New Federal Funds Available for Post-Adoption Services

Before its holiday recess, Congress extended the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program for five years and authorized a $200 million annual increase. For fiscal year (FY) 2002, which began on October 1, 2001, Congress appropriated funds for a $70 million increase. The increased funding was included in the appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (H.R. 3061), which was passed on December 20, 2001 and signed into law on January 10, 2002 (Public Law 107-116). The Senate approved the House bill reauthorizing Title IV-B, subpart 2 of the Social Security Act (H.R. 2873) on December 13, 2001. In a ceremony at the White House, President Bush signed H.R. 2873 into law-making it Public Law 107-133.

inCalifornia Want to adopt? Pregnant? click here

With these laws, states will see a 22 percent increase in their Title IV-B, subpart 2 funds during the current federal fiscal year. In addition to increasing funding authorization, the law's language demonstrates a strong focus on post-adoption support services for families, stating that one of the four purposes of the program is to "support adoptive families by proving support services as necessary so that they can make a lifetime commitment to their children."

For a state-by-state breakdown of the impact of this increase, see the chart below. Column 1 shows the actual FY 2001 award. Columns 2 - 4 are NACAC's estimates based on a state using 20 percent of existing and new funds on adoption.

Advocates had hoped that the appropriation level for Title IV-B, subpart 2 would have equaled the authorization level, but even without the full appropriation, the $70 million reflects a 22 percent increase in funding for FY 2002.

This news means that states now have additional money available to use on post-adoption services during the current federal fiscal year. Now is the time to work with decision-makers to help them meet the needs of adoptive families in your state. NACAC has helped several states develop post-adoption programs and we are available to work with parent groups, agencies, and states to help them design services for adoptive families. For more information on model post-adoption services, click here or call Diane Martin-Hushman or Joe Kroll at 651-644-3036.

Many states may be facing budget shortfalls in the near future, and advocates must work to safeguard the Title IV-B, subpart 2 funds so that they are used for family support services. It is important to note that states have until September 30, 2003 to spend Title IV-B, subpart 2 funds appropriated for the current fiscal year. [CFR 1357.32g: Funds (Title IV-B, subpart 2) must be expended by September 30 of the year following the fiscal year in which funds were awarded.] In this time when the country is calling for increased accountability and alertness, we must make sure that we hold governors, state legislators, and child welfare administrators responsible for using the funds on the families and children whom Congress and President Bush intended be served by these funds.

NACAC will work with a national coalition of child welfare advocacy groups toward fully funding the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program to the new authorization level of $505 million per year.

Additional Adoption Incentive Funds

Congress has again appropriated money to cover the shortfall in adoption incentive funds for increased adoptive placements. Funding for the Department of Health and Human Services includes $43 million for adoption incentive payments to states for adoptions finalized in fiscal years (FY) 2000 and 2001. This means that states should receive approximately twice as much in incentive payments as they have already received for FY 2000 adoptions. States must use these funds to provide children and families any service, including post-adoption services, that may be provided under Titles IV-B or IV-E.

Title IV-B, Subpart 2 Funding

FY 2001 Grant Award
FY 2001 Funds for Adoption
Additional Funds for Adoption
Estimated FY 2002 Adoption Total

Alabama

$5,676,189
$1,135,238
$254,004
$1,389,242

Alaska

$578,120
$115,624
$25,870
$141,494

Arizona

$4,879,258
$975,852
$218,342
$1,194,194

Arkansas

$2,995,798
$599,160
$134,059
$733,219

California

$42,820,130
$8,564,026
$1,916,162
$10,480,188

Colorado

$2,558,014
$511,603
$114,469
$626,072

Connecticut

$2,435,537
$487,107
$108,988
$596,095

Delaware

$618,571
$123,714
$27,680
$151,395

Dist. of Columbia

$1,095,861
$219,172
$49,039
$268,211

Florida

$14,081,307
$2,816,261
$630,126
$3,446,387

Georgia

$8,972,963
$1,794,593
$401,532
$2,196,124

Hawaii

$1,395,807
$279,161
$62,461
$341,622

Idaho

$854,866
$170,973
$38,254
$209,228

Illinois

$12,156,022
$2,431,204
$543,971
$2,975,175

Indiana

$3,936,876
$787,375
$176,172
$963,547

Iowa

$1,772,922
$354,584
$79,337
$433,921

Kansas

$1,690,873
$338,175
$75,665
$413,840

Kentucky

$4,630,500
$926,100
$207,211
$1,133,311

Louisiana

$7,399,328
$1,479,866
$331,113
$1,810,979

Maine

$1,129,206
$225,841
$50,531
$276,372

Maryland

$4,345,321
$869,064
$194,449
$1,063,513

Massachusetts

$4,194,263
$838,853
$187,689
$1,026,542

Michigan

$10,076,821
$2,015,364
$450,928
$2,466,293

Minnesota

$2,973,941
$594,788
$133,081
$727,869

Mississippi

$4,542,968
$908,594
$203,294
$1,111,887

Missouri

$5,669,371
$1,133,874
$253,699
$1,387,573

Montana

$771,293
$154,259
$34,515
$188,773

Nebraska

$1,173,889
$234,778
$52,530
$287,308

Nevada

$1,042,018
$208,404
$46,629
$255,033

New Hampshire

$538,497
$107,699
$24,097
$131,797

New Jersey

$5,851,720
$1,170,344
$261,859
$1,432,203

New Mexico

$2,577,951
$515,590
$115,361
$630,951

New York*

$20,872,731
$4,174,546
$934,036
$5,108,582

North Carolina

$6,593,769
$1,318,754
$295,065
$1,613,819

North Dakota

$408,390
$81,678
$18,275
$99,953

Ohio

$9,593,174
$1,918,635
$429,286
$2,347,921

Oklahoma

$3,601,289
$720,258
$161,154
$881,412

Oregon

$2,679,320
$535,864
$119,897
$655,761

Pennsylvania

$10,963,891
$2,192,778
$490,624
$2,683,402

hode Island

$1,054,981
$210,996
$47,209
$258,206

South Carolina

$4,271,814
$854,363
$191,160
$1,045,523

South Dakota

$576,418
$115,284
$25,794
$141,078

Tennessee

$6,379,011
$1,275,802
$285,455
$1,561,257

Texas

$26,826,968
$5,365,394
$1,200,482
$6,565,876

Utah

$1,297,522
$259,504
$58,063
$317,567

Vermont

$531,165
$106,233
$23,769
$130,002

Virginia

$5,461,822
$1,092,364
$244,412
$1,336,776

Washington

$4,933,484
$986,697
$220,769
$1,207,466

West Virginia

$2,714,953
$542,991
$121,492
$664,482

Wisconsin

$3,113,707
$622,741
$139,336
$762,077

Wyoming

$349,495
$69,899
$15,640
$85,539

Puerto Rico

$7,386,246
$1,477,249
$330,528
$1,807,777

Other Territories

$903,649
$180,730
$40,437
$221,167

Tribes

$3,050,000

National Set-asides

$16,000,000

Totals

$305,000,000
$57,190,000
$12,796,000
$69,986,000

Source: Column 1 is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Columns 2 - 4 are NACAC estimates.

* Amounts if New York claimed Title IV-B, subpart 2 funds

(NACAC)
970 Raymond Avenue, Suite 106
St. Paul, MN 55114
phone: 651-644-3036
fax: 651-644-9848
e-mail: info@nacac.org
Feedback