Welfare Watch - October 25, 2009 - Proposed Adoption Rule Changes Withdrawn and Revised

Last week the Department of Human Services announced that it would be withdrawing the proposed changes to the “special needs” adoption assistance criteria.  DHS has been consistent in shaping the rules to reflect their value that every child should have an equal opportunity to be adopted and to receive the support that they need for their specific needs.

Because they are withdrawing the original proposal, the rules must go out for public comment again.  The public is given at least 30 days to respond to any rule changes through a public hearing and written testimony.  The earliest that these changes could be finalized is at the December DHS Board Meeting. 

The new rule changes will reflect these changes:

• A child who has been in the care of a public or private agency or individual other than the legal or biological parent for more than 24 consecutive months.

• A child who is a member of a sibling group of two or more placed together in the same home.

• A child with a physical, mental, or emotional disability, as certified by a licensed physician or psychologist.

These rules comply with DHS's desire to rules that are associated with federal timeframes.  

Adoption stakeholders and advocates applaud DHS for these revisions. These changes incentivizes adoption for children who have been in care the longest.  It also reflects the fact that many children who are adopted are not always in state custody but are in the care of private child placing agencies (private licensed adoption and foster care agencies.) These rule changes will allow more children to receive adoption assistance. 

Adoption assistance are special supports provided by both the State and Federal government to assist families who adopt "special needs" children.  One important aspect of this assistance is the eligibility of Medicaid for these children.  Foster parents adopt more than 65% of the children in foster care.  These supports make it possible for these families to provide permanent families for the children that are difficult to adopt otherwise. 

Mark Washington, Assistant Commission of DHS and State DFCS Director, said, "I hope making permanent families for children is the most important thing that we do in DFCS."  These rules are an important step toward that goal. 

_____________________________________
Welfare Watch, an email newsletter of the
Georgia Association of Homes
and Services for Children
as a public service.
http://www.gahsc.org
                            Normer Adams, Editor
___________________________________

GAHSC Membership Application  
GAHSC Membership List
GAHSC Member Calendar of Events