Advertisements
In 1995 we had a 19-month-old boy placed with us by a private agency. The birthmom was from NYC and surrendered her rights in Utah. At the time we did not know that he had a genetic disability and would be mentally retarded and have a lot of the other problems he has (growth hormone deficiency, PTSD, reactive attachment disorder, orthopedic issues, oppositional defiant disorder). My questions ...
1. Is it possible to get a subsidy retroactively after so many years?
2. If so, how would I go about this? Which state would I apply to? We no longer live in Utah, we are in NH.
Any other assistance or pointers in this matter would be great.
P.S. The agency we went through was sold to another agency right after our son's placement with us and there was no record of our son's placement or anything like that for the agency that took over our case (long story). As a result, the placing agency wouldn't probabaly be much help.
Thanks,
NewEnglandDeb
Like
Share
I'm only able to help with some of your questions:
First of all, subsidy payments are usually only given to children *in state care* that qualify for it. If your child was placed by a private agency he may have been a private adoption and never in state care, in which case you're probably out of luck. But if your private agency placed children from foster care into adoptive homes, you have a much greater chance.
You'd apply for assistance from the state that placed the child - whichever state was responsible for his care and upkeep before he was placed with you.
I have heard of people getting subsidy established after the adoption, but I haven't any idea if there is any sort of "expiration date" on being able to do so.
And lastly, if establishing a subsidy for him is possible, you will probably only be considered for those issues that are DIRECTLY and COMPLETELY depenant on his genetics or that can be PROVEN to be the result of absolutely nothing you did. So, that's his growth hormone issues and orthopedic issues and anything else considered genetic. But probably not RAD, ODD, or PTSD because there is no way to prove that someone other than you caused those. RAD is depenant on care received before 3 years old, and you had him before then, so they may blame it on you, or at least the fact he hasn't healed from it yet. ODD is still considered enviornmental rather than genetic by most people, so you're probably out there, too. And PTSD does not have a genetic component either, and you'd be hard pressed to prove you didn't cause it. So I doubt you'd be able to use those diagnoses in your argument for subsidy.
I also don't actually know how you'd go about applying for subsidy at this point. It's usually part of the adoption paperwork that's finished with finalization.
You may get more help if you post this in the Foster Care and Adoption forums, as some of those people have adopted the special needs children they fostered, and had to fight with the state to get subsidy, get it increased, or get it established after certain issues came to light. They may have better information for you.
I wish you luck!
Advertisements