[skirbo]

Hi guys. Sorry haven't been around the last week or so-last Thursday the storm knocked out my cable and cable modem, *and* my water. Haven't had a chance to post from work either, but we are slow today.

Most of you know that I stopped my adoption process to change jobs and go to work for my state (Florida) in the Child Welfare Legal Services Department. I'm trying to gather absolutely as much accurate information about subsidies and benefits and the like for Florida while I wait to get started again. Going to start again soon, too.

Anyway, I haven't been real pleased with the information I have discovered and I hope you guys will help me out here, sorting through this information in my head. I had intended all along to adopt from Florida, even before I became an employee, because even though they have low subsidy, they have a college tuition waiver and good medicaid. However, I'm finding out the following:

1. There really isn't an exceptional needs subsidy level, like most states have. Meaning, the $304 a month per 6-12 year old kid is it. It also (apparently) doesn't increase to the $364 per 12+ when the child reaches that age. So, should I adopt a kid that turns out to be RAD or severely something else, I have no recourse for additional $$ to cover things like special sitters, uncovered therapies, etc. NACACdotorg indicated that up to an additional $90 a month is possible, but no one, even at the top, has substantiated that.

2. I took the state job because it's what I have always wanted to do... and I took a *big* paycut to do it. One of the main reasons I decided I could do that was the 'state employee adoption benefit' that Florida has. The applicable statute states essentially that a full time state employee who adopts a dependent child from Florida is eligible to receive a one time $10,000 benefit (not a tax credit, actual $$) per child adopted. Great, I thought. I wouldn't have to worry about the pay cut. Turns out, that benefit is not always funded. It is not funded this year, but was last year, on a lottery system. People who didn't 'win' could reapply the next time it is funded. So, in theory, I could adopt 10 kids from the state of Florida and never receive it, or I could receive 10 times. Who knows.

3. The more I read on other boards and here, the more convinced I am that any child adopted from the photolistings of any state is going to have severe emotional problems, whether attachment or whatever, or they wouldn't be listed. I now question the liklihood of most of those kids to go to college-and figure those that are wanting to will also be the ones that are willing to work hard.

4. Medicaid-everything that I can find indicates that a child adopted out of state will be covered by the medicaid services provided by the new home state for their own dependent children, if the adopted child is title-IV(e) eligible. If that's not correct, someone please say so. For instance, Florida medicaid will pay for RTC. Alabama medicaid would not. If an Alabama child was adopted in Florida, and covered by Florida medicaid, then the RTC would be covered. Either way, I now have good insurance for myself, which I *could* use (at hefty expense) to cover any adopted children.

So now, hopefully, you see my dilemma. I really don't know what to do. I had wanted to stay within the state of Florida, but so many other states have better subsidy programs, even Alabama and Georgia have a significantly better subsidy program.

Anyone got any opinions?? Guess what I'm really asking is should I seriously revise my 'I can handle this' list and stay with Florida kids, or explore things elsewhere as well?


Sarah

[lucyjoy]

Tough question, Sarah. There isn't a simple answer. I didn't have a clue subsidies even existed when I started out. Don't know if that would have made a difference for me or not. My first son came from out of state and was placed on our state medicaid but their state's subsidy rate. My 2nd group the GAL had the subsidy upped and RTC written in. I was still clueless.

I have kids with no subsidy that were rehomed from disruptions. It does make it more difficult to obtain services. Until recently, this has not been a major issue. I bartered for therapy services trading theraputic respite for therapy sessions(my sister traded marketing services with a surgeon for my dad's eye surgery-it can be done). It does, however, keep me from accessing some of the newer treatments like neoro-feedback. Right now, there is a listening program my son really needs that I have no way of obtaining(first time I've really felt guilty for taking kids and being poor)

Can you find other Florida families that have adopted out of state and see how their services worked?

[radish-mom]

and it really depends on the sending and recieving states...

but RTC is being picked up by the sending states, they have even go to the sending states (the state the child came from) for some special equipment, etc...

I've never had any luck getting anything past board rate (do get high career rate for one kid, but he was in foster care that way and then those Missouri regs changed) am trying to get braces paid for and day care for a 14 year old who can't be left alone...

no one would pay for attachment therapy (paid out of pocket, wouldn't do that again as it didn't help that kid)

Local school districts are still being billed for educational day of RTC and paying

some states do not belong to ICAMA or what ever it is called (the interstate medical thing) and they do no honor non-title IV-E kids out of state medicaid (this is very few states, like only 11) so there is a slight possibility you would not be covered if you moved to one of those state, but locally then the sending state may purchase other medical insurance (which is what they do instate here in Va.)

currently son's meds cost about $700 a month (psychotropic med, etc..) and medicaid is picking that up fine, but will not pay for any more therapy sessions (in state cut way back on that about 1 1/2 years ago) they finally added new dentists to new Va Smiles (medicaid program) so you can get a child into a dentist (for about 2 years it was an 8 month wait, not worth it, was paying out of pocket) Other medical Dr. seem to be hit or miss..

I've put my kids on my health care also and it helps for things like skin Dr. etc.... and some of those I pay out of pocket..

Medicaid in state is good about paying for OT, PT and Speech therapy (if you child need those take them privately) private insurance tends not to pay for those things...

[crick]

I don't know anything about most of your points really, that haven't already been said.

Point #3 though...
Have you considered not going through the photolistings? We adopted from the state, but through a private agency. We did not look at the photolistings etc., rather waited for the agency to work with various sw's in the state. Our experience was that this way, we were able to receive referrals on children who were not that far in the system, kwim? And therefore, perhaps the children wouldn't have such severe issues? Obviously it's not a guarantee, but do wonder if it's an avenue you have looked into?

[skirbo]

Thanks for the information, keep it coming

Crick-yeah, I was considering that too, not just scaling back what I can take but once the home study is done, shop it around to sw's. It may mean doing foster to adopt, but at least I should be able to have a good idea of whether they are actually going to try and tpr or not.

It's a tough decision. I'm trying the whole pros/cons list and everything. Well, my mom is coming to visit this weekend-guess I'll talk to her about it too. Sigh.

Sarah