[crzydayz]

We have been asked to adopt our foster children, parents surrendered last month but we are not clear on what changes after adoption, so thought you all might help...will they continue to get monthly checks til 18? Do we put them on our insurance or do they still get medical card? Since we will have 4 children in consecutive ages we wondered about grants for college? What actually changes after adoption is finalized? If we want to have some contact with bios do we have to go thru agency?

[Yash]

I know in CA once adoption is finalized the kids can still get medical until they are 18. They do get some sort of grant to go to a state school, if they so choose.

Contact with bios that would be up to you. I'm not sure if DCF would continue to play middle man for that.

If the kids qualify you would get money via AAP, which for me was a few hundred dollars less than the amount I was getting when my son was a foster child. This money continues until they are 18.

I was told by my son's CW to put him on my insurance as a back-up to the state insurance.

The best thing about finalization was to be COUNTY WORKER FREE!!!! No scheduling visits with SWs, no worrying if you accidentally left something out. The kids are legally yours with the legal name you gave them and you can just be free of outsiders. Well free, until you start the process all over again.

I became licensed on Halloween 2004 and have only been CW and SW free for 3 months since then. I'm so looking forward to finalizing my daughter's adoption so we can take a real break.

[TxMom65]

In Texas, they would qualify for a subsidy because they are a sibling group. That would mean a check, medicaid, and college. College only is paid for if you apply for and get the subsidy.

[Guitarmom]

It depends on your state. In our state - you get an adoption subsidy and medical cards until they turn 18. They do not pay for college here though.

[Mkuhlmann06]

After adoption is finalized, there are no more county workers or agency workers coming once a month. If you have therapy and other counseling that would continue until a therapist, DR, you, etc determines it unnecessary. You will have to NEGOTIATE your adoption stipend either on a daily or monthly rate. Assuming that a sibling group is part of the special needs definition for your state, and/or your children have special needs, you will qualify for a stipend, but just how much is the question. It will most likely NOT be as much as your foster care rate, unless you have some serious special needs. As for medical card, again you can request that as part of the adoption agreement (and is normally granted). I also suggest you put the children on your insurance. Usually that will make your private insurance primary and medicaid secondary. We normally get DRs or appts bounced by the primary and medicaid will pick up the full tab (if we go to a medicaid DR). As for college, that is definitely dependent upon your state. In PA, they do not cover college if a foster child has been adopted, no matter at what age. Also, if TPR occurred INVOLUNTARILY, then normally all ties to bios are stopped. In PA, all foster care adoptions are considered "closed" once TPR'd, unless you do a formal agreement documenting you will continue with contact (and what that contact would be). In our case, since my DS was older, he has a bond with his first mom and we do allow him to send letters/cards and for her to do the same. We've set up an informal process of going through his county worker. But we are under no obligation to continue this. I know with his sisters that were adopted, the family has determined not to do what we are doing (not a right/wrong, just what they determined was best for their family).

After finalization, you can hire "regular" babysitters. They don't have to have clearances and your kids can attend sleepovers, etc. You can go out of state/country and not have to get permission or notify the county.

Also, keep in mind, after finalization, if your workers help you with transportation to therapy, etc and/or provide help in finding services (in home, etc), that will not be there for you. They also don't usually offer respite assistance, as the kids are now legally your responsbility, not that of children and youth.

Good luck!