Adoption Subsidy
Navigating the Payment Process
Sarah Rankin
Julie Wineland
Navigating the Payment Process
Adoption Subsidy offers financial assistance and services for the
following programs:
•
Adoption Support Subsidy (Adoption Assistance)
•
Adoption Medical Subsidy
Adoption Support Subsidy Program
(Adoption Assistance)
Adoption Support Subsidy
(Adoption Assistance)
The purpose of the Adoption Assistance
Program is to provide financial support to
families who adopt children from foster care
through the public child welfare system.
These are children who
otherwise would grow up in
state foster care systems if a
suitable adoptive parent
could not be found.
Adoption Subsidy Support
(Adoption Assistance)
All prospective adoptive parents of children in
the state’s care have an opportunity to request
adoption assistance.
Eligibility for all adoption assistance programs
is determined by the Adoption Subsidy Office.
How do I apply for
Adoption Support Subsidy?
Applications for Adoption Support 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 is requesting adoption assistance.
For an American Indian child who can be adopted without
termination of parental rights, the tribe must document a valid
reason why the child cannot or should not be returned to the
home of the parents.
Application
Eligibility
Determination
Signing of
Agreement
Petition for Adoption is Filed
If the application, eligibility determination and
signing of the negotiated agreement does not take
place before the petition for adoption is filed…
THEN
A child’s eligibility for Adoption Assistance must be
determined and a negotiated agreement must be
signed by the adoptive parent(s) and the DHS
designee before the final order of adoption is
signed by the court.
Adoption Support Subsidy Eligibility
(Adoption Assistance)
When eligibility is determined, a child
must be a child with “special needs.” A
child is considered “special needs” if the
following has occurred…
Adoption Support Subsidy Eligibility
(Adoption Assistance)
The child is under age 18
1
Adoption Support Subsidy Eligibility
(Adoption Assistance)
The parental rights to the
child have been terminated.
2
Adoption Support Subsidy Eligibility
(Adoption Assistance)
The child must have one of the following specific
factors or conditions to qualify for adoption assistance.
In Michigan, the factors include:
 Eligibility of SSI
 Current determination of care (DOC) rate
that is a level II or above
 Child is at least age 3
 Being adopted by a relative
 Child is being adopted by the parent(s) of
his/her previously adopted sibling
 Child is a member of a sibling group being
adopted together and at least one of the
siblings is determined eligible for support
subsidy (based on special needs criteria)
3
Adoption Support Subsidy Eligibility
(Adoption Assistance)
4
A reasonable effort has been
made to place the child for
adoption without adoption
assistance, which is
demonstrated by the adoptive
parent(s) signature(s) and
request for adoption
assistance on the Adoption
Assistance Intent Statement.
Adoption Support Subsidy Eligibility
(Adoption Assistance)
1
2
3
4
Overall, in order for a child to be
eligible and qualify for adoption
support subsidy the child must
meet the previous four criteria. This
criteria determines if a child is
considered “special needs.”
Adoption Assistance Application Process
Termination
of Parental
Rights
Adoption
case
referred to
Adoption
Agency
Adoption
Worker
Request
Subsidy
Adoption
Subsidy
Office
Determine
Subsidy
Eligibility
If approved, subsidy payments
would start the day
1. The Order Placing is signed by
the Judge OR
2. Date program manager signed
Subsidy Agreement (if approved
after Order Placing)
denied, a
a denial
IfIfdenied,
denialletter
letterwill
willbe
besent
sent
to
your
adoption
worker.
Your
to your adoption worker. Your
adoptionworker
worker will
will discuss
discuss the
adoption
the
denial
letter
with
you
and have
denial letter with you and
haveyou
you
sign
the
denial
letter.
sign the denial letter.
Adoption Medical Subsidy Program
Adoption Medical Subsidy Program
The purpose of the Adoption Medical
Subsidy Program is to assist the
adoptive parent(s) with payment
towards services relating to the
treatment of physical, mental or
emotional conditions that are certified
by the Adoption Subsidy Office.
Adoption Medical Subsidy Eligibility
In order to qualify for adoption medical subsidy, a child
must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• The child was in Michigan foster care (public child
welfare system) at the time the petition for adoption was
filed.
• The child has a physical, mental or emotional condition
that existed, or the cause of which existed, before the
adoption.
When can I apply for
Adoption Medical Subsidy?
Up To Age
18
Applications can be
made prior to the
adoption or any time
up to the child’s 18th
birthday.
Application Form: Parent’s Request for
Medical Subsidy for an Adopted Child
(DHS 1341-A)
The Adoption Worker applies for Adoption
Medical Subsidy before the child’s adoption
(prior to the Order Placing Child).
Before
Order Placing Child
After
The Adoptive Parent applies for Adoption
Medical Subsidy (after the Order Placing Child).
Adoption Medical Subsidy
Services covered by Medical Subsidy must be
necessary to treat a certified condition.
Adoption Medical Subsidy does not
pay for routine medical care.
Adoption Medical Subsidy does not pay for
services prior to the effective date of the
agreement.
Payments for services require prior
approval from the Adoption Subsidy
Program.
Medical Subsidy may not cover 100% of costs
D
All Other Resources
Must Be Exhausted
D
D
D
C
Medical Subsidy
is not
Medicaid
Adoption Subsidy Medicaid
Children who are eligible
to receive an Adoption
Support Subsidy
(Adoption Assistance).
Children who are NOT
eligible to receive an
Adoption Support Subsidy
(Adoption Assistance).
=
=
Eligible for Medicaid
through the Adoption
Assistance Program.
Not Eligible for Medicaid
through the Adoption
Assistance Program.
If a child is not eligible for Medicaid through the
Adoption Assistance Program, the family can inquire
about Medicaid eligibility at their local DHS office.
Types of Services Covered
Adoption Medical Subsidy
 Outpatient Counseling
 Educational Services (Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy,
Occupational Therapy, Tutoring)
 Assisted Care Services (Physical Care Services & Behavioral
Services)
 Temporary Out-Of-Home Placement (maximum of 16 days per
year)
 Placement Outside of the Family Home
 Travel Expenses
 Summer Camps
 Dental Services (Orthodontic Treatment)
 Durable Medical Equipment
 Medical Supplies and Prescriptions (Prescriptions, Glasses,
Contact Lenses, and Incontinence Supplies)
Questions
Additional Information can be located at
www.michigan.gov/dhs