[Archive]

Originally Posted By Tiffany

I'm interested in adopting, but kind of nervous.
I'm looking for anyone that has adopted a foster child/special needs child in VA that can tell me how things went after the adoption and the services provided.

Are you given help with kids, such as medicaid and a monthly payment (subsidy, I believe) to help take care of them? Is the money you receive usually enough to take care of what the child may need?

Did you have to pay a fee to your Social Service agency?

Any disadvantages to adopting a foster child/special needs child? Any help/advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Archive]

Originally Posted By kim

Hi tiffany, i have adopted a boy with special needs in richmond, va. I was a foster mother for him for three years before adoption. you do keep the medicaid and you get subsidy. personally i think now after the adoption it could be more. i can get 16 hour of nursing a day for him but nursing in this area is poor. i am only getting 8 hours a day for 5 days, only because there are no nurses. but you know i would do it all over again. i love him very much.

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Cheryl

We are in the process of adopting our foster child who has special needs. Our process started in NC before moving to VA earlier this month. We got her as a foster child at the age of 10 months. I know that NC has just gone over the things she is entitled too for us and each child depending on needs gets a certain amount toward their needs and they will be entitled to medicaid, and you will receive an adoption subsitiy which is less than our board payments. However, the board payments in VA are remarkably less than NC. Personally, I know that it is a slow process working with the state, but you don't have to pay out of pocket money just to adopt. As long as the child is from the state your home study is even done for free. These other agencies are great too, but so far we haven't had any problems with DSS except that they are extremely slow and that the process of stopping visits with the birth family and the actual TPR process was too slow. Our daughter is now 4 and the adoption is still not quite final as things are still in appeal as far as we know. If I can help you further feel free to email me at cmann@shentel.net.

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Cheryl

We are in the process of adopting our foster child who has special needs. Our process started in NC before moving to VA earlier this month. We got her as a foster child at the age of 10 months. I know that NC has just gone over the things she is entitled too for us and each child depending on needs gets a certain amount toward their needs and they will be entitled to medicaid, and you will receive an adoption subsitiy which is less than our board payments. However, the board payments in VA are remarkably less than NC. Personally, I know that it is a slow process working with the state, but you don't have to pay out of pocket money just to adopt. As long as the child is from the state your home study is even done for free. These other agencies are great too, but so far we haven't had any problems with DSS except that they are extremely slow and that the process of stopping visits with the birth family and the actual TPR process was too slow. Our daughter is now 4 and the adoption is still not quite final as things are still in appeal as far as we know. If I can help you further feel free to email me at cmann@shentel.net.

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Belinda

I live in appalachia Va.I am in the proces of trying to foster or adopt a baby.They told me that you dont have to pay the social services. But they will give you medicaid for them if they need assistance for certain health problems they have. It has been a long wait. too long.