I want to adopt a child from foster care. Am I eligible for adoption assistance (also called adoption subsidy)?

Adoption assistance is a key element to promote the adoption of children from foster care and support adoptive families in meeting their needs.

Federal title IV-E or state subsidies aim to compensate adoptive parents for the short- and long-term costs of adopting eligible children. Although eligibility criteria vary from state to state, the term “eligible” most frequently refers to children who are school-aged; part of a sibling group; being a part of a certain racial or ethnic group; or those with specific physical, emotional, or developmental needs. Benefits commonly include monthly cash payments, medical assistance, social services, and nonrecurring adoption expenses.

Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children’s Bureau, provides detailed information about state adoption assistance programs on its website, including state-by-state information on eligibility for adoption assistance, medical assistance, availability of postadoption services, fair hearings, and links to state websites for adoption and adoption assistance.

Adoption subsides may not be the only type of funding available to families. Child Welfare Information Gateway’s publication Planning for Adoption: Knowing the Costs and Resources reviews the basic costs of adopting as well as tax credits, grants and loans, employer-provided adoption benefits, and other ways to make adoption more affordable.