[suzybeezy2002]

Here's my story. I have 4 children, 2 adopted. I adopted my first son through Children Service in PA. His brother went into foster care the follow year and we were contact by the Ohio Children Service to see if we'd take him as well. We agreed. The court gave us guardianship rather than making us foster parents. This was a huge mess and at one point they wanted us to return him to that state so they could figure out all the paperwork! UGH Anyway it then meant that we had to cover all the adoption cost on our own.

I should mention, both children have special needs.

Anyway, after we had our second child in our home, we completed the first child's adoption through the Child Services agency - we received Adoption Assistance for adopting a special needs child. We were told by the Ohio agency that we were not entitled to those funds for our second adopted child as it was a private adoption.

I have since learned that is not true, that it doesn't matter how the child was adopted, but that he did come into our care via the Children Service. I contacted the stating that I felt that my child was entitled to retroactive and current Adoption Assistance and they said they didn't believe so because he was never denied. He was never denied because they never applied - I was advised incorrectly!

They ask me to send all my info on my child's adoption for their lawyers to review, but that has been several months ago. I feel strongly he's entitled to those funds and they'd really help him alot!

What can I do? and Am I right that he IS entitled to Adoption Assistance?

[Ians mom]

Did you ever make progress with getting adoption assistance for your son? We have a similar situation and are proceeding with a private adoption. We dont really care about a subsidy, but if we could negotiate any kind of medical benefits it would really help out.

[suzybeezy2002]

Oh I've been on a merry-go-round with the whole subsidy issue. Yes, legally he's entitled to it. But because we live in a different state, Ohio is fighting us on it. URGH! They want our state to pay, but my state says no, that the Children's Services where he came from must pay. My next step is to get an attorney.

[Ians mom]

I would love to know what ends up happening later on. We are in Ohio and the whole system seems to be in a mess right now.

DS was placed with us as a foster child initially. We were told they didnt have enough to get TPR so we agreed to perm custody. Low and behold a month later bios get busted for running a meth lab and fled the state. After a year of no contact from bios we are finally able to go through with a private adoption, but with his history (drug exposed preemie testing + at birth) I have a feeling that medical coverage could be super helpful in the future. We were told that we cannot get an adoption sub because it is a private adoption. If you happen upon any helpful info or web sites, could you please PM me

TIA and good luck!!! I hope you get everything your little guy deserves.