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Adoption Assistance for South Dakota

1. What specific factors or conditions does your State consider to determine that a child cannot be placed with adoptive parents without providing financial assistance? ("What is your State definition of special needs?")

A child with special needs is defined as a child that has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to placement or adoption without financial assistance:

  • Eight years of age or older
  • Race or religion (Native American)
  • Member of a sibling group to be placed together for adoption
  • Physical, emotional, neurological, or intellectural handicap or problem
  • Need of a prosthesis, extensive, on-going, or anticipated medical care, or therapy for speech, physical, or psychological problems
  • Adoption by foster parents with whom the child is living is the only appropriate permanency plan

Note: Children must be legally free for adoption to be eligible for adoption assistance.

2. What are the eligibility criteria for your State-funded adoption assistance program?

In order to be eligible for state-funded adoption assistance a child must be a special needs child as defined above and legally free for adoption.

3. What is the maximum amount a family may receive in non-recurring adoption expenses from your State? (Adoptive parents can receive reimbursement of certain approved, "one-time" adoption expenses incurred in the process of finalizing a special needs adoption.)

$1,500.00 per child

4. Does your State enter into deferred adoption assistance agreements? (In some States, adoptive parents can enter into an agreement in which they choose to defer the receipt of a Medicaid card, the monthly monetary payment, or both and can elect to receive the Medicaid card and/or monetary payment at another time.)

South Dakota offers deferred adoption assistance. South Dakota will write an adoption assistance agreement and put on hold as per an adoptive parent�s request.

5. When may adoption assistance payments and benefits begin in your State?

Adoption assistance payments and benefits may begin in South Dakota at adoption placement.

6. How are changes made to the adoption assistance agreement in your State?

  1. When can a parent request a change in the adoption assistance agreement?
  2. How does a parent request a change in the adoption assistance agreement?
  3. What if a parent does not receive the change they request in the adoption assistance agreement?

Adoptive parents can request a change in the adoption assistance agreement whenever there is a change in the circumstances of the family or the needs of the child. Decision are made on a case-by-case basis to pay for such needs as residential care and payment is available for South Dakota adoption assistance children only. To request an amendment to the adoption assistnace agreement, the adoptive family must submit a written request to their adoption assistance worker. The request for change is considered by the Administrator and the Adoption Program Specialist. DSS local offices.

7. What types of post adoption services are available in your State and how do you find out more about them?

Post adoption services in South Dakota are administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS), Office of Child Protection Services (CPS) through DSS, contracted agencies, and parent groups. Post adoption services are provided on a case-by case basis and include the following examples:

  1. Information and referral
  2. Educational programs (funding to attend)
  3. Support groups
  4. Therapeutic intervention
  5. Advocacy
  6. Respite
  7. Residential treatment
  8. Mediation/search services (passive registry available)

Services include extensive psychological supports, such as psychiatric evaluation, psychological evaluation, social assessment (child and family), and Marschack Interaction Methods In Home Family Dynamics Assessment. Therapy is provided, including: individual therapy, family therapy, multi-family therapy, and group therapy for the adopted child. Also covered is adoptive families� travel expenses to secure services, including: lodging, meals, mileage, training therapy materials, and school consultation.

South Dakota has contracted with the Children�s Home Society to provide evaluations and therapy for adopted children and their families. To apply for post adoption services, contact Children's Home Society (CHS) and Foster Parenting Opportunities. Or phone, in Black Hills: 605.343.2811, or in Sioux Falls: 605.334.6004. For search/mediation information, see the Voluntary Adoption Registry and the Opening Adoption Records.

Parent groups also provide post adoptions support. The The Family Support Assistance in Sioux Falls is a new group that offers on-line support and is comprised of forty percent Native American families, the phone is: 605.335.2776. Another parent organization is Parents of Adopted Children (PAC), offering a mentoring program and workshops. PAC is located in Parkston, South Dakota, the phone is: 605.782.0782. Many private organizations offer a variety of respite options. See the ARCH National Respite Network Respite Locator Service, search by state to locate South Dakota�s respite programs.

Note: Not all services may be available in all cases. Contact your adoption assistance worker or post adoption services contact for information regarding process, eligibility, availability, and duration of services.

8. What mental health services are provided by your State?

Public mental health services for children in South Dakota are administered by the Department of Social Services, Medical Assistance. Services include the following examples: psychiatric and psychological evaluations, individual-group-family psychotherapy for the care and treatment of mental illness or disorders, in-patient and out-patient hospitalization, and prescription medication.

Children are eligible for what are known in South Dakota as Healthy Kids Klub checkups. These checkups help prevent health problems from occurring or help keep health problems from becoming worse. The Healthy Kids Klub covers screening and diagnostic services to determine physical or mental status and treatment to correct or eliminate defects or chronic conditions. The Klub also covers nutritional therapy, treatment for alcohol and drug chemical dependency, and inpatient psychiatric care. Several of these services require prior authorization from the Department of Social Services (State Office). DSS local offices.

Medical Services recipient information and Covered Services or phone Medical Services: 605.773.3495.

Note: Not all services may be available in all cases. Contact your adoption assistance worker or medical assistance specialist for information regarding process, eligibility, availability, and duration of services.

9. Does your State provide additional finances or services for medical or therapeutic needs not covered under your State medical plan to children receiving adoption assistance?

South Dakota offers what is known as Special Nonmedical Subsidies. Funding is available for expenses incurred for services in care of the adopted child. Services include the following examples: expenses incurred in transporting the child to medical care, special education, and psychological treatment; psychological/psychiatric testing and treatment, special education necessary to meet psychological or emotional needs preexisting adoption finalization; and family training or education needed to address the child�s special needs or to provide for their care.

South Dakota also offers what is known as Medical and Surgical Subsidies. Funding is available for physical conditions that existed prior to adoption finalization and is only available once the adoptive family has exhausted all insurance resources. Services include the following examples: prescription medication, physician service, hospitalization/hospital services. If necessary services are not covered under South Dakota�s state medical plan, need for such services must be listed in the adoption assistance agreement to be eligible for funding.

Note: Not all services may be available in all cases. Contact your adoption assistance worker for information regarding process, eligibility, availability, and duration of services.

10. What is your State's process for applying for a fair hearing? (A fair hearing is a legal, administrative procedure that provides a forum to address disagreements with agency decisions.)

Adoptive parents can request a fair hearing whenever there is disagreement with a Department of Social Services decision that affects their child�s adoption assistance benefits. Requests for fair hearing in South Dakota are made by submitting a written request to:

Administrative Hearings 700 Governors Drive Pierre, South Dakota 57501

11. What is your State Web address for general adoption information?

South Dakota�s general adoption and Frequently Asked Questions

12. What is your State Web address for adoption assistance information?

South Dakota�s adoption assistance (See Adopting a Child from South Dakota DSS, under Is there financial assistance available?)

13. What is your State Web address for State-specific medical assistance information for children?

South Dakota�s state-specific medical assistance and Medical Assistance Recipient Handbook


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