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Adoption Assistance for Virginia

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:

• Six years of age or older
• Member of a minority race
• Member of a sibling group of two or more children
• A physical, mental, or emotional disability

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.

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.)

$2,000.00 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.)

Virginia offers deferred adoption assistance. Virginia refers to these agreements as �conditional agreements�. This means the child meets Virginia�s definition of special needs, but the adoptive parents have chosen to not receive adoption assistance benefits at that time. The conditional agreement allows the family to apply for either Title IV-E adoption assistance or state adoption assistance at any time before the child reaches eighteen years of age.

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

Adoption assistance payments and benefits may begin in Virginia 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?

An adoptive parent can request a change in the adoption assistance agreement whenever there are changes in the condition of the child or the circumstances of the adoptive parents. To request a change, the family is directed to contact the agency that is a party to the agreement. Virginia�s Department of Social Services (DSS) local offices. DSS link to Appeals and Fair Hearings.

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 Virginia are administered by the Department of Social Services through the Adoptive Family Preservation Services program. DSS post-adoption services include the following examples:

1. Information and referral
2. Educational training programs
3. Support groups
4. Respite
5. Counseling
6. Search services
7. Therapeutic intervention

For post adoption services, parents are directed to first contact the Adoptive Preservation Services Program�s Intake and Assessment Team at 888.821.HOPE (4673). Family and parent organizations also offer post adoption supports, such as the Adoptive/Kinship Parent Group of Southwestern Virginia (Roanoke), phone: 540.344.2748 and Fostering Adoptive Families (Charlottesville), phone: 434.979.9631.

Many private organizations offer a variety of respite options. See the ARCH National Respite Network Respite Locator Service, search by state to locate Virginia�s respite programs.

Virginia also offers a Tuition Grant Program for Foster Care and Special Needs Adoption Recipients. This tuition grant program provides tuition and fees at any Virginia community college for high school graduates or general education development (GED) completers who were in foster care in the custody of a social services agency or were considered a special needs adoption at the time of graduation or GED completion. For eligibility and application information on the Tuition Grant Program and Tuition Grant Information.

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 Virginia are administered through the Department of Social Services, Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). DMAS offers Community Mental Health Services such as case management, day treatment/partial hospital, crisis intervention, intensive in-home services to children and adolescents, therapeutic day treatment for children, and psychological rehabilitation.

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?

Any medical service needed by the child as a result of the child�s physical, mental or emotional disabilities are available. Medicaid is used and any additional health needs are covered through Special Service Payments funded by the state. Funds are available for special services which are unavailable through the family�s private insurance or through an alternate resource. Services include the following examples: medical care, physical equipment, remedial educational services, psychological and psychiatric evaluations and treatment, and residential treatment. Receipts for services must be submitted for payment to Virginia DSS within six months of the end of the month services were received.

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 at any time they believe the local DSS agency has taken inappropriate action in the application of a policy or law. Parents are asked to send a written request to regional hearing authorities. Parents are assigned an impartial hearing officer who will review the case, hear their concerns, and make a decision in the matter. Hearing officers are located in the Richmond Central Office, four regional offices (Virginia Beach, Warrenton, Roanoke, Abingdon), and the Lynchburg Child Support Enforcement District Office. Cases are assigned cases by one of the three appeal categories: child support, benefits and services (including adoption assistance), and child protective services.

For more information concerning the appeal of a specific local agency decision, contact the local office of the Virginia Department of Social Services. Local offices are listed in the Government Listings in the phone book under "Social Services." DSS local office locator and Appeals and Fair Hearings.

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

Virginia�s general adoption

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

Virginia�s adoption assistance (see the last paragraph) and special needs adoption

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

Virginia�s state-specific medical assistance

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