Missouri Special Needs Information
Missouri's Special Needs Adoption Programs
Adoption Subsidy Program
Program Description
The basic goal of the Missouri Adoption Subsidy Program is to encourage the adoption of children with "special needs." More specifically, this program is intended to assist families that could not otherwise afford, through their own income and resources, to meet the cost of adopting a "special needs" child.
Subsidy payments are made to meet the needs of the adopted child. Thus, while the resources and circumstances of the adoptive parents are considered in determining the services needed and the amount of the subsidy, no family is determined to be ineligible simply because of their income or resources.
Adoption subsidy payments are available for an eligible child who is under the age of 18 at the time of the child's placement for adoption. Such payments may continue until the child is 18 or, in special situations, until the child is 21. In addition, if a child is placed in another state, or if a child moves from Missouri with his adopted family, the subsidy payments may continue.
Criteria for Child's Eligibility for Adoption Subsidy:
- Minority parentage;
- Handicapping condition--mental, physical or emotional;
- Member of a sibling group--two or more brothers and/or sisters placed in the same adoptive home;
- Guarded prognosis--possible future problems related to the child's condition or status at the time of adoptive placement;
- Over five years of age, without any of the above characteristics;
- No adoptive families identified as the result of a reasonable search for an adoptive family resource which would not need a subsidy; and
- In the custody of Missouri Children's Division, Division of Youth Services, Department of Mental Health or a Missouri-licensed child-placing agency at the time of adoptive placement.
- In the adoptive placement as a foster child prior to adoption.
Types of Subsidies:
Maintenance--includes an allowance for room and board. The maximum rate is based on the age of the child and will not exceed the rate which would have been paid if the child had remained in foster care.
Medical--Health-related expenses not covered by other sources. This medical coverage is provided through Missouri Medicaid (Note: Payment is subject to the prior approval of the Children's Division).
Special--one-time expenses, such as for a wheelchair or other adaptive equipment with prior approval.
Integration--payment for items necessary to adjust the home to special needs of a child, such as adjustments of stairs for a wheelchair, a special bed, or other equipment.
Legal--fees of an attorney and court costs associated with the court adoption proceeding.
The Role of the Adoptive Parents:
- Participate in developing the subsidy plan for the child at the time of placement and annually thereafter.
- Sign an Adoption Subsidy Agreement provided by the Children's Division.
- Report any changes that would affect the conditions of the subsidy agreement.
- Assume all the rights and privileges of parenting a child adopted by them.
One Church, One Child
This program was developed as a community outreach program to focus on the recruitment of minority families for minority children. The program can be implemented for recruitment of both adoptive parents as well as foster parents.
The Children's Division is asking each Church to provide one member of their congregation to serve as a volunteer recruiter for at least one year. This person will receive training and have materials available on sight. They will serve as the community based link between the Children's Division Foster/Adopt Recruitment Team and their Church.
ACCESS Adoption Information Registry
As a result of legislation passed in 1986, an Adoption Information Registry was established in DFS Central Office in Jefferson City. The Registry provides a mechanism by which adult adoptees (age 21 and over) and biological parents may indicate their desire to be contacted by each other upon the voluntary registration of all parties to the adoption. To get more information on the ACCESS program you can call (573) 751-8981.
Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA)
ICAMA meets the letter and spirit of P.L. 96-272. ICAMA is designed to prevent and overcome artificial barriers that may prevent adoptive families from receiving assistance mandated by adoption agreements. This is of great importance for two reasons. First, adoption opportunities for children with handicaps or other special needs are limited at best. It is often necessary to expand the search for prospective adoptive parents to other states. Second, families may move to another state after adoption. Adoption subsidy payments are routinely mailed to adoptive families who live out of the state of Missouri; however, special arrangements are required for the administration of interstate health services for adopted children.
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
The statute in Missouri law governing the interstate movement of children with the purpose of assuring the most appropriate placement for the child, the sharing of full information about the child and his family, the child's/children's placement resource and promoting appropriate jurisdictional arrangements for the care of the child. (Sections 210.620 to 210.64, RSMo.)
