Philosophy
NACAC recognizes the important role of national governments in providing policy leadership and financial support in encouraging permanent placements for children in foster care. The US adoption and guardianship incentive program has become an important source of funding for adoption and guardianship support services, and should be maintained and enhanced.
Policy Recommendations
NACAC supports reauthorization of the U.S. federal adoption incentive program with the following changes:
- Incentive payments should be used solely for post-placement services and adoption promotion.
- Tribes should be directly eligible for the adoption (including customary adoption) and guardianship incentive program.
- Customary adoptions under tribal law should be eligible for inclusion in each jurisdiction’s adoption incentive statistics.
- As part of reporting finalized adoptions for this program, states must provide data on adoptions that are dissolved after finalization.