Adoption Assistance

The Title IV-E Adoption Assistance Program supports states, Indian tribes, tribal organizations and tribal consortia (tribes) in securing permanent adoptive homes for children with special needs who cannot safely return to their families. The goal is to prevent inappropriately long stays in foster care and to promote the healthy development of children through increased safety, permanency and well-being.

Funds are available to states (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa) and to tribes with approved Title IV-E plans.

Eligible beneficiaries include certain children who are legally freed for adoption where an adoption assistance agreement has been entered into prior to the finalization of an adoption. These children must: (1) have been determined by the state or tribe to be special needs, e.g., a special factor or condition which makes it reasonable to conclude that they cannot be adopted without adoption assistance; a state or tribe determination that the child cannot or should not be returned home; and a reasonable effort has been made to place the child without providing financial or medical assistance and (2) meet one of the relevant statutory categorical eligibility criteria. These criteria differ during the phase-in period (federal fiscal years (FFYs) 2010 through June 30, 2024) based on the FFY in which the adoption assistance agreement was entered into and the child's circumstances at that time. See section 473 of the Act for additional details on program eligibility requirements. FFP is available from the time of placement for adoption in accordance with state, local or tribal law or final adoption decree to age 18 (21 if the state/tribe finds that a disability means aid should continue or where provided through an adoption assistance agreement that was entered for a child that had attained at least 16 years of age before the agreement became effective) as long as the parent supports the child. No child adopted prior to the approval of the state or tribal Title IV-E plan is eligible for FFP. No means test applies to adopting parents, but the amount of subsidy is agreed to by agency and parents and may be readjusted by joint agreement.

Quarterly awards are made on the basis of estimated expenditures, which are later revised to include only actual allowable claimed expenditures. Quarterly estimates are due on July 30, October 30, January 30, and April 30 each year.

ACF will approve/disapprove applications (Title IV-E plans or amendments to them) within 45 days of receipt.