Michigan State Adoption Assistance Program

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/adoption

Michigan’s state-specific medical assistance information:

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs

Michigan’s adoption assistance information:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/adoption/financial

Michigan Statutes, Social Welfare Act, Section 400.115f through 400.115m:

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(use4s445d1ex1045bydrydbo))/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-280-1939-COUNTY-DEPARTMENT-OF-SOCIAL-SERVICES.pdf (then go to pages 90-96)

Michigan Adoption Subsidy Manual, AAM 100 through AAM 700:
https://dhhs.michigan.gov/olmweb/ex/AA/Public/AAM/000.pdf (This goes to a table of contents; click on the title or the section or manual code/number to access it.)

The requirements for eligibility for adoption subsidy are:

• The child is under 18 years old
• The child’s parental rights have been terminated (exceptions to this requirement are made for tribal customary adoptions)
• The child has one of the following specific factors or conditions:
  • The children is eligible for SSI based solely on the medical and disability requirements, as determined by the Social Security Administration
  • The child has a documented difficulty of care determination of Level II or higher that is supported by the current foster care updated service plan.
  • The child is three years of age or older.
  • The child is being adopted by a relative (within the 5th degree of consanguinity).
  • The child is being adopted to join an already adopted sibling.
  • The child is a member of a sibling group being adopted together and at least one sibling has been determined eligible for adoption support subsidy as an individual.

Children with higher documented and diagnosed needs may qualify for a Difficulty of Care (DOC) rate which is addition to the basic rates above.

Rates above Level III are granted by exception only.

Adoption assistance payments typically continue until the child reaches age 18, although there a few exceptions:

1. For children receiving Title IV-E adoption subsidy, the subsidy can continue to age 19 if the child has a disability that warrants the continuation.
2. If the child was not receiving Title IV-E adoption subsidy or is not eligible for continuation based on a disability, then the subsidy can be extended until age 19 or when the youth graduates from high school or a GED program, whichever is earlier. 
3. For these adoptees who were not IV-E eligible, the Medicaid provided through the adoption subsidy program will end at age 18.

For more information see Adoption Subsidy Manual 630 at  https://dhhs.michigan.gov/OLMWEB/EX/AA/Public/AAM/630.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks

1. For youth adopted at age 16 or 17, Michigan will continue to provide adoption assistance through their 21st birthday as long as the youth is in school, in job training, or employed, or has a medical condition that prevents such education or employment. In the cases, the youth and parents must request an extension of assistance beyond age 18 and sign a new adoption assistance agreement.

Michigan’s Medical Subsidy program provides support to some children adopted from foster care. The program’s purpose is to provide support for medical conditions when families have exhausted all other sources of funding. Medical Subsidy program services must be directly related to a physical, mental, or emotional condition that existed, or the cause of which existed, before the adoption.  A child does not need to receive adoption subsidy benefits to be eligible for Medical Subsidy.

The Adoption Subsidy Office must approve any services in advance. Medical Subsidy payments are made after parents or providers submit bills to the Adoption Subsidy Office. For more information about how to use Medical Subsidy benefits, visit https://dhhs.michigan.gov/OLMWEB/EX/AA/Public/AAM/640.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks

Michigan’s county community mental health boards do administer respite care programs for families with children who have special needs. These programs are available to all families who meet eligibility criteria, including adoptive families.

DHS provides Regional Post Adoption Resource Centers (PARC) for families who have adopted children from state foster care. For more information, visit https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/adoption/post-adoption-resources/post-adoption-resource-centers

Michigan provides a guardianship assistance program, information about the program can be found in the Child Guardianship Manual at https://dhhs.michigan.gov/olmweb/ex/GD/Public/GDM/000.pdf

The Michigan State University School of Social Work has a kinship navigator program as part of their Kinship Care Resource Center. 
https://kinship.msu.edu/

Michigan offers the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP), which helps pay college tuition and mandatory fees for students from low-income families. Eligibility includes students who: (1) are identified by DHS as Medicaid eligible; (2) apply before graduation from high school or receiving a GED; and (3) are under age 20 at the time of graduation or GED completion. Families should call 888-4GRANTS (888-447-2687) for more information. https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/tuition-incentive-program

If a child’s adoptive parent(s) die, the guardian can receive the adoption subsidy and/or medical subsidy benfits as long as the guardian is appointed as provided in section 5202 or 5204 of the Estates and Protected Individuals Code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5202 and 700.5204. In these situations the subsidy will be state funded (not IV-E) and the state will no longer provide Medicaid for the child through the adoption subsidy program.