[tammyBoyer]

Does anyone know what kinds of federal or state assistance there might be for internationally adopted children needing therapy and care? do these kids qualifiy? I was told that in California, a child adopted through an agency of DCFS would qualify but it's not clear to me that an international adoption agency counts. Do fedral and state assistance programs only kick in if a child is turned over to county/state care or the adoption is disrupted? I don't know where to start or research on these issues. Any help deeply appreciated.
Tammy

[HappyMomAnna]

The Only reasons the Federal or State is responsible for medical on the children their laws have terminated parental rights for is because the STATE served as the 'parent' of the child for a period of time...... It is sort of like child support in a twisted way. This coverage was also extended to adoptive families because there are so many children needing to be adopted that the Federal Government wanted to make more adoptions possible and for families who could not afford medical insurance or costs, this is often the difference in an adoption happening or not....

If it seems unfair the govenement would subsidies these children it shouldn't there are estimates of as many as 425,000 children waiting to be adopted in the US so it does seem reasonable to offer the adoptive familiies some benefit. And truthfully WE ARE--ALL Paying for it anyway adopted or not....

Also families that have private insurance still need to put the child on the policy which is the Primary insurance the state coverage only covers what the primary insurance does not.

My understanding is that children adopted internationally do not qualify for state or federal coverage. The federal and state governments have not been paying all along for these children and they are not responsible for them. I believe the government views international adoption as a choice a family makes whereas the children who are adopted from the States are there because of an action the state has made.

If your family did quilify for services there might be a chance of recieving some benefits as a family.

In the case of disrution the families that have adopted the child are usually held liable for costs after they disrupt including medical and Foster Care services.