Iowa State Adoption Assistance Program

https://hhs.iowa.gov/child-welfare/foster-care-and-adoption
http://www.ifapa.org/pdf_docs/NavigatingIowaAdoptionSubsidy.pdf

Iowa’s state-specific medical assistance information:
https://hhs.iowa.gov/ime/about

Iowa statutes §600.17-600.23:
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/600.pdf

Iowa administrative code 441–201:
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/aco/agency/441.pdf

Idaho Administrative Code 16.06.01-900:
https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/16/160601.pdf

In Iowa a child with special needs is a child who has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to placement or adoption without financial assistance:

• Any child five years of age or older
• Member of a sibling group of three or more children placed in the same adoptive home
• Medically diagnosed disability that substantially limits one of more major life activity, requires professional treatment, assistance in self-care, or the purchase of special equipment
• Diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional to have a psychiatric condition that impairs the child’s mental, intellectual, or social functioning, and for which the child requires professional services
• Diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional to have a behavioral or emotional disorder characterized by situationally inappropriate behavior that deviates substantially from behavior appropriate to the child’s age or significantly interferes with child’s intellectual social and personal adjustment
• Determined to be intellectually disabled by a qualified professional.

The subsidy payment amount is negotiated between the family and the DHS adoption worker, based on the needs of the child and the family’s ability to meet these needs.

Children specifically defined as having physical, mental, or emotional problems are eligible for a special monthly maintenance allowance both in foster care and in adoption assistance.  The three levels, established based on the special needs assessment, are:

• Level 1 — an additional payment of $4.81 per day
• Level 2 — an additional payment of $9.62 per day
• Level 3 — an additional payment of $14.44 per day

In addition, families who adopt a sibling group of three or more may receive a one-time payment of up to $500 to help with transition expenses.

Adoption assistance payments and special services typically continue until a child reaches age 18, but can be extended to 21 for those youth with a diagnosed physical or mental disability. 

Iowa provides an Agreement to Future Subsidy for children at risk of developing problems in the future.  These agreements provide $0 monthly payment and Medicaid.

Inpatient residential treatment costs are not covered by the adoption assistance program. However, adoptive families may receive these services through the state’s foster care program. The child must be placed in state custody and under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court to receive residential treatment services.

Iowa provides additional finances or services for medical or therapeutic needs not covered under the state’s medical plan. This is called a special services subsidy and must be negotiated in the Adoption Subsidy Agreement. A family must use its medical insurance, Medicaid, or any free services before the subsidy funds are expended.

Adoptive families of children who receive adoption assistance can be reimbursed for the following:

• outpatient counseling or therapy services not covered by the Medicaid program
• medical services not covered by the Medicaid program, limited to additional health insurance premium amounts (due to a child’s special needs) necessary to include the child in the family’s coverage plan
• medical transportation not covered by Medicaid and the family’s lodging and meals, if necessary, when the child is receiving specialized care or the child and family are required to stay overnight as part of a treatment plan
• supplies and equipment as required by the child’s special needs and unavailable through other resources
• funeral benefits at the rate allowed for a foster child.

Any single special service and any special service delivered over a 12-month period costing $500 or more requires prior approval from the adoption program manager before program funds are dispersed. Eligibility is based on the child’s special needs. Such subsidies can be provided for an eligible child even in cases where a maintenance subsidy is not needed.

Post permanency services are provided to families who are eligible for or who receive adoption assistance. Services are provided by Four Oaks, the statewide contractor for the recruitment and retention of foster/adoptive families. 

More information, https://iowafosterandadoption.org/i-already-adopted/

Adopted children and their families can receive five days of respite care per year, administered by Four Oaks.

Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parent Association has resources for adoptive families, http://ifapa.org/.

Iowa has a subsidized guardianship program, for more information about about the program,
visit this page, https://hhs.iowa.gov/child-welfare/subsidized-guardianship