Originally Posted by
thony7
My wife and I are about to get help with adoption assistance with DHS, but do not know what to ask for or what would they help with? anyone with helpful tips can please help..
Different agencies in different states will pay different amounts for different children. (Informaive, huh?)
When I started fostering, I got $199/mo to cover "all" of her needs. That was 3 years ago.
Things got a little more "fair" for a while, and I managed to get "full rate" for a while (it was a kinship placement). However, when guardianship and adoption talks started, our state laws changed, so that a foster/adopt-parent-to-be was made to "fight" for every penny. In my state, adoption/guardianship assistance won't assist with daycare, room and board, typical food costs, or transportation costs.
A quick breakdown of what they would cover:
Special nutritional supplements ($30/wk)
Enrichment classes (partial payments, $20/mo, I had to cover the difference)
Sports (again, partial payments, $20/mo with me covering the rest)
Total: $160. Oh, and state medical coverage until she's 18yo.
I have friends, however, in different states, or pre-new-law that have an easier time with the money in their home because their assistance is significantly higher....
--Mimi
Mom to Lala (2004), Bonus Mom to Big Sis 1 (1991) and Big Sis 2 (1992)
Grammy to Big Kindy Kid (2011), Big Pre-K Kid (2012),
Grandbaby Appendage (2014), and New Baby Grandboy (summer 2017)