about $2,000, however, if you adopt a child from any state foster care system you can apply to have the $2,000 reimbursed by the state of the child's residence. Be sure to have the agency doing the homestudy include the specific ages, races, and special needs your family is willing to accept. If they are not listed, you may not be eligible to adopt certain children without an addendum to your homestudy.

2. 
   http://www.amazon.com/Adoption-United-States-Reference-Professionals/dp/1933478209%3FSubscriptionId%3D1XFK01HK9NZWGPENWGG2%26tag%3Dadoundoneroo-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26

   Start applying for children who are in state foster care once your adoptive homestudy is complete. Keep track of where you are applying and the state guidelines. For example, most states honor homestudies for one full year, however, Texas is six months. If you want a newborn, you will need to get licensed for state foster care. The requirements are similar to the adoptive homestudy so you can do both at once. Otherwise, it is difficult to get a child under the age of one. You can adopt from any state so check out all the websites and register at them. You might want to make a msword sheet with information about your family so you can copy and paste if you will be applying for many children. Oregon seems to have the youngest children on their site available for adoption. www.nwae.org, you can also register at www.adoptuskids.org and receive updates on children. Don't forget to let your local DHS know that you have a homestudy and want to adopt if they did not complete your homestudy.

3. 
   Adopting a child through foster care is free or reimbursable

   Go to NACAC.org and check out the state subsidy spreadsheet. Definition of special needs child varies by state. In Michigan it is any child over 3, whether or not that child has a physical or mental special needs. Other states have the age set at 6. Understand that these children may not have actual special needs, but their age makes them qualify. Children younger than these ages with real special needs are automatically eligible as are sibling groups. Special needs children are generally eligible for Medicaid until their 18th birthday, and an adoption subsidy until graduation. Subsidy is a monthly payment to the adoptive family. Oregon is around $250, Texas around $540, Michigan around $500. Keep in mind that these subsidies are negotiable in some states based on the severity of the child. You also get to take the full adoption deduction on your federal income tax when you adopt a special needs child even though you had NO out of pocket expense. Currently, the write off is about $12,000, which can be carried forward for five years if you do not have enough expenses to write it all off in one year.

4. Fill out registration forms with as many agencies as you can find that help to place these children. Register with adoption and foster care websites and join support groups. Attend local trainings for free at your DHS so they know who you are, this increases your chances of placemnt.
   http://www.adoptuskids.org
   http://www.ouradopt.com
   http://www.adoptamericanetwork.org/
   http://www.nwae.org
   http://littlebitofheavenadoptionreferral.com/situations.html
   http://www.handstohold.com/opportunities.html
   http://www.heavensentadopt.com/situations.htm
   http://www.spence-chapin.org/asapwaiting.html
   http://www.chask.org/waitingchildren.htm

Tips & Warnings

• Apply for many children in any state. You may not be chosen for the child so do not lose an opportunity just because you are waiting to hear about another child.
• Fostering children is not a guarantee of adoption and sometimes your heart gets broken.

Resources

• Traumatized Adopted Child’s Need for Therapy
• Room in Your Home and Heart for Foster Children
• What Is Adoption Subsidy, Who Gets It, How Much, and for How Long
• How to adopt a domestic newborn as fast as possible?
• How to Breastfeed an Adopted Child Without Lactating
• How to Help an Older Child Stop Bedwetting?
• Order from Amazon Adoption in the United States

[roseanne09]

on 6/10/2009 Adopting a child is the most wonderful thing any couple could do!! I really enjoyed your article!! Very informative

[cwengre]

on 6/1/2009 Great info on adopting.

[docjenny]

on 5/25/2009 We have been talking about adopting an older child. There is so much to consider and understand in the adoption process. Thanks for writing on this.

[barbiecrafts]

on 5/20/2009 How to Adopt a Baby or older chiled for free or receive reimbursement is an interesting article! Ihope it helps people who think they cannot afford to adopt find a child who thinks they will NEVER be adopted. 5 rec

[showpup]

on 5/8/2009 Great adoption article, once again Julia. I'm still doing my homework.