Federal Government Strives to Increase Adoptions
In 1997, the Adoption and safe Families Act originated a fund, which offers a monetary incentive to states that increase their adoption from foster care. In 2008, the program was upgraded to offer even more money to states working hard to place children with special needs and older kids.
The new act created the Adoption Rate. This rate compares the total number of adoptions from last year to the current total to draw parallels.
Florida is in the lead and has received nearly ten million dollars in federal funds from the program. Texas ranks second with about five million. Nebraska has taken in over five hundred thousand dollars, and Iowa didn't qualify. If you're curious to know how your state did, you can find out at the United States Department of Health and Human Services website.
The states use the money to increase the number of adoptions from foster care and to promote and benefit adoptions in general.
The federal government is supporting adoption in a meaningful way through these incentives. It has long been policy that adoption is a preferred principle, but states that are already cash strapped for budgets had little they could spend to promote adoption. These federal funds are tremendously helpful to the states. It allows them to spend much needed money to achieve an important goal for their citizens.
A child is everyone's concern and the federal government is showing a measure of compassion and empathy by endorsing adoption from foster care with not only words and with much needed dollars.
The foster care system, while filled with genuine and loving foster families, is broken. It is a temporary refuge for too many children, at best. The possibility of a loving family with a stable and constant presence gives these foster kids hope. The more children we can place in permanent situations with adopting families, the less we will depend on the foster care system.
Resources:
HHS Awards $35 Million to States for Increasing Adoptions - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Press Release
Published by Warren Reed
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1 Comments
Post a Comment1/3 of adopted children have emotional disorders, 40% have behavioral disorders. Many of these children are being relinquished back to their states for the sake of mental healthcare. They are so traumatized they cannot get treatment without becoming a ward of the state. If the federal government is so concerned about permanency, the Adoptive and Safe Families Act should mandate states to support adoptions for even the most critically ill children. Support residential and intensive mental health services. Abolish custody relinquishment for the sake of mental healthcare.