North Carolina State Adoption Assistance Program

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/child-welfare-services/adoption-and-foster-care
North Carolina’s state-specific medical assistance links:
https://ncgov.servicenowservices.com/sp_beneficiary?id=bnf_index

North Carolina General Statutes: 108A-49 to 108A-50.1:
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/Statutes/StatutesTOC.pl?Chapter=0108A

North Carolina Administrative Code: 10A NCAC 70M.0101 to 70M.0604:
http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2010a%20-%20health%20and%20human%20services/
chapter%2070%20-%20children’s%20services/
subchapter%20m/subchapter%20m%20rules.html

North Carolina’s Child Welfare Funding Manual—Adoption Assistance:
https://policies.ncdhhs.gov/divisional/social-services/child-welfare/policy-manuals/appendix-3-6-adoption-assistance-funding-1.pdf

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

1. The child is six years of age or older;
2. The child is two years of age or older and a member of a minority race or ethnic group;
3. The child is a member of a sibling group of three or more children to be placed in the same adoptive home;
4. The child is a member of a sibling group of two children to be placed in the same adoptive home, in which one or more of the siblings meet at least one of the other criteria for special needs;
5. The child has a medically diagnosed disability which substantially limits one or more major life activity, requires professional treatment, assistance in self-care, or the purchase of special equipment;
6. The child is diagnosed by a qualified professional to have a psychiatric condition which impairs the child’s mental, intellectual, or social functioning, and for which the child requires professional services;
7. The child is diagnosed by a qualified professional to have a behavioral or emotional disorder characterized by inappropriate behavior which deviates substantially from behavior appropriate to the child’s age or significantly interferes with child’s intellectual, social and personal functioning;
8. The child is diagnosed to be mentally retarded by a qualified professional;
9. The child is at risk for a diagnosis described above in items e through h, due to prenatal exposure to toxins, a history of abuse or serious neglect, or genetic history.

Note: if the child qualifies only under this criteria, the child must be placed in the potential category where they shall receive Medicaid but will receive a zero amount monthly payment until a diagnosis is made. When the diagnosis is made and documented appropriately, a change shall be made to the DSS-5095 to reflect payment beginning the month following diagnosis.

Children must be legally free for adoption and must be in the placement responsibility of a North Carolina agency authorized to place children to be eligible for adoption assistance. Placement responsibility must either:

• currently be with a North Carolina agency authorized to place children for adoption,
• have been in such an agency’s responsibility at the time of the filing of the adoption petition,
• have been in such an agency’s responsibility when the agency placed the child in the custody of a person now pursuing adoption of that child.

Special provisions can be made for

1. HIV children, including:
   • $800 (indeterminate HIV status)
   • $1,000 (confirmed HIV-infected, asymptomatic)
   • $1,200 (confirmed HIV-infected, symptomatic)
   • $1,600 (terminally ill with complex care needs); and
2. If the placing county participates in the Special Children Adoption Incentive Fund and the state budget has funds to add new children, Children with Therapeutic Needs may be able to negotiate a rate up to the foster care rate the child has been receiving.  This rate is only possible when negotiating the rate for the initial agreement.    

Adoption assistance ends on the youth’s 18th birthday.  However, if the child was adopted on or after their 16th birthday it may continue up to age 21 if they meet certain eligibility criteria. 

North Carolina also has vendor payment for medical and therapeutic services, HIV Supplemental Payments, and Supplemental Special Children Adoption Incentive Fund for child with severe medical and rehabilitative needs.   This program may provide up to $2,400 per year and can be used for respite and residential treatment placements.  

Local departments of social services (DSS) and contracted private adoption agencies provide post-adoption services, although all services are not available in all counties. 

For a list of the post-adoption agencies, visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/child-welfare-services/adoption-and-foster-care
/post-adoption-support-and-resources

North Carolina has a KinGap program to provide guardianship assistance.  To read more about visit, https://www.ncdhhs.gov/cws2122a4/download?attachment#:~:text=The%20Kinship%20Foster%20Care%20and,
permanency%20through%20reunification%20or%20adoption.