HHS Announces $424,000 Adoption Bonus for Maine
The Bush Administration rewarded the state of Maine with $424,000 as a result of the state’s work to increase the number of adoptions from the public child welfare system. HHS assistant secretary for children and families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. announced the bonus, on behalf of President George W. Bush, in Portland today with Governor Baldacci and state officials.
The funding comes from the Adoption Incentives Program, which totals $17,896,000 in bonuses to 31 states and Puerto Rico that were successful in increasing the number of adoptions from the public child welfare system over the number of adoptions in 2002.
This is first time that bonuses have been given to states and territories since the program was revised and strengthened in December 2003. The bonuses go to state child welfare agencies for a variety of child welfare and other related services including adoption and adoption-related services.
“Adoption is a wonderful option for families and must be promoted by all levels of government,” said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. “The federal bonus we are announcing rewards Maine, which has worked hard to help children -- particularly older children -- in the child welfare system find loving, adoptive homes.”
The Adoption Incentive Program, which was revised and strengthened last December by the Bush Administration, for the first time adds a focus on the growing proportion of children aged nine years old and above who are in dire need for adoption before they “age out” of foster care without being adopted. Two key changes which strengthen states’ adoption and chil welfare services are:
- An additional bonus of $4,000 is now given to states for each child aged nine and above adopted from the public child welfare system, on top of the current $4,000 provided for each child and the $2,000 for each special needs child adopted; and
- The threshold to receive incentives has been reset based on the number of adoptions in FY 2002, making states that reached their highest number of adoptions in the earlier years of the program more likely to qualify for a bonus.
“President Bush has worked hard to increase the number of adoptions so more children can grow up in safe, stable and loving homes,” said Dr. Horn. “Today’s grant to Maine continues this Administration’s efforts to promote adoption from the foster care system so no child will be left behind.”
www.adoptuskids.org -- aimed at the recruitment and retention of adoptive families for children in the foster care system.
Adoption Incentive Program FY2003 Earning Year for Maine:
Baselines:
Placed by total: 297
Under age 9: 137
9 and older: 109
Actuals:
Placed by total: 37
Under age 9: 112
9 and older: 133
Amounts:
Placed by total: $328,000
Under age 9: $0.00
9 and older: $96,000
TOTAL: $424,000
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