Next: Monday, September 15, 2014 Practical Issues and Questions
What is the current rate of federal funding?
What is the current rate of federal funding?
The current rate of
Federal Financial Participation (FFP) as of Oct 1, 2013 is 63.02% of the
adoption assistance payment. The rate
may change slightly on October 1, 2014, but it will remain above 60%.
The non-federal
matching share is 36.97%
What is the state’s
financial obligation?
The state pays the
non-federal portion of adoption assistance (36.97%) up to $250 per month. The first $250 in adoption assistance is free
to the county agency.
What is the state’s
financial obligation?
The county agency must
pay the non-federal share of each dollar of adoption assistance over $250 per
month up to the foster home rate. (36.97%)
What level of government level pays for what:
Federal
Title IV-E Adoption Assistance
Total
|
Federal
|
State
|
County
|
|
$250
|
$157.55
|
$92.45
|
$0
|
|
$600
|
$378.12
|
$92.45
|
$129.43
|
|
$800
|
$504.16
|
$92.45
|
$203.39
|
May adoption assistance
agreements be renegotiated?
Yes, at any time. Presumably, a request for an amendment to the
agreement would be prompted by changes in the child’s needs and/or family
circumstances.
The law requires the same obligation to
re-negotiate as to negotiate the initial agreement. Adoptive parents have the
same appeal rights on requests to amend adoption assistance agreements and
increase monthly payments as they do in the negotiation of the initial adoption
assistance agreement.
Note: Agencies will
often point to the opportunity to renegotiate as a reason for accepting a lower
amount of adoption assistance than you feel is adequate.
May agencies unilaterally lower adoption assistance payments?
No
“The adoption
assistance payments may not be automatically adjusted without the agreement of
the adoptive parents for any reason other than an across-the-board reduction or
increase in foster care maintenance rates.”
Source: The Child Welfare Policy Manual stipulates in Section
8.2D.4, Question 2. (Note: Click on Link to access the manual).
May county agencies propose to reduce adoption assistance
Yes. But the county agency would
have the burden of justifying its proposed action at a state administrative
hearing if the parents disagreed. The
payments would remain the same pending the outcome of the hearing.
