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Adoption Assistance Eligibility
The purpose of the Adoption Assistance Program is to provide financial support to families who adopt special needs children. Adoption assistance is applied for prior to adoption finalization and if eligible, an agreement must be in place prior to finalization. Policy: ADOPTION ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING SOURCE DETERMINATION
For more information:
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Adoption Assistance Eligibility OverviewFor a child to be eligible for adoption assistance, eligibility must be determined by MDHHS, and the DHS-4113 Adoption Assistance Agreement must be negotiated and signed by the prospective adoptive parent(s) and the MDHHS Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Office (AGAO) program manager or designee prior to the PCA-321 Order of Adoption.
Applications for Adoption Assistance & Medical Subsidy are submitted by the Adoption Worker. The application is submitted when the child is legally free for adoption through termination of all parental rights, an appropriate family has been identified, and the family has signed the DHS-4081 indicating that they are requesting adoption assistance. -
Private Adoption
Adoption assistance can be applied for in the following circumstances prior to adoption finalization when the child is not being adopted directly from foster care if they meet one of the below:
- The child is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based solely on medical or disability requirements. An application can be made for SSI eligible children being adopted privately outside of the public child welfare system, using the MDHHS-5796, Adoption Assistance Application for Children Receiving SSI.
- The child received title IV-E adoption assistance in a prior adoption and is being adopted under another private adoption statute of Michigan, another state, or tribal government. Complete the MDHHS-5970, Adoption Assistance Application for Previously Adopted Children Who Were Eligible for Adoption Assistance for children who fall under this category.
- The child has an active guardianship assistance agreement through AGAO at the time the adoption assistance application is submitted, using the MDHHS-5587, Adoption Assistance Application for Juvenile Guardian.
- The child is being adopted under an applicable child abuse and/or neglect tribal code or law and is under the jurisdiction of a tribal court within Michigan. Complete the MDHHS-5976, Tribal Adoption Assistance Application for children that fall under this category. Need link for public use.
For further questions regarding these specific circumstances, please contact AGAO.
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Adoption Assistance Case OpeningsPlease allow at least four to six weeks from the date your adoption worker submits a complete request for your case to be opened to receive your first adoption payment.
You must be registered on SIGMA to receive payment. -
Non-recurring Expense Reimbursement
Nonrecurring adoption expenses (NRE) are reasonable and necessary fees and expenses directly related to the adoption process of a child who meets the criteria for special needs adoption assistance; see AAM 200, Adoption Assistance Eligibility and Funding Source Determination.
Policy: AAM 300 NONRECURRING ADOPTION EXPENSES (NRE) ELIGIBILITY & AAM 310 NONRECURRING ADOPTION EXPENSES CLAIM/REIMBURSEMENT.
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Renegotiations of Adoption Assistance
The ongoing daily adoption assistance rate may not exceed the maximum daily adoption assistance rate determined prior to the final Order of Adoption.
Adoptive parent(s) who agreed to an ongoing assistance rate that is less than the maximum daily rate per their assistance agreement may request a renegotiation of the adoption assistance rate when extraordinary circumstances occur that will impact the child's needs or family circumstances over an extended period of time, using the DHS-959-R, Adoption Assistance Rate Determination Renegotiation Worksheet.
Adoption assistance rate policy can be found here: 210 ADOPTION ASSISTANCE RATE DETERMINATION