I know this subject is taboo, but....

I live in Northern California and have adopted 2 children from foster care. I don't know what percent overall go home. I went through a private agency that specialized in only kids heading towards adoption. Generally, these were cases were TPR had already been filed, but not yet granted, so they were considered low legal risk. We were told that about 98% of these cases would end in adoption. The agency also did some concurrent planning and we were told that about 80% of those cases would end in adoption. I was placed very quickly and went through the adoption process fairly smoothly, as did everyone I know from my training classes. At the time, there seemed to be plenty of very young children available because my county was very strict on only allowing 6 months for the bios of infants and toddlers to show good progress before filing TPR. However, I've heard that a lot has changed in the 2.5 years since I went through it. From what I've heard, things have become alot tougher for hopeful adoptive parents. Because of budget cuts, social services is choosing to not remove kids as quickly as they once did, instead offering in-home services and taking a "wait and see" attitude. Kids who are removed tend to be older and more damaged due to this "wait and see" approach. Budget cuts have also caused the court system to back up so cases are now dragging on much longer and caseworkers are stretched thin resulting in RU being pushed harder as a way to close cases faster. From what I've been told, there are now many more families wanting to adopt than there are kids available. Kids who once would have been headed for adoption are now left in their homes with minimal intervention or RU quickly, narrowing the pool of children available for adoption. I find this very sad because it means that either they were putting kids up for adoption much too quickly before or are now leaving many kids in danger just to save money (and I tend to believe the latter). Keep in mind that this is all just stuff that I have been told in talking to my former caseworkers and friends who are currently going through the process. I didn't experience any of this firsthand since my adoptions were completed before the supposed changes were made. As for the stipend, virtually all children adopted from foster care in California will qualify for an adoption assistance stipend based on their level of special need. My children are not special needs, so I don't know how the special needs rate is determined. Both my children just receive the base rate, which is just under $500 per month each. I think it was recently raised, so if I were adopting them today, I think it would be about $650 per month. Of course a special needs child would receive more but I don't know how much. They also receive free medi-cal until age 18 and WIC until age 5. During the period that they are foster children, the agency that you are with may make a difference in the foster care rate that you receive. Some agencies pay more than others and most pay more than going through the county directly. Once the adoption is finalized, it will make no difference. The adoption assistance stipend will be the same regardless of what agency you are with or if you are directly with the county.

In California, the first objective is to return the kids to their birthparent, then with family, then adoption. CWs will put kids back with birthparents at any cost. They will even get the kids returned to care and continue to try to put them back with their deadbeet parents over and over again. I can't tell you what the stipend is for special needs kids, but "regular" placements are around $610.00 per month. I have to admit that I am a little concerned with your post as you seem to want to adopt but only can afford kids on the basis of the stipend. If you know you can't afford the kids on the income you have now, then maybe you aren't financially ready to take on more kids. I mean no offense, but looking at adoption because the county pays for the care of the kids just seems wrong.

longing2bmom...thanks for the info. It would be great if you can private e mail me and let me know what agency you used? Boysparent? judge much? I have ONLY fostered special needs kids, and since you have NEVER fostered spec kids, you know nothing about it, the cost involved, the endless doctors and specialists, the MUCH more frequent visit visits by caseworker, and a laundry list of other things that only a mother or foster parent of a special needs child would know, and I wont even begin to mention the emotional toll or physical toll. If my body was physically able to have children, I would pop one out right now, and no one would say a word about it, so YES, I am gonna ask what the spec stipend is, because knowledge is power, and this aint my first time at the rodeo!:cowboy:

As the prospective adoptive parent of a special needs child here in CA, I would say good luck to you with that attitude. The case workers here in CA don't mess around and even if you are just being practical, that kind of attitude won't wash in California. There are many adoptive parents who sacrifice a great deal to help children in need without putting any money issues in the mix. Needless to say that RU is the first goal in CA, and there are considerably more FP waiting for kids than even last year. Maybe take this time to get your finances back on track so that you can more fully concentrate on the real objective, caring for kids who need you. I wish you the best.

I don't know about fostering/adopting special needs but I do know that stable finances and at least one working parent are a requirement for adoption here in CA. At least, that's what our SW tells us. Good luck to you.

I am here in California, and I am in a foster agency already, and just as it was in Illinois, there is a huge need for FP who will do treatment level special needs and take in sibling groups...soooooo happy!!!!:rockband:

I don't know about your state but for my state your income has to be enough to support your family and an additional child without the adoption subsidy (atleast thats how they put it in our classes)

Agreed. It's a good idea to have financial stability before starting the adoption, or even the foster process. I get a little "concerned" when someone is asking what the stipend check amount will be before they even begin the classes. The truth is, special needs children or not, its never is enough. Unless you are an exteremely frugal person, there isn't going to be much of anything left from the stipend to put in your own pocket at the end of the month. Like I've said before, none of us are getting rich doing this. It's about giving, not taking.

Unfortunately, sometimes money issues have to be brought into the mix. I was very upfront during my homestudy that I needed both the foster care stipend and the post-adoption assistance to be at least $300 per month or else I simply could not afford to fost/adopt because I would fall short on being able to pay for daycare (my county does not provide daycare assistance to foster parents and daycare is very expensive here). I was also very upfront that I would only be able to take kids who were very low legal risk because my daycare expenses were going to be about $700 per month more than the stipend and I wasn't willing to be that much money out-of-pocket to support someone else's child. I needed to be as sure as possible that they were going to become MY child. My social worker was very understanding and assured me that the stipend would be enough and that I was not a bad person for worrying about the practical financial matters. In a perfect world, money wouldn't have to be an issue, but in the real world, it often is. I don't know the OP's financial situation. If she is looking to supplement her income with a foster care or adoption stipend, then that would be wrong. However, if she is like me, and is just looking for assurances that she will have the resources she needs to take care of her foster or adopted child, then that is just being practical and sensible, and in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with that.

I agree with you!

I agree with you!

Longing2BMom, thank you for your comment. I really feel as though these people dont even read the original post before they jump in and start commenting and judging. When did I EVER say a word about wanting money left over in my pocket? Very ignorant. Adopting to add to my income? Give me a break. Some people just want to spew hatred. I have ALREADY adopted. I know the deal. And some agencies will take advantage of you and have you using all your resources instead of giving you what the state should due to the level of disability. Thats ALL I am trying to avoid here, and its just GOOD COMMON SENSE to financially plan for a having a new little one, especially when that little one is likely to be autistic, have severe cognitive delays, and a laundry list of emotional issues. But the rest of you can judge away because I am almost done with this round of classes and my new little one is in arms reach!!! I am sooo excited! Its even better the second time around!!!:banana:

I don't think anyone was trying to spew hatred.. . It is obvious to me that you are not wanting to pocket any money..I know people claim foster parents "Do it for the money" but I have no idea where that theory comes from because it in no way will come close to being enough..at least not what my state pays..

If there was a "LIKE" button here on a.com, I would click on it...over and over again. :loveyou: